Where the Ships came in

This is a view of Shore, the original port of Leith and Edinburgh. Tall masted sailing ships berthed here while scores of crewman loaded fish, coal, grain and hides for export to northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Ships returned with wine, fruit, spices and cloth. Hard to imagine it now bustling with all that activity. 

The building in the centre, with the clock, is now the Malmaison where we stayed last night. It was originally a Sailors' Home built in 1883 and provided accommodation for the sailors whose ships were in port. There is an angel in the stonework over the door, the emblem for the Seaman's Mission. 

The white, lower part of the tower to the right is now Fishers, one of our favourite places to eat. We have been going there for years. When we were working and came to Edinburgh for a weekend, this was where we had Sunday lunch before setting off back to Bradford. It's a lovely place where they really know how to cook fish. We had a fine meal there last night. And how convenient that it is a few steps away from the Malmaison. The tower was originally a windmill, one of three in Leith built in the 17th century. The battlements were added during the Napoleonic War when it became the Signal Tower relaying flag messages to incoming ships.