A show case of Leith related objects from the collection of The Living Memory Association and the Spirit of Leithers.
Operating as usual
Oh yes! Any projects out there that are interested in having some space contact us.
The City of Edinburgh Council validated the proposal from the developers Turley who will be working on the new community project alongside a local charity organisation
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Some Leith memories in our latest podcast. Click below to listen
Frederick talks about his father, Walter Jamieson who spent most of his working life at sea- the Merchant Navy, fisheries protection and on whaling ships with Salvesen. We hear tales of his Leith granny, his own childhood and working life. From training as a cooper to working as a lorry driver. Also...
Photos from Living Memory Association's post
Latest episode of Leith Lives was originally broadcast in 2019 on Thelma FM, our internet radio station. We were showing Derek Tilbrook's film Persevere during Leith Festival that year. Derek popped into the studio to talk about the making of the film, his own upbringing in Leith in the 1980s and 90s and the changing face of the area. We can't recommend the film enough. For those who haven't it go along to the Vimeo video platform and search for 'Persevere 2008 film.' Click on photo below to listen to this episode.
https://leithlives.libsyn.com/
The stories of the men, women and children who have shaped the very history of Leith and made it a place to be proud of.
Another podcast with lots of Leith related memories. Click on photo to listen.
https://leithlives.libsyn.com/leith-memories-through-old-newspapers-and-books-part-one
Originally broadcast on Thelma Internet radio Evelyn Whitfield reads a selection of articles from Old newspapers- The Evening News, Despatch, Leith Gazette, quotes from a series of booklets produced in the 1980s called Leith Lives and a book called Old Leith by Guthrie Hutton. Lots of school day mem...
We have a podcast channel with various Leith related podcasts. Click on link below to listen to part one of Andrew Grant's fascinating look at Leith related First World War poetry.
https://leithlives.libsyn.com/andrew-grant-leith-poems-from-world-war-one-part-one
Andrew Grant's second visit to the Thelma studios. Once again he talks about some of the extensive research he has undertaken into Leith and the First World War. This time round he reads poems gleaned from Leith newspapers from the period and gives some background into the events they commemorate. T...
Forgotten songs from the broom cupboard
A musical journey through our collection of 78, 45 and 33rpm records, with a definite bias for 78s. The only theme being songs and artists that have been forgotten or are rarely played. We also find out some history behind the record or artist. Forgotten songs from the broom cupboard is a weekly liv...
Cake anyone?
After being one of the first museums to open back in July we have decided to close The Wee Museum of Memory today. We will wait for further instruction from the Scottish Government to when we can reopen.
We'd like to wish you all a happy christmas and festive period. Stay safe and well. Lets look forward to a better and brighter 2021 for us all.
From the early 1960s we have a wonderful Martin's the Bakers trade display.
Sunday school was a big part of many children's lives. These certificates are from The Jane Street Mission and date from 1929, 1930 and 31. It wasn't just about the weekly religious instruction of course. There were also the parties and Sunday school picnics. The annual summer excursion with your 'tinny' on a string and a bun or pie in a bag were keenly looked forward to and fondly looked back upon.
A whole lot of new donations coming in, amongst the items are medicines. As always laxative holds the prime position! Do you remember Gregory's powder? It's made from rhubarb apparently. Sloan Liniment was a cure all for ache and pains. Certainly worked well on moustaches!
Among the bottles was a lovely labelled Leith Provident meths bottle, corked and half full.
Remember to come along to Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre to The Wee Museum of Memory. We are open seven days a week. Thousands of items for you to look at. Our visitor number are much reduced but we remain here as a local resource. Come along and support us.
Ship building is another industry that was a huge employer in Leith. Henry Robb's shipyards was situated exactly where we are at Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre. Here we have the shipwright cards of Robert Klar. Shipyards were certainly well unionised and it's interesting to see the fortnightly union dues were 6 shillings in 1968.
Thanks again to John Dickson for this Alhambra cinema poster from 1924. Its a pefect accompaniment to the AC Becket music shop record sleeve. Both Cinema and record shop were owned by Mr Beckett. Of course the musical interludes between films were a perfect time for 'showcasing' records that were for sale next door. A perfect marketing ploy.
Our good friend Stan Eadie tells us that Alf Beckett was a devoted Jimmy Shand fan and would often refuse to turn up the volume at the begining of the film because the pre programme Jimmy Shand track hadn't finished playing.
More gems from John Dickson. A couple of pages from a Gaiety Theatre program. There are surprisingly few images of the building its self but I've see a few programs over the years. Situated in The Kirkgate it was managed by Claude Worth and attracted such stars as Lex McLean and Johnny Victory. Just to be topical I've included a pantomine entry from a program we have. No indication of year. Do you recognise any of the cast?
Today it's one of the lost industries of Leith, The Roperie. A beautifully designed trade brochure from 1906. It's full of photos, statistics and the history about the production of rope and sail cloth. The company started in 1775 and at the turn of the 20th century was employing over a 1000 people. The only remaining part of the Roperie can be seen behind the allotments on Leith Links.
More photos of the Roperie can be seen via the link to our archive on www.livingmemory.org.uk
A rather battered list of sailings from Leith to Aberdeen from June 1952. The boats were St Clair, St Ninian, St Magnus, St Clement and Brora Head- Cargo only.
Hanging up in The Wee Museum of Memory, Ocean Terminal.
An absolute beauty from Leith's more recent history. We have around 30 of these wrestling posters in The Wee Museum of Memory. The Eldorado, behind The State cinema in Great Junction Street, was built as a dance hall in 1930s. In the 1960s and 70s it was a popular venue for wrestling. A scary looking Andy Robins headlines here. He went on to have even more fame with Hercules the bear.
British wrestling was so popular at the time it was a staple of Saturday afternoon TV. Kent Walton was the commentor. Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki, Mick McManus and Big Daddy. So many fine athletes!
A big thank you to Fraser Parkinson over at Spirit of Leithers for sharing these Leith Special Constable items. Particularly like the whistle and the ceremonial truncheon. Leith's police were entirely independent of Edinburgh's force until 1920.
I'm tempted to say the Leith Police doth dismisseth us. One of the world's most well known tongue twisters apparently
This is one of my favourite items from John, so far. His description of how this lighter operates sounds highly entertaining!
Another contribution from John and some of his Leith crest collection.
This was called crest ware, people would buy them when on holiday.
Photos of some great Leith related items kindly being sent into us by John Dickson. We begin with W Christie, Pipe makers- 25 Anthony Lane. We have a clay block in The Wee Museum of Memory from Christie. Used, I believe, to whiten tenement stairs and passsage ways.
Collection of Christie's clay pipes.
Back to the docks today and the official Port of Leith book published by The Leith chamber of Trade in 1937. Its full of interest from maps, photos, adverts and facts and figures. The introduction is translated into 12 languages, including Esperanto.
The book is part of our Leith library collection and is always available to look at The Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal.
A simple one today. A handmade Leith flag, about 40in by 26in. Lovely detailing on the centre piece. Displayed on the wall of The Wee Museum of Memory just as you come in.
Today we have two large oil paintings, by C Dinse, that were kindly donated by a relative. Both were painted in the 1970s and have pride of place at The Wee Museum of Memory. Both are views from The Shore, around the bridge on Bridge Street, now Sandport Place. McGregor's Quayside Mill was in in Quayside Street, one time known as Church Lane. The mill produced animal feed. The second picture is a favourite view for photos and paintings. Looking up toward the Bernard Street Bridge.
Remember you can still visit us 'for real' at Ocean Terminal. We are open 10.am to 3pm weekdays and 11am to 3pm weekdays.
There were so many businesses and workplaces in Leith. Cooperages and barrel making, was an important element in whisky and beer making production. Leith was never known for distilling whiskey but there were many whisky bond warehouses and bottling plants in Leith.
An exciting development here at Ocean Terminal is a brand new distillery being built beside Britannia. You can see it from the window of The Wee Museum of Memory. Along with a great view of Fife and, of course, all these thousands of objects in the museum.
More Docks related items today. I'm sure people will keep me right here but a 'Capstanman' worked on the dock's internal train system. Hooking and unhooking the trucks etc. Lovely arm band, probably 1950s.
The small brass containers were used for payments to individual Dockers. Hence each one is numbered.
Day three of Leith related objects. The Docks were obviously a central and important part of Leith life. Here we have a selection of Dockers hooks. These were used to handle, grab and pull cargo off and on ships and boats. The Docks were a labour intensive operation before cargo was containerised. Hundreds were employed, often on a day to day basis.
These objects can be seen at The Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal. We are open seven days a week. 10am to 3pm, weekdays and 11am to 3pm, weekends. We are on the second floor, next to Britannia.
Day two of Leith related objects. The mighty Leith provident Co-op Society today. A proper wide topped milk bottle and a Provi Members book. Leith Provident was such an integral part of everyday life, stores all over the place and, of course, the big stores in Great Junction Street.
Remember all these objects are on display at The Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal. We were one of the first museums to open after lockdown and we remain open. Come and support your museum in Leith.
Today we begin posting objects and memorabilia that relate to the last 100 years of Leith's history – our way of commemorating the 100th anniversary this year of the merging of Leith and Edinburgh.
What better way to start than with this Leith/Edinburgh Boundary plaque which was situated on a tenement wall in Buchanan Street. This small piece of Leith history was rescued from being scrapped by Allan Wilson when the area was being redeveloped in the 1970s. The merger is still controversial. A poll of Leith residents at the time voted 26,810 against and 4,340 for the merger.
Also pictured is an article from The Scotsman newspaper from 1919 entitled Edinburgh and Leith – The Divorce. It describes the earlier discussions in 1825 around the separation at that time of the two towns.
These objects can both be seen at The Wee Museum of Memory in Ocean Terminal (2nd Floor next to Britannia. Currently open 10am-3pm weekdays and 11am-3pm weekends). Please come along to support your museum in Leith. We would love to see you!
Thanks again to Allan Wilson for donating the plaque to our collection.
The Wee Museum Of Memory
Edinburgh
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