FEATURE: Leith Boundaries

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Evening News (Edinburgh)
July 31, 2010, Saturday

IT was a decision that split public opinion, sparked fierce debate and prompted strong displays of emotion from proud Leithers.

Should the port be merged with Edinburgh? That was the question of the day 90 years ago.

On August 3, 1920, the official answer became "yes" as the Edinburgh Boundaries Extension and Tramways Bill received Royal Assent, moving one step closer to its implementation in November of that year.

But it was not a decision ever favoured by the majority of Leithers, who in a referendum voted overwhelming 26,810 to 4340 against the planned merger with the Capital.

Despite this, they were defeated by the authorities of the day, as a decision was made to incorporate not only Leith, but Corstorphine, Colinton and Liberton into Edinburgh as officials argued it was in the public interest.

Unsurprisingly, the controversial decision still sparks debate today.

The boundaries of Leith have clearly changed dramatically over the years. Back in 1920, the borders of the new Leith local authority ward mirrored the old borders of the Municipal Borough of Leith, straddling Pilrig Street before cutting a straight line to the south-west corner of Lochend Loch and heading out to sea.

Crucially, the old borders encircled Easter Road Stadium, but by the 1950s the borders shifted up Hawkhill Avenue.

At that point, Hibernian FC ceased to be part of Leith and became part of the old Calton ward, but to its fans Hibs remained - and still remains to this day - a Leith club.

Today, it sits in the Edinburgh City Council ward of Leith Walk, well outside the heavily contracted council ward currently known as Leith.

One of Leith's most famous landmarks, the former Boundary Bar, straddled the original boundary between the port and Leith, with the official dividing line running through the middle.