Leith Local History Society

About Us

Leith Local History Society was formed in September 1999 and was launched with an opening exhibition followed by a programme of monthly talks.

In 2002 some of our members contributed material for a booklet called “Explore Historic Leith”.  This was published by the City of Edinburgh Council and was available in time for our next event - a Local History Fair held in the Thomas Morton Hall in May 2002.  In the same year we received a grant from the City of Edinburgh Council to enable us to make a video entitled “Persevere the Spirit of Leith”.

Originally our meetings were held in Leith Library but in 2003 we transferred to the Leith Community Education Centre as this allowed us more time for our meetings and also enabled us to introduce a social content to the evening.

We have participated annually in the Leith Festival graduating from one small table to two large gazebos with numerous display boards to enable us to show photographs, maps etc as well as various items of memorabilia.  These exhibitions usually have a theme and we have in recent years had “Leith at War” and “Schools and Sports in Leith” as the topic of these exhibitions.  In 2011 we plan to have “Pirates” as our theme as there were several pirates who were arrested and hung on Leith Sands.  

From September 2005 we have published a quarterly journal “Frae the fit O’ the Walk”.  It contains articles about Leith, its people and its history.  It is distributed to members, the local community and further afield.  Articles for possible publication are always welcome and should be sent to the Editor at  tweedie.d@sky.com.  (The editor reserves the right to amend, edit or reject any material.)  In addition we publish several other books and leaflets, details of which can be found on our publications page.

New members are always welcome.