Trinity House of Leith

Coordinates: 55°58′20″N 3°10′17″W / 55.9722°N 3.1713°W / 55.9722; -3.1713
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Trinity House of Leith
LocationLeith, Edinburgh
Coordinates55°58′20″N 3°10′17″W / 55.9722°N 3.1713°W / 55.9722; -3.1713
Built1818
ArchitectThomas Brown
Architectural style(s)Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Category A
Designated14 December 1970
Reference no.LB27834
Trinity House of Leith is located in the City of Edinburgh council area
Trinity House of Leith
Location of Trinity House of Leith in the City of Edinburgh council area

Trinity House, 99 Kirkgate, is a building in

Early Modern Era it also served as an almshouse and hospital. Now in state care, it houses a maritime museum. It is a category A listed building.[1]

History

Masters and Mariners of Leith

Convening Room Trinity House

In 1380

trade guilds of Leith.[2]

The north wall of Trinity House bears a foundation stone dated 1555. This somewhat contradicts older histories which state that Trinity House was built in 1560 in replacement of "St Anthony's blockhouse" (also known also known as St Anthony's Kirk) a seemingly strongly fortified structure controlling access to the Kirkgate. St Anthony's blockhouse clearly related to St. Anthony's Perceptory, a small monastic site. Records state that the blockhouse was rased to the ground in 1560. This apparently left the vaulted structures which still exist below Trinity House.[3]

Following a series of disputes over payments, in 1566

Mary Queen of Scots confirmed the right of the Incorporation to collect payments: ratifying "the gift, foundation, erection and institution of the hospital and of the prime gilt". Refusal to pay would result in the confiscation of sails and anchor.[4]

The medieval Incorporation served as a blueprint for the establishment of Trinity Houses in other maritime centres, including Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 16th century.[5]

In 1680, funded by fees and by a levy on Leith shipmasters, the Masters and Mariners appointed a professor to teach the mathematics of navigation to the sons and apprentices of shipmasters.[6]

Concerned to improve safety at sea, Trinity House established the first formal

Isle of May lighthouse.[7]

On 29 June 1797 the Corporation of the Trinity House of Leith was granted a royal charter.[8] This transformed the body from merely a corporation in name, of charitable status, to a true corporation. At this stage they obtained extra functions, such as choosing and licensing harbour pilots. They also had their tax powers ratified, charging one penny for every ton of goods unloaded, with this money being used to relieve the poor. Additionally, each shipmaster had to pay 6d per year, this money specifically being redistributed to poor seamen.[9]

In the 18th century, The Masters and Mariners invested in land, which became known as Trinity Mains, near the village of Newhaven. This land later developed into a suburb of Leith and into the district of Trinity.[10]

As a result of the requirement for formal qualifications stipulated in the

Jewel & Esk College, which in 2012 merged to become Edinburgh College).[11]

After prime gilt was abolished in 1862, Trinity House had to depend on property income to meet its pension payments and other commitments.[12]

Pupils from the nearby Leith Primary School are taught about the history of Trinity House and offer scripted tours of the building to other schools and a variety of selected guests. [13]

History of the building

In 1555 the Incorporation had sufficient funds to build a hospital at the Kirkgate. The basement and vaults of the 16th-century building were incorporated into the current building, which was designed by Thomas Brown in the neoclassical style and completed in 1818.[1][14] The new building had three bays on the front elevation and featured a porch with paired Doric order columns on the ground floor; there was a large window with Ionic order columns and semi-circular fanlight window above on the first floor.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Historic Environment Scotland. "99 New Kirkgate, Trinity House (Category A Listed Building) (LB27834)". Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The Story of Leith - The Trade Guilds of Leith". Electric Scotland. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. ^ Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh; vol. 6, ch. 24
  4. ^ "Trinity House". Saltire Society. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  5. ^ "History". Trinity House Newcastle. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  6. ISBN 978-0968128831
    .
  7. ^ "London's lighthouse and the story of Trinity Quay Wharf". BBC. 19 February 2010.
  8. ^ "Statement of Significant: Trinity House". Historic Environment Scotland. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. ^ Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh; vol. 6, ch. 24
  10. ^ "Leith: Trinity Mains". Scottish Post Office Directory. 1830. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Leith Nautical College". Archives Hub. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Leith". Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland. p. 482.
  13. ^ "Leith Primary Tours". The Edinburgh Reporter. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Trinity House of Leith". Canmore. Retrieved 25 August 2020.

External links

Media related to Trinity House, Leith at Wikimedia Commons

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