Leith's Kirkgate to be brought back to life with detailed model in museum
The project aims to preserve not only the appearance of the street but also the memories of the people who lived, worked and socialised there
A historic Leith street which was demolished in the 1960s is set to be recreated in a detailed model as part of a project celebrating the area’s heritage.
The Kirkgate, once considered the heart of Leith, is being brought back to life through a collaboration between the Living Memory Association’s Wee Museum of Memory, Facebook community The Spirit of Leithers and model maker Keith Crawley.
The project will see a highly detailed miniature model of the street as it appeared during the 1960s, before its demolition.
Once completed, the model will be displayed in a dedicated unit at the Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean Terminal, alongside a wider exhibition about Leith’s history.
The model is expected to be completed around March 2027, with work already under way to gather memories from people who remember it and recreate the street.
With much of the original area demolished, Keith is now solely relying on historic photographs, Google Maps and information from local history groups to piece it together.
Heather Robertson, from the Wee Museum of Memory, said the project was inspired by many people sharing their memories of the Kirkgate through The Spirit of Leithers community.
She said: “I find a lot of people talking about the Kirkgate, talking about their memories.”
The project aims to preserve not only the appearance of the street but also the memories of the people who lived, worked and socialised there. It will also offer younger generations an insight into how everyday life in Leith has changed, from the shops people visited to the places they went for entertainment.
Heather said: “It’s a chance for all the older and younger people to come together and share memories.
“We have one older man who’s in his 80s, and he used to deliver goods, he was a delivery boy down to the Kirkgate.
“Older people are looking at the models and thinking, ‘Oh, that’s not right’, or ‘that should be there,’ or ‘I remember going to that sweetie shop’.”
Organisers are encouraging former residents and anyone with memories of the old Kirkgate to get involved by sharing stories, photographs and recollections of the area.
The Wee Museum of Memory has a recording booth where people can record their memories, while contributions are also being gathered through The Spirit of Leithers Facebook page and the museum's own social media.
Heather said the response so far had been “tremendous”, adding that the model would give people an opportunity to reconnect with an important part of Leith’s history.
She said: “I think people are really excited to see what the model will look like.”
And it is that reaction that keeps Keith going and makes the hours of work he puts into his projects all worthwhile.
Speaking in September, Keith said: “I am only doing half of the process. The other half comes from the person who then gets it, because they inject all the memories and emotions into it.”
Keith believes that his creations serve an important purpose in preserving Edinburgh’s history and the memories people associate with it.
“I call them slices of Edinburgh, but I suppose there will be slices of time as well,” he said.
The project is being partly funded through a grant from Historic Environment Scotland.
Anyone wishing to share their memories of the Kirkgate or find out more about the project can contact or visit the Wee Museum of Memory at Ocean terminal or get in touch through its Facebook page or The Spirit of Leithers.