Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Shore is a historic and picturesque street in the centre of Old Leith, the harbour area of Edinburgh.
It edges the final section of the Water of Leith before it flows through Leith Docks into the Firth of Forth.
Ronaldson's Wharf facing Shore in Leith
Harpoon Gun north end of the Shore
Statue of Sandy Irvine Robertson
The site had been a harbour since Anglo-Saxon times.
Due to its location it was the arrival point of several monarchs on historic visits to the city: Mary Queen of Scots (1561) before her Entry to Edinburgh; Anne of Denmark (1590) who stayed at the King's Wark before her coronation; Charles II (1651); George IV (1822). Queen Victoria's visit of 1842 disembarked in Leith Docks rather than the Shore.
In May 1544, during the war known as the Rough Wooing, an English army arrived in Leith intending to burn Edinburgh. On Monday 5 May, English ships unloaded heavy artillery on the quayside at The Shore, to be used against Edinburgh's gates and Edinburgh Castle.
Sting and ling
Workmen called "pioneers" carried barrels of salt to a ship at the "schoir of Leith" in 1564. In November 1583, the burgh council of Edinburgh met at the Shore to discuss the roles and wages of porters called "stingmen and polkmen". The stingmen worked in pairs carrying loads suspended from a pole on their shoulders known as a "sting" and the polk men carried sacks or bags called "polks". The cords used with the stings were called lines, and the method was known as "sting and ling". In 1564, barrels of wine were carried "upone sting and ling" from Leith to a meeting of the Scottish exchequer.
Eighteenth century
In April 1779 there was an unfortunate incident on the northern half of the Shore, with many lives lost. 70 Highlanders belonging to the 42nd and 71st Regiments were in position to board a ship but refused as it was rumoured they were to be transferred to a lowland regiment and would lose the right to wear a kilt. This was untrue, but even if true it seems a trivial start to what then ensued. Under order from James Oughton, 200 soldiers of the South Fencibles were sent out from Edinburgh Castle to quell the mutiny under command of Major Sir James Johnstone. The Highlanders refused to either surrender or lay down their muskets (which were fitted with bayonets). Both sides being heavily armed the tension quickly turned to bloodshed. One Highlander trying to run off was grabbed by a Sergeant of the Fencibles who was then bayonetted to make him loose his grasp. A second sergeant armed with a pike, was then shot by a Highlander. The Fencibles raised their muskets and fired into the group of Highlanders killing 12 men and mortally wounding many. The Highlanders having far less ammunition returned fire to less effect: two Fencibles killed and one injured. Captain James Mansfield, attempting to attend the latter, was cruelly bayonetted by a mutineer who in turn was shot in the head by a corporal. The Fencibles moved in with fixed bayonets and captured the 25 survivors who were then imprisoned in the castle. The total lives lost appears to be somewhere between 40 and 50. Mansfield was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. The other Fencibles were buried in the open ground at the foot of Canongate Churchyard (which was reserved for deaths connected to Edinburgh Castle. The 40 Highlanders killed or dying of wounds were buried in South Leith Parish Churchyard. After a court martial, three further Highlanders were within seconds of being executed by firing squad: Williamson and MacIvor of the 42nd and Budge of the 71st. However a pardon was received from the Queen due to the valour of their regiment.
The Shore was the first place in Leith to install public street lighting: oil lamps in 1771 (to combat a number of people falling in the river in the dark. It was also the first street in Edinburgh to have electric street lights (1895) served by a local generating station.
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The Shore is a historic and picturesque street in the centre of Old Leith, the harbour area of Edinburgh.
It edges the final section of the Water of Leith before it flows through Leith Docks into the Firth of Forth.
Ronaldson's Wharf facing Shore in Leith
Harpoon Gun north end of the Shore
Statue of Sandy Irvine Robertson
The site had been a harbour since Anglo-Saxon times.
Due to its location it was the arrival point of several monarchs on historic visits to the city: Mary Queen of Scots (1561) before her Entry to Edinburgh; Anne of Denmark (1590) who stayed at the King's Wark before her coronation; Charles II (1651); George IV (1822). Queen Victoria's visit of 1842 disembarked in Leith Docks rather than the Shore.
In May 1544, during the war known as the Rough Wooing, an English army arrived in Leith intending to burn Edinburgh. On Monday 5 May, English ships unloaded heavy artillery on the quayside at The Shore, to be used against Edinburgh's gates and Edinburgh Castle.
Sting and ling
Workmen called "pioneers" carried barrels of salt to a ship at the "schoir of Leith" in 1564. In November 1583, the burgh council of Edinburgh met at the Shore to discuss the roles and wages of porters called "stingmen and polkmen". The stingmen worked in pairs carrying loads suspended from a pole on their shoulders known as a "sting" and the polk men carried sacks or bags called "polks". The cords used with the stings were called lines, and the method was known as "sting and ling". In 1564, barrels of wine were carried "upone sting and ling" from Leith to a meeting of the Scottish exchequer.
Eighteenth century
In April 1779 there was an unfortunate incident on the northern half of the Shore, with many lives lost. 70 Highlanders belonging to the 42nd and 71st Regiments were in position to board a ship but refused as it was rumoured they were to be transferred to a lowland regiment and would lose the right to wear a kilt. This was untrue, but even if true it seems a trivial start to what then ensued. Under order from James Oughton, 200 soldiers of the South Fencibles were sent out from Edinburgh Castle to quell the mutiny under command of Major Sir James Johnstone. The Highlanders refused to either surrender or lay down their muskets (which were fitted with bayonets). Both sides being heavily armed the tension quickly turned to bloodshed. One Highlander trying to run off was grabbed by a Sergeant of the Fencibles who was then bayonetted to make him loose his grasp. A second sergeant armed with a pike, was then shot by a Highlander. The Fencibles raised their muskets and fired into the group of Highlanders killing 12 men and mortally wounding many. The Highlanders having far less ammunition returned fire to less effect: two Fencibles killed and one injured. Captain James Mansfield, attempting to attend the latter, was cruelly bayonetted by a mutineer who in turn was shot in the head by a corporal. The Fencibles moved in with fixed bayonets and captured the 25 survivors who were then imprisoned in the castle. The total lives lost appears to be somewhere between 40 and 50. Mansfield was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. The other Fencibles were buried in the open ground at the foot of Canongate Churchyard (which was reserved for deaths connected to Edinburgh Castle. The 40 Highlanders killed or dying of wounds were buried in South Leith Parish Churchyard. After a court martial, three further Highlanders were within seconds of being executed by firing squad: Williamson and MacIvor of the 42nd and Budge of the 71st. However a pardon was received from the Queen due to the valour of their regiment.
The Shore was the first place in Leith to install public street lighting: oil lamps in 1771 (to combat a number of people falling in the river in the dark. It was also the first street in Edinburgh to have electric street lights (1895) served by a local generating station.
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