We Love Leith
Here are a few photographs from our adventures in and around Leith. From historical buildings and clues to the past, current inspirational local businesses, social enterprises and charities, street art, art colleges and a few book recommendations, there are so many hidden gems that don't make it to "Top 10 Things to do in Leith" or Guidebooks. This is Leith by Leithers.
Click on each image to see what it is. There is lots of information online about these places if you know what to search for, so this page can act as a signpost.
Please let us know if anything is incorrect. This page is a labour of love and a work in progress so look out for more images appearing over time.
We've used what3words to help locate where each photograph was taken. You can also find some of the named places on our accompanying list on Google Maps.
All photos © Leith Comedy Festival. Please credit if using or ask us about high resolution versions.
 Leith TheatreLeith Theatre was a gift from Edinburgh after the amalgamation of Leith in 1920, despite a vote 6:1 against. It was bombed during the war in 1941, reopening 20 years later playing host to AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and Kraftwerk. It lay derelict for decades until a dedicated group of Leithers fought to bring it back to life.
Image description:
a 1930s theatre from the stage, hosting a busy clothes fair with stalls with festoon lighting
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///idea.piles.among |  Pier with Antony Gormley Statue, Ocean Drive, LeithDerelict Pier with Antony Gormley Statue at the end, right beside where Port of Leith, the world's first vertical whisky distillery is being constructed.
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A derelict wooden pier over choppy water, viewed from the land and looking straight along it
what3words: ///host.lonely.turned |  Leith Dry DockThis was the first dry dock in Leith, and has since been filled in. You can still see the shape of the building which would have accommodated the front of a ship.
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A tenement building with a door and window in an alcove, where the front of a ship would have been held
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///flight.fault.discouraged |
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 Sculpture of Sandy Irvine Robertson, The Shore, LeithSandy Irvine Robertson OBE (1942-1999) was a Leith wine merchant and founder of the Scottish Business Award Trust. The sculpture is by Lucy Poett.
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A life-size bronze statue of a man sitting on a bench, with a small boy standing on the bench looking directly at him
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///weep.piano.youth |  Queen Victoria Statue, Kirkgate, LeithQueen Victoria - enough has been written about her so here's a mention from Trainspotting instead:
Ah clock Franco at Queen Sticky-Vicky’s statue, talkin tae this big dude, a mean hombre called Lexo; a casual acquaintance, if ye catch ma drift. Funny scene, likesay, how aw the psychos seem tae ken each other, ken what ah mean, likes? Such alliances are unholy man, just unholy…
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Looking up at a statue of Queen Victoria
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///grace.light.cattle |  South Leith Parish Church, Kirkgate, LeithImage Description:
A sunlit arched green door of a church
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///strict.marble.cherry |
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 The King's Wark, The Shore, LeithThe King's Wark used to be known as The Jungle, a fitting title for the wild activities that went on here!
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///curving.trail.hosts |  Whisky bonds opposite The Shorewhat3words:
///sofa.slang.gift |  Customs House, Commercial Street, LeithCustom House Leith is the oldest custom house in Scotland.
The A-listed Georgian building was designed by Robert Reid, built in 1810
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Looking up at a neo-classical building with pillars
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///years.palm.tested |
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///mirror.dash.rival |  Lamb's House, Water's Close, LeithImage Description:
Looking up at a 17th century white house, with blue sky behind. There are gables and a wooden balcony
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///hopes.basis.swift |  Leith Crest: Perseverewhat3words:
///weedy.prone.loser |
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 The Central Bar, Foot of Leith WalkThe Central Bar used to be the bar for Leith Central Station, hence the name. It's Grade A Listed and when we were in they said that means they're not allowed to clean the tiles! They also used to put a board over the back booth for go go dancers... not unusual for Leith in the past. Reported to be one of Irvine Welsh's favourite bars.
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///manual.alien.paying |  Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Hawthornvale, LeithImage Description:
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///sits.wires.bath |  Porter's Stone, Henderson Street, LeithImage Description:
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///sculpture.sang.allows |
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 The CitadelImage Description:
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///atoms.melon.hedge |  |  Constitution Street by Jemma NevilleImage description:
orange and blue cover of the book "Constitution Street" by Jemma Neville |
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 Constitution Street Arch, LeithImage Description:
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///later.oldest.locker |  Trinity House Museum, Kirkgate, LeithImage Description:
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///fame.trying.monkey |  The Old Lighthouse and Whale Harpoon on Shore, LeithImage Description:
A view of The Shore in Leith, looking along the river at sunset. There is the top of a lighthouse and a whale harpoon
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///flock.woke.copies |
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 Art along the Water of Leith: "It disna matter where she gangs she's always happy and gay now she's kipping it up wi a navvy at the fit o the sherry brae"
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a sunlit paving stone with capital letters carved in a spiral
what3words: |  The Citadel Youth Centre, Commercial Street, LeithImage description:
A photograph of an old railway station, now used as a youth centre
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///legend.under.string |  Coburg House Art StudiosImage Description:
An imposing former granary, with a red and white sign around the main entrance
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///foods.exit.recent |
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 Corn Exchange, Constitution Street, LeithImage Description:
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///onion.parks.enable |  Western Harbour or Point of Leith Lighthouse, built in the 1950s
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A derelict, graffitied lighthouse on concrete stilts, surrounded by high railings saying "no unauthorised persons beyond this point"
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///narrow.cats.gentle |  The building which is now Malmaison Hotel was built in 1883 as a Seaman's Mission and later became the Angel Hotel. Both previous establishments were renowned for wild nights and being brothels.
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Looking up at an uplit imposing building with a castellated clock tower at dusk
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///tiger.leans.aware |
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 Leith SandsThis is closed off to the public but Leith has a beach! It is the only part left of a much larger beach which used to host the Leith Races from around 1504 to 1816. They moved to Musselburgh but were never as wild as they were in Leith...
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A screenshot from a satellite image on Google Maps of a small beach
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///zones.select.stores |  C.M. Marr picture framers on Ferry Road, LeithThere used to be a stained glass image of a ship on the main window, and the day after an auctioneer expressed interest of the window being valuable, a truck backed into it completely destroying it.
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A traditional picture framer's workshop with pictures and frames stacked against the wall
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///librarian.worth.calls |  Cables Wynd House, LeithCables Wynd in Leith, known as the Banana Flats because of the shape of the curved buildings. Grade A listed buildings are one of the best examples of 1960s Brutalist Architecture, and were carefully designed as an upgrade to the tenement slums that were torn down. Home to fictional character Sick Boy in Irvine Welsh's book Trainspotting
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Highrise flats which curve around to the left
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///sharp.small.flesh |
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 Alan the crocodile on the Water of LeithImage Description:
Graffiti of a green cartoon crocodile wearing sunglasses on a white door and brick wall
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///resist.limbs.hills |  Leith School of Art, North Junction Street, LeithFormerly the Norwegian Seaman's Church
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A church with a blue door
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///took.rear.guess |  Mural, North Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///speeds.rift.finest |
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 Leith Market, Dock Place, LeithImage Description:
an outdoor market with yellow and white awnings on a sunny day
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///goods.pads.combining |  Mural off Bernard Street, LeithImage Description:
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///vanish.pounds.fortunate |  Projekt 42, Leith WalkImage Description:
A red gate saying "Projekt 42"
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///rods.splash.gifts |
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 Crow MosaicImage Description:
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///spit.putty.analogy |  Leith Victoria Swing BridgeImage Description:
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///test.agrees.bring |  Antony Gormley Statue, Water of Leith, Anderson Place, Leith, EdinburghImage Description:
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///camp.keeps.toxic |
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 Water of Leith ArtworkImage Description:
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///towns.quit.choice |  Leith LibraryImage Description:
A grand entrance consisting of a wooden door at the top of stone stairs, flanked by stone pillars
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///unwanted.rates.solar |  Leith Links PlayparkImage Description:
A huge playpark with 3 climbing frame ships and an enormous sandpit
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///song.loyal.goat |
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 Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edinburgh, Sheriff Brae, LeithSince 1976, the building has been used by the Edinburgh Sikh community as their Gurdwara. Formerly St Thomas’s Church, Manse and schools. Built with money from slaver John Gladstone.
Sheriff Brae, Leith
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///lamp.hidden.forces |  Fish Sculpture Commercial QuayImage Description:
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///pocket.enhancement.react |  Banksy Rat, Bernard Street, LeithBanksy?
This appeared in Bernard Street, Leith in 2019, along with a masked man wearing a top with the EU flag on it, throwing a bouquet of flowers. Is it real? We hope so!
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a black stencil on a white wall of a rat holding a paintbrush
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///added.fried.edge |
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 Burns Statue, Constitution Street, LeithImage Description:
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///backed.kept.diary |  North Leith CemetryNorth Leith Churchyard
The original churchyard was much bigger but flats were built on it.
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an old gravestone with angels and skull carvings
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///path.part.minds |  The PittThe Pitt
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 Leith and Edinburgh BoundaryBier Hoose, formerly the Boundary Bar, with 2 doors which mark the original boundary between Leith and Edinburgh, before they were amalgamated against Leith's will in 1920.
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///crisis.hired.yoga |  The Biscuit Factory, Anderson Place, LeithThe Biscuit Factory
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the inside of a bright warehouse with lots of windows and metal supports
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///farm.renew.aware |  The Old Pump House at Leith DocksImage description:
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///bleak.bounty.bunch |
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 The Leither's Guide to LeithThe Leither's Guide to Leith, an unofficial guide written by students at Leith Academy.
Available to buy at The Scottish Design Exchange in Ocean Terminal
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an image of the book: "The Leither's Guide to Leith" |  St Ninian's Manse, LeithImage Description:
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///string.market.many |  Leith Police Station Old Council ChamberLeith Police Station Old Council Chamber with an oil painting of "George IV Landing at Leith" by Alexander Carse, 1822.
It's well worth a visit on Doors Open Day where they take a bit too much delight in slamming the door when you're inside a cell!
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A grand room with a large rectangular table surrounded by chairs, and a large oil painting on the wall
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///discouraged.healers.steps |
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 Campervan Brewery, LeithImage Description:
a smiling man in dungarees standing with his hands on his hips, at the entrance of a brewery
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///crazy.tulip.sticks |  Old Leith Central StationLeith Central Station, now offices home to social enterprises Social Bite and Invisible Cities
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Looking down traditional station stairway, with green tiles on the wall
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///cracks.roofs.alone |  Scottish Design ExchangeThis has now moved to George Street.
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///soda.slam.bottle |
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 Statue of Dr John Rattray Statue at Leith Links, by David AnnandA bronze statue of Dr John Rattray Statue at Leith Links by David Annand
St Andrews might be famous for golf now but the rules were written in Leith. John Rattray took part in the very first golf competition in 1744, for which the rules were drawn up. Charles I and James VII are said to have played golf on Leith Links
First Rules of Golf 1744
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A life-size bronze statue of a man in 18th century clothing holding a golf club, about to tee off.
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///bottle.total.ruler |  Leith FortImage Description:
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///maple.report.weep |  Swanfield, LeithSwanfield, Leith formerly flour mills
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A graffitied wall with a bollard in the shape of a bunch of wheat, with a metal sign saying "Swanfield"
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///wells.ballots.submit |
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 Spilt Milk Coffee, Great Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///gaps.slimy.twice |  The Junction, Great Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///invite.lists.rift |  Leith Community Croft, Leith LinksImage Description:
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///locker.occupy.polite |
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 Old Leith HospitalPrudence & Fortitude
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///mouse.name.apron |  Dr Bell's Family CentreImage Description:
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///events.rots.grabs |  Leith Little Free Library, Chandler Street, off Leith LinksImage Description:
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///wide.script.sheet |
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 State Cinema, Great Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///bucks.booth.ritual |  Hemingway's, Commercial Street, LeithFairleys pub, now Hemingway's, was said to have had a puma in a cage! Maybe not that odd for a port town but this was only in the 70s...
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///hips.pines.relay |  Georgian Antiques, Pattison Street, off Leith LinksImage Description:
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///sorters.stay.crisis |
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 Old Leith HospitalImage Description:
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///lamps.woke.party |  The Fingal, Alexandra Dock, LeithImage Description:
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///drove.remind.charmingly |  Custom Lane, Customs Wharf, LeithA collaborative centre for design and making
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///door.normal.return |
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 Mary Queen of Scots PlaqueA Plaque which reads:
"This Plaque commemorates the landing in Leith of Marie Stuart, Queen of Scots, upon her return from Frace on 19th August 1561. Placed here by the Marie Stuart Society in the year of the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2002"
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///items.spare.leap |  Newhaven LighthouseImage Description:
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///awake.glow.bossy |  Leith Walk Police BoxImage Description:
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///handed.able.frogs |
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 Multicultural Family Base, Coburg Street, LeithImage Description:
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///yards.doctor.minute |  Sketchy Beats, Great Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///roofs.asking.sulk |  Easter Road Stadium, LeithHome of Hibernian or Hibs football team.
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an aerial photograph of the city of Edinburgh, taken from Arthur's Seat
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///organs.cove.pack |
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 The Old Dr Bell's Baths, Great Junction Street, LeithImage Description:
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///defeat.remote.drill |  Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Giles Street, LeithImage Description:
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///tigers.storms.award |  The Shore, LeithImage Description:
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 Leith Dockers Club, Academy Street, LeithImage description:
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///breed.tall.recent |  Leith Signal Tower, The ShoreThe Signal Tower is one of the oldest standing buildings in Leith, built in 1685 as a windmill.
The battlements and windows were added later, and was used as defense in the Napoleonic Wars and then as a signal towers for ships.
Image description, looking up at a round stone tower with battlements
what3words: ///calms.hype.impose |  The Scottish Government, Victoria QuayImage description: a modern building overlooking a humanmade pond
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///pipes.economies.ripe |
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 Queen Charlotte Rooms, LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///rewarding.sofa.medium |  Cant's Ordinary Plaque LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///brick.search.turns |  Holes in wall Consitution Street LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///copies.slam.chair |
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what3words: ///trick.chip.curvy |  Chancelot Mills LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///short.villa.hooks |  Out of the Blue Drill Hall LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///closes.remind.method |
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 Storries Bakery Leith WalkImage Description:
what3words: ///float.race.fries |  Teuchter's Landing, LeithImage Description:
what3words: ///pots.hidden.tone |  Leith Ex-Servicemen's ClubImage Description:
what3words: ///tigers.bill.shell |
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