Day 15
Leith Hospital
Liz Hare from Citadel Arts Group remembers the Leith Hospital with a brief introduction and excerpt from their publication, Leith Hospital Recalls.
‘A resource for the whole community’ . . . ‘there when you needed it’ . . . .’my wee pet place!’
Situated in Mill Lane, Leith Hospital has a long proud history going back to monks who tended the sick at St Anthony’s Hospital in the 15th century. In the 18th century, the Humane Society revived sailors and fishermen who would otherwise have drowned in the docks. It grew to be a general hospital with adult medical, surgical and children’s wards, a casualty department and a wide range of outpatient services. The much-loved hospital closed in 1987. Its full story can be read in Christine Hoy’s book ‘A Beacon in our Town’ (1988).
Citadel Arts Group learned of the hospital when in 2010, we showed Stewart Emm’s documentary. After the film, people told us they were still angry at the closure. They missed what had been a truly local institution which they felt had belonged to them. They had supported it with fund-raising for many years. Many staff were local people. It was where they had carried their hurt children; where the lives of workers with industrial accidents had been saved because the hospital was so near.
Citadel decided to deliver a project in which we collected memories and photographs from over 50 people who had worked in Leith Hospital as nurses, doctors, technicians, cleaners or physiotherapists. Some had attended as patients or visitors.
Here is a taste of what they told us:
“The support from the community was constant. . . The Paediatric Wing was the Leith War Memorial. . . . I got my appendix out when I was eight. I recall the wee round porthole door into the corridor. When walking along the Paediatric corridor as a houseman I felt a wee pang of familiarity when I saw the same portholes from the other side.”
“How clinical it was with all white tiles and the strong smell of disinfectant. . . . the superb quality of care anyone received.”
“To this day I remember never sit on a bed. It was only two visitors at a time.”
“At Christmas, presents were donated by local churches. People going to the local picture houses would leave presents.”
“The nurses’ Christmas dinner was served by the doctors.”
“In 1940 a German Bomber hit David Kilpatrick’s School. I remember going to the hospital. There were hundreds of people waiting to be treated for cuts and minor injuries. Leith Hospital was stretched to its limit.”
Some of these stories also found their way into Laure Paterson’s play, ‘Leith’s Hidden Treasure’, a tribute to Leith Hospital.
Copies of the memory book ‘Leith Hospital Recalled’ are available from lizhare@blueyonder.co.uk
Citadel Arts Group Living Memories project of which Leith Hospital Recalled was part: Living Memories