#SOSLEITH

#SOSLeith was delighted that Ben Macpherson MSP spoke and unveiled their interpretive board to the memory and legacy of John Rennie today. Deidre Brock MP also participated and further enriched the celebration, joined by neighbours and residents. Our thanks too for John Tindal of Teuchters for the hospitality and future stewardship of Rennie’s Lock bridge.
The signboard tells the story of famous Scottish engineer John Rennie, who designed Scotland's first enclosed docks on the site. You can still see the lock gates and the rare cast-iron swing bridge spanning the lock, at the site of the board.
As Ben said today: “I was grateful to be asked to unveil this Notice Board, informing passers-by about some of the history of this part of Leith and the person it’s named after. With the planned restoration and opening up of both Rennie’s Lock Bridge and the Victoria Bridge in the months ahead, this Notice Board is yet another interesting feature for people to take in as they explore and enjoy Leith. Leith has a proud and remarkable history and installations like this help us all to learn more about the past around us. I congratulate and thank everyone involved in this project, providing insight into both one of Scotland’s most renowned engineers and Leith’s maritime heritage.”
Ian Anderson of #SOSLeith said 'I can just about remember the Old Docks being infilled, but it was a shock to learn how much local history had been forgotten. Rennie's story is tied up in the Industrial Revolution and his docks made Leith Scotland's largest pre-Victorian port. The entrance lock, and particularly the cast-iron swing bridge, are rare examples of engineering genius and I'm sure John Rennie would have been amused to think we were celebrating his work, 200 years after his death.’