Goal-den opportunity for househunters
Port of Leith Housing Association and its subsidiary company Persevere Developments Limited’s latest development was officially opened by Malcolm Chisholm MSP yesterday. Continue reading Home win: Albion Road development launched
‘Libraries are often the hub of a local community’ – Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop
She may be too young to read, but Halle Edwards has become Edinburgh’s youngest library member – at the tender age of three weeks! Continue reading Meet Halle – Edinburgh’s youngest bookworm!
Ahoy, matey: is this the face of a salty sea dog?
The skeleton of a man discovered in a school playground could be that of a 600 year old criminal or pirate. The remains were found by the City of Edinburgh Council at the Capital’s oldest working Primary School last year while survey work was being undertaken to build an extension.
Victoria Primary School is situated close to Newhaven harbour, one of Scotland’s historic fishing villages. Workers had expected to find remains of the original harbour and shipbuilding but instead uncovered human bones.
Archaeologists first believed the remains were Bronze Age because they were in such a poor condition and found alongside 4,000 year old shards of pottery, but the bones were carbon dated to the 16th-17th Centuries. AOC Archaeology with forensic artist Hayley Fisher then created a facial reconstruction of the skull, which they believe belonged to a man in his fifties.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city council’s Culture Convener, said: “Edinburgh has an undeniably intriguing past and some of our archaeological discoveries have been in the strangest of places.
“Thanks to carbon dating techniques, archaeologists now know that the skeleton was likely to have been a murder victim – and quite possibly a pirate. It’s fantastic that through the Council’s archaeology and museums service, we are able to investigate such discoveries and add to our understanding of Newhaven’s heritage.”
A gibbet – commonly used to execute witches and pirates – stood on the edge of Newhaven dockyards 600 years ago and it is believed the man could have been murdered in the device for criminal behaviour or piracy and discarded in nearby wasteland.
Due to the condition of the bones and location of his burial close to the sea and gibbet rather than any of three nearby graveyards, it is believed the man was likely killed before being displayed in plain sight of ships to deter fellow pirates. An unceremonious burial in a shallow, unmarked grave suggests he had no relatives or friends in the area.
Laura Thompson, Head Teacher at Victoria Primary School, added: “As the oldest working primary school in Edinburgh, we are proud of our history and heritage and the school even has a dedicated museum to the local area.
“The pupils think it’s fantastic that a skeleton was found deep underneath their playground. The archaeologists will hold a special lesson with some of the children about how they have used science to analyse the remains and it will be a good learning opportunity for them.”
Young people from Leith’s Citadel Youth Project have been rockin’ Glasgow Central Station, with the help of Justice Secretary Michael Matheson MSP and Glasgow City Council leader Cllr. Frank McAveety. Continue reading Go West: Citadel crew just keeps on buskin’!
Streetwise students get ‘real life lessons’
Edinburgh College’s young hairdressers are swapping salons for the streets this winter for a charity project to provide haircuts to homeless people. Continue reading Haircuts for the Homeless
Port of Leith steps in with Lorne Street rescue plan
Over the last weeks we have been involved in talks with the council, the landlord and housing associations. Last week we received the fantastic news that Port of Leith Housing Association will try and build a business case for buying the properties. Continue reading Ray of hope for Lorne Street campaigners
Ocean Terminal event highlights the good sense of upcycling
This weekend marked the culmination of a Scotland-wide, eight-week social media campaign to encourage people to upcycle and re-use furniture. Continue reading Design Doctor makes the virtual a reality
PoLHA film celebrates forty years as social housing leader
Port of Leith Housing Association has released a short film to celebrate it’s fortieth anniversary. The documentary looks at the impact PoLHA has made in the local community over the past four decades.
Continue reading My room on this earth: a Port of Leith celebration
‘Design Doctor’ social media campaign makes the virtual a reality with interactive upcycling event in Edinburgh
This weekend marks the culmination of a Scotland-wide, eight-week social media campaign to encourage people to upcycle and re-use furniture. Continue reading Ocean Terminal event is just what the doctor ordered
An ambitious project to build a new community of affordable homes in Leith is now underway.
Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) and the City of Edinburgh Council have started work on the Leith Fort housing development, with the first homes due to be completed in 2017.
A total of 94 new homes will be built on the former 18th century Leith Fort site, 62 of which will be owned by PoLHA and available for mid market rent and 32 units will be owned by the Council for social rent.
The new properties have been modelled on the Edinburgh colonies concept and are a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom homes. A particular feature of this development is that all homes have access to private south west facing gardens. There is also parking provision within the site and a communal landscaped area.
Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: “Building high-quality, affordable housing in Leith and North Edinburgh is at the heart of what we do and we are delighted to breathe new life into the former Leith Fort site which will complement our existing mix of developments in the city. Many people still have difficulties in accessing good quality homes which is why Leith Fort will help meet a wider range of needs.”
The main contractor is CCG (Scotland) Ltd and the development is being funded by PoLHA, the Council and the Scottish Government.
Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I am delighted that work has started on this development, which will offer much-needed, high quality and energy-efficient homes at a price that people can afford. This is an historic site and the finished development, complete with gardens and landscaping, will be an attractive addition to the Leith community.
“We have trebled the number of affordable houses being delivered in Edinburgh to around 1,500 a year through programmes such as 21st Century Homes and will continue to work in partnership with organisations such as the Port of Leith Housing Association to deliver as many as possible.”
