Leith Local History Society
About UsBack in May 1999 a poster went up in Leith Library inviting people to come to a meeting to discuss the possibility of forming a local history society for Leith. At the meeting a steering committee was formed and Leith Local History Society was launched in September 1999 with an opening exhibition and a programme of monthly talks. In the early months of 2002 some of our members contributed material for a booklet called "Explore Historic Leith". This was published by City of Edinburgh Council and was available in time for our next major event - a Local History Fair held in the Thomas Morton Hall in May 2002. Also in 2002 we received a grant from the City of Edinburgh Council to make a video entitled "Persevere, the Spirit of Leith". This was made for us by Heehaw Productions, an Edinburgh firm. The video was launched before an invited audience in Lamb's House on 10th September 2002. Originally our monthly meetings were held in Leith Library but in 2003 we changed the venue to Leith Community Education Centre. This was done to give us more time for our meetings and introduce a social element. We have participated annually in the Leith Festival graduating from a small table to two large gazebos with display board of photographs as well as items of memorabilia etc. In addition two members have conducted daily guided tours around Leith during the whole of festival week. These have attracted considerable interest. Guided tours can also be done at other times by prior arrangement. In 2004 we formed a research group. Our first subject of research was “Great Junction Street” and work on this is still ongoing. 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 Joint Editors at tweedie.d@sky.com. (The editors reserve 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.
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