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Edinburgh, Leith, Great Junction Street

Shell Midden(S) (Period Unassigned)(Possible)

Site Name Edinburgh, Leith, Great Junction Street

Classification Shell Midden(S) (Period Unassigned)(Possible)

Alternative Name(s) Junction Bridge; Sheriff Brae; Leith Hospital

Canmore ID 111524

Site Number NT27NE 120

NGR NT 269 759

NGR Description From NT 269 759 to NT 265 763

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/111524

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Edinburgh, City Of
  • Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District City Of Edinburgh
  • Former County Midlothian

Archaeology Notes

NT27NE 120 269 759 to 265 763

Two areas of possible shell middens in the area of Great Junction Street are revealed in publications from the early 19th and 20th century.

'Although not by any means an uncommon occurrence, we may mention, that lately, whilst forming the new road between the foot of Leith Walk and the new bridge on the Water of Leith, vast quantities of marine shells were dug up from a depth of at least fifteen feet. These, it is somewhat remarkable, were found in the greatest abundance where the excavation, which was making a common sewer, intersected a bank or rising ground close by the bridge alluded to, few or none being found in the hollows through which the trench passed. The shells dug up on this occasion were as fresh and sound as if just taken from their native element. Indeed the whole interior of this excavation had something so marine in its character, that it appeared as if the ground had been left but by the ebbing of the tide, although many ages must have elapsed since it was overspread with the waters of the sea'.

A Campbell 1827

'The Leith Hospital, Humane Society and Casualty Hospital are in Mill Lane, Sheriff Brae, and together occupy a building of considerable extent, erected in 1850. When its foundation was being dug, a large deposit of sea-shells was uncovered, which is held to prove that at one time the sea must have flowed over the spot'.

F H Groome (ed) 1901

The foot of Leith Walk is at NT 2695 7591, and the 'new bridge' to which Campbell refers is presumably Junction Bridge (NT 2655 7639) which dates from 1818. Spot heights on the relevant OS 1:1250 maps indicate an altitude of between 32' and 34' (9.7m and 10.3m) OD for the greater part of length Great Junction Street; this suggests an altitude of no more than 19' (5.8m) for the midden deposits.

The Leith Hospital is at NT 267 763. Groome may be referring to another part of the possible midden deposits that are mentioned in Campbell's account.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM) 16 April 1993

Architecture Notes

NMRS Prints & Drawings

Plans: Dick Peddie & MacKay, Edinburgh, Feu-plan & elevation, new tenement

Bin12, Bag 2, 1879 Kinnear & Peddie

References

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