The Foot of the Walk - Leith - Capital Collections

Category

Library Item

Item no

36676

Title

The Foot of the Walk - Leith

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1910

Size

12.7 x 17.7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Leith Walk in Edinburgh is a notably wide street running from the west side of Calton Hill down to Great Junction Street in Leith. It follows the line of a raised pedestrian walkway which ran along the top of an earthen rampart constructed to defend the city against Cromwell's army in 1650. In 1776 this walkway and the road immediately to its west were combined as a single, modern road. This road, along with North Bridge and Leith Street, provided greatly improved access to Leith from Edinburgh.

Leith is situated in the north of Edinburgh where the Water of Leith joins the Firth of Forth. It has acted as Edinburgh's maritime connection for many centuries, and continues to be one of the UK's busiest ports. It was incorporated into Edinburgh in 1920 having previously been a separate burgh. It is now home to the Scottish Executive's main offices, Edinburgh's Sikh temple, the Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal, a large shopping and entertainment complex.

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