Leith #4 - "Giant's Brae", Leith Links

Leith Links is the main open space within Leith. Historically, it covered a wider area extending north as far as the shoreline of the Firth of Forth, but nowadays it extends to just 46 acres.

Some records from 1457 relating to Leith Links, declare the banning of "gauf" (golf) and "fusball" (football), since they interfered with the practice of archery, which would indicate that golf existed previous to this date. This is the earliest known reference to the name of golf. The name Leith Links comes from the fact that this area used to be used as a golf links.

This is "Giant's Brae" in Leith Links. The sign says: "Giant's Brae, Remains of Somerset's Battery of 1560 - Site of the English artillery in the "Siege of Leith".

During the Scottish Reformation in 1559, the Lords of the Congregation made a truce with Mary of Guise at the Links, agreeing to vacate Holyroodhouse and leave Edinburgh. During the Siege of Leith which followed, in 1560, English and Scottish troops made use of this area creating trenches and two large gun emplacements for cannons, which were on mounds of earth in order to raise the trajectory over the town walls. "Giant's Brae", formerly known as "Somerset's Battery" is the remnants of one of these gun emplacements.


The day started and finished with rain with a large sunny spell in between. When I first went to Leith Links to take pictures this morning, it was raining. Unfortunately, in the process of keeping my camera dry, I managed to drop it on the floor. Luckily, it didn't come to much damage and it seems to be working ok. In any case, so far so good. This picture was taken after the incident, when the sun finally came out.

Later on in the afternoon, I met my friend Allan to go to the Filmhouse, and we saw a film called "Le Havre", a French film from a Finnish director. The action was slowly paced, with a unique sense of humour and the story was rather interesting. I enjoyed it! Then for something to eat at Nando's. A nice evening on the whole.

Thanks very much for all your nice comments on my new series! I hope you all had a good day! :)

By the way, the dragons in my blip a year ago, have disappeared! Sadly, not there anymore!