Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the
major port serving Edinburgh, it has been the stage on which many
significant events in the nation's past have taken place, from housing
the Scottish court to witnessing civil war, acting as the port of call
for royal arrivals and becoming its own burgh until the amalgamation
with Edinburgh in 1920. The 1950s brought the final days of the old and
ancient thoroughfares in the heart of Leith: the Kirkgate, St Andrew
Street, Tolbooth Wynd, Bridge Street and many more would disappear in
the coming decade. However, the town retains a passionate sense of
individuality and its people a proud sense of identity. Leith has seen
it all. In Secret Leith, local author and historian Jack Gillon delves
into the town's past and offers an insight into some of the lesser-known
aspects of its long and distinguished history.