The Shore, the Swing Bridge and the Water of Leith

The Shore - Leith

The View

The Shore lies on the eastern bank of the Water of Leith as it approaches Leith Harbour. This view looks past the swing bridge and inland up the Water of Leith. The houses in the centre of the building are on The Shore, Leith.

Thank you to Ben Newlin, Orlando, Florida, USA for sending me the image above. The boat in this painting is 'Morna'. Ben says that there was one boat named 'Morna' that perished in 1855 and another which was built in 1877.

Ben wonders when this view was painted, which would help him discover which 'Mona' is featured.

The Date

At the end of the shore, there is a 17th century round tower which was once a windmill. This building and the remaining buildings on The Shore are still standing today.

The Swing Bridge in the foreground was opened in 1874 to carry two railway tracks across the Water of Leith. The bridge is built of iron and weighs 750 tons. When it was built it was the largest in Britain.

The bridge is still standing and is now protected, having been scheduled as The bridge is now used only by pedestrians and it no longer swings.

The building on the left was originally a sailor's mission. It was built in 1883, and was recently converted to a hotel.

So the view in the painting appears to be 1883 or later. Perhaps somebody else will find more clues in this photo. Please e-mail me if you do.