The 'Penny Bap'

Category

Library Item

Item no

38498

Title

Page from Leith Miscellany, volume XIII

Artist / maker

Unknown

Engraver

Unknown

Date

1960

Type

Photograph; Reproduction

The "Penny Bap" restored on its new site on reclaimed land at Seafield. The photograph was taken by retired elder Bill Collin in April 1981. In the car park of near by office buildings stands the penny bap stone, a huge glacial boulder dropped at Seafield by ice sheets after the last ice age.

Forgotten folk-lore in Edinburgh includes a tale of the elusive shell-clad Shellycoay believed to haunt Edinburgh's Docklands. According to local legend the Seafield Shellycoat made its home inside a barnacle encrusted boulder (The Penny Bap) that got moved when Leith docks expanded. Local children dared each other to run round the boulder 3 times chanting "Shelly-coat, Shelly-coat gang awa hame, I cry nar yer mercy, i fear na yer name". The spirit was said to appear.

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Clothing and dress > Garments > Blouses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

Landscape > Land > Beaches

Landscape > Water > Seas

People > Children > Children playing

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh