Day 79
Burgh of Leith
Town Hall,
Police Station &
Court Rooms
The Police Act (1827) provided for “ the Municipal Government of the Town and suburbs of the Town of Leith, for the Administration of Justice and for the Regulation of the Police therein” This Act defined the boundaries of Leith and introduced a Sheriff Substitute who could hold regular Courts and administer Justice for the whole Town.
In 1833 The Burgh Reform Act created Leith as a Parliamentary Burgh and later that year it became a separate Municipal Burgh with its own Provost, Magistrates and Council. Bailies no longer ran the town.
Leith now had two bodies to administer its affairs, the Town Council and the Police Commissioners whose role came to an end in 1848 when the Town Council absorbed their responsibilities.
These two Acts of Parliament had given the impetus to create a building worthy of its functions and so was erected the magnificent Town Hall. As the inscription on pediment on the elevation to Constitution Street proudly records:
“Erected by the Magistrates and Masters - 1827”
Constitution Street, Leith - 1830
Leith Town Hall - 1870
Leith Police Station - 2021
From 1833, until the 1920 amalgamation with the City of Edinburgh, the building performed its full functions, including the use of the Police Cells for prisoners awaiting proceedings! The very imposing Council Chamber on the First Floor is approached from Constitution Street by a staircase delightfully decorated with various motifs and stained glass windows.
Staircase leading to the council chambers
Stained Glass Windows
With the exception of the Council Chamber, which is in the ownership of the City of Edinburgh Council, the entire building is in the high security ownership and occupation of Police Scotland as successor to the three previous Police Authorities. This makes for difficulties of public access to the Council Chamber.
However, once inside the Chamber, the grandeur of its virtually untouched 194 years is revealed and is redolent of its past municipal functions. The many splendid furnishings, both hard and soft, are of a high quality of design and craftsmanship, albeit all are rather sadly in need of restoration.
There are paintings of some of the sixteen Provosts of Leith, Dr. John Henderson FRCS ( Edin.) served two terms following the death of Provost James Pringle FRSE. Dr. Henderson was instrumental in the establishment of the Leith Improvement Plan.
A number of the Provosts were important Merchants, some such as first Provost Adam White of the Fens were in trade with the Baltic Countries, others were manufacturers of rope and sails. Ship owners, Lawyers and Chairmen of many very important companies were prominent. Thomas Hutchison was a wine merchant who built Carlowrie Castle near to Edinburgh Airport.
The father of Provost James Pringle was greatly involved with the Scottish Naval and Military Academy which was operating where now stands the Caledonian Hotel on Princes Street. Two Provosts, Richard Mackie and Malcolm Smith were Knighted and at least two others were awarded CBE. These Honours were not necessarily for service as Provost.
The Alexander Carse painting “ The landing of George IV at Leith 1822” hangs in the Chamber. It is widely acclaimed as a magnificent depiction of that momentous occasion for Leith and for Edinburgh.
Painting of ‘The landing of King George IV at Leith, August 15th 1822’, by Alexander Carse.
The final session of Leith Town Council in 1920
The last meeting of the Burgh of Leith Councillors took place in the council chambers as they had been since the creation of the Burgh of Leith Council in 1833.
Unlike the many buildings of the 1960’s
The Burgh of Leith Town Hall will be For Ever!
Many thanks go to Gordon Milne who provided the text for this post, and to Police Scotland officer Mark Barrie who provided the up to date images of the interior and exterior of the building. These images are copyright Police Scotland, and can be used under creative commons license by-nc-sa. The older images can be found in Capital Collections and clicking on the image will take you directly to that entry in the collection.
