| The Port of Leith in Scotland was once separate from Edinburgh, but centuries of growth made the two cities one urban area. Leith was merged into Edinburgh in 1920. Port History The Port of Leith is central to Scotland's history. Mary Queen of Scots began her six-year reign there. A century later, it was Oliver Cromwell's army headquarters after a fierce battle. The battleground, now called the Leith Links, still contains grassy mounds where cannon earthworks were built. The Port of Leith is home to the first recorded game of golf, and it was the site for a five-hole golf course built in the 18th Century. In 1744, the Honorable Company of Edinburgh Golfers formulated the first official rules for the game. Former Scotsman John Paul Jones led three vessels against Leith during the American Revolution. Though they were repelled by bad weather, the Port of Leith built fortifications afterwards. Parts of Leith are still called �he Fort,?although the buildings are gone. Two popular landmarks, The Old Ship Hotel and King's Landing, were named to commemorate the arrival of King George IV on his visit to Scotland. After World War II, the docks went into decline, and the area got a reputation for prostitution and hard living. Recently though, the Port of Leith has enjoyed renewal, and it's a busy port for cruise liners. It's also the home to Ocean Terminal, Royal Yacht Britannica, and headquarters for the Scottish Executive. Cruising and Travel No longer a seedy area, the Port of Leith's shore area is a center for pubs, restaurants, and many tourist attractions. You can visit the Stuck on Scotland website to learn about its many tourist attractions. And you can search for cruises that call in the Port of Leith at the UK's online cruise website. In the 1980s, the Port of Leith welcomed a new era of prosperity when old industrial sites were redeveloped into affordable housing, and new small industries were started. New restaurants and hotels were constructed at The Shore, and the polluted banks of the Water of Leith were cleaned up. In the 1990s, the Scottish government constructed new civil services offices, bringing well-paid civil service jobs to boost the local economy and give Leith a white-collar image. These were followed by service and tourist industry development that included the Ocean Terminal complex, soon to be connected to Edinburgh's new tram network. In 2004, Docks owner Forth Ports announced its plans to close the port and redevelop the area, replacing it with as many as 17 thousand new homes and retail, commercial, residential, and leisure development. While the announcement has not been completely well-received by locals, the project should be completed by 2020. Until then, the Port of Leith is the biggest enclosed deep-water port in Scotland. It can handle vessels up to 50 thousand DWT. |
