Edinburgh retro: 12 pictures looking back at Leith Walk in the 1800s and 1900s

Take a look back on the history of Edinburgh’s Leith Walk.

Published 18th Mar 2023, 04:45 GMT

Today, Leith Walk is one of Edinburgh’s busiest streets, but what was it like a hundred years ago? A lot has changed on Leith Walk in recent history. However, current issues like traffic and tram-works also plagued the Edinburgh street back in the day. Go back in time and enjoy these 12 pictures of Leith Walk in the 1800s and 1900s.

Leith Walk was a bustling street in 1898, with horse-drawn trams taking people to and fro and shoppers peering at George Marr's fruit and sweet shop's window displays.

1. Horse-drawn trams

Leith Walk was a bustling street in 1898, with horse-drawn trams taking people to and fro and shoppers peering at George Marr's fruit and sweet shop's window displays. Photo: Unknown

Long before the Trams to Newhaven project, construction workers installed the original tram lines on Leith Walk in 1904.

2. Laying tram lines

Long before the Trams to Newhaven project, construction workers installed the original tram lines on Leith Walk in 1904. Photo: Edinburgh City Libraries

Edinburgh locals were faced with rubbish piling up on Leith Walk during the binmen's strike in November 1987.

3. Rubbish piles

Edinburgh locals were faced with rubbish piling up on Leith Walk during the binmen's strike in November 1987. Photo: Denis Straughan

Decorated floats and lorries drove down Leith Walk to celebrate the Leith Pageant in June 1986.

4. A parade passing by

Decorated floats and lorries drove down Leith Walk to celebrate the Leith Pageant in June 1986. Photo: Albert Jordan