Discover Granton Harbour's Rich History and Industry

Granton Harbour has a rich history that spans centuries, with evidence of human activity dating back to the Bronze Age. The area has been home to various industries, including shipbuilding and coal mining.

Granton's shipbuilding industry played a significant role in the harbour's development, with the first shipyard established in the 17th century.

Granton Harbour has a rich history dating back to the 1830s, when it was first built in a location where there had not been a harbour previously.

The harbour was the brainchild of R W Hamilton, the manager of the General Steam Navigation Company, who saw the need for a major deep water harbour due to the limitations of the Chain Pier at Trinity.

The 5th Duke of Buccleuch, who owned land in the area, seized the opportunity to build the harbour on part of his estate, and was advised on the design by Robert Stevenson, a renowned lighthouse engineer.

The harbour was officially opened on Queen Victoria's Coronation Day in 1838, with the first part being called the Middle Pier, or Victoria Jetty.

Construction continued over the years, with the building of the Western Breakwater in 1851 and the Eastern Breakwater in 1863, using stone from the Duke's own Granton Quarry.

The idea of building a harbour at Granton was first suggested by R W Hamilton in 1834, who ran a fleet of passenger steamers and wanted a harbour that could be used at all states of the tide.

The 5th Duke of Buccleuch saw the opportunity to build a new harbour on his estate, which included Caroline Park House, and obtained an act of parliament in 1837.

A new road to Leith was also built, and the first part of the new harbour, the Middle Pier, was opened on Queen Victoria's Coronation Day in 1838.

It was named Victoria Jetty in her honour, but the name later fell into disuse. The Duke of Buccleuch's younger brother John performed the ceremony in his place, arriving in his yacht the Lufra.

The harbour continued to be developed, with the building of the Western Breakwater completed in 1851 and the Eastern Breakwater in 1863.

The stone used for the construction came from the Duke's own Granton Quarry nearby, making the harbour a significant local project.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the harbour in 1842, making their first State Visit to Scotland, and arriving in the Royal Yacht the Royal George.

Granton Harbour was a base for the operation of Q-ships during the First World War.

In the First World War, Granton Harbour played a significant role in the operation of Q-ships. Q-ships were disguised as merchant vessels but were actually armed with hidden guns to attack enemy submarines.

Granton Harbour was also a base during the Second World War.

The harbour's general warehouses, including a freight terminal and privately owned spaces, totaled 13,006 sq m during that time.

Granton Harbour was a bustling hub of activity, with a wide variety of cargo vessels calling in over the years.

Unloading cargo was a big part of the harbour's operations, with vessels bringing in timber, esparto grass, petroleum, and many other goods.

The harbour also saw a significant amount of coal being exported, starting from its earliest days.

Granton Harbour has a long history of handling a wide variety of cargo vessels. Over the years, the harbour has seen the importation of timber, esparto grass, petroleum, and many other cargoes.

One of the notable cargo imports was esparto grass, which was unloaded at the West Pier. The harbour's cargo vessels also exported coal, a commodity that was being exported from the harbour from its earliest days.

In addition to coal, manufactured products such as electrical equipment made nearby at Bruce Peebles were also exported from the harbour.

Boat building was a significant activity in Granton, with at least two yards operating in the area - James Martin's yard and David Allan's yard.

The construction of a Patent Slip around 1850 revolutionized boat repairs in Granton. This innovative technology allowed vessels to be floated into a support cradle for maintenance and repairs.

The Patent Slip was a game-changer for boat owners, enabling them to access expert services without having to travel far.

Granton Harbour is an artificial harbour built in the 19th Century just to the West of Leith on the Firth of Forth to the North of Edinburgh.

The harbour consists of encompassing East & West Walls and a Central Pier, with the West basin mostly filled in and only a small area still used for moorings.

Most boats tie up on the West side of the central pier, while the East basin is tidal and dries to deep mud apart from a narrow channel around the pontoons.

The channel in from the harbour mouth is now dredged to a least depth of about 2.0m, making it accessible at all states of the tide for a normal 10m boat with a draft less than 2m.

The yacht part of the harbour is administered by the Royal Forth Yacht Club, and you'll need to contact them for a visitors' berth.

To reach Granton Harbour, you'll need to navigate through the harbour entrance, passing straight through the middle and heading for the East side of the Central Pier.

Be aware of the Drum Sands if coming from the West, and don't cut the corner.

Granton Harbour was a hub of economic activity, with a variety of shipowners, shipping agents, and stevedores operating in the area. The harbour was home to over 15 different companies, each with its own role in the shipping industry.

Some of the key players in the harbour included R. Cairns & Co., Claireaux & Sanderson, and Chr. Salvesen & Co., all of which had offices in Leith. These companies were responsible for managing the harbour's cargo and ensuring that ships were able to dock and unload their goods efficiently.

Here are some of the shipowners, shipping agents, and stevedores that operated in the harbour:

The shipping industry in Leith, Edinburgh, has a rich history of professional companies that have played a significant role in its growth. R. Cairns & Co. was a prominent shipowner based at 8 Commercial Street, Leith.

Many of these companies have been around for a long time, with some having been established in the late 19th century. Claireaux & Sanderson, for example, had an office at 76 Constitution Street, Leith.

Some of the notable shipping agents in the area include Currie Line Ltd., which was based at Trinity Cottage, Goldenacre, Edinburgh 5. They would have been responsible for coordinating the movement of goods and people.

Furness, Withy & Co. Ltd. had multiple offices, including one at 35 Constitution Street, Leith. They were a significant player in the shipping industry.

Here are some of the shipping industry professionals mentioned in the article:

Some of these companies also had offices in other locations, such as Young & Leslie, who had offices at both 6-8 Tower Street, Leith, and Custom House Buildings, Granton, Edinburgh 5.

Granton was a major fishing port for many years, with trawlers like the John Waterson, GW1, unloading fish at the Middle Pier.

The fishing industry was a significant contributor to the local economy, with many trawlers operating out of the port.

Trawlers at the Middle Pier, Granton, were a common sight, with vessels like the GN37, Drumsheugh, and the GW26, Rose, regularly docking.

Fishing activity eventually came to an end in 1978, marking the end of an era for the port.

I've done some research on Granton Harbour, and here are some key notes to keep in mind.

The harbour is situated on the Firth of Forth, near Edinburgh, Scotland.

It's a significant location for shipping and trade, with a long history dating back to the 19th century.

Granton Harbour was originally a small fishing village, but it expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution.

The harbour's strategic location made it an ideal spot for the construction of the Caledonian Railway, which connected Edinburgh to the rest of the country.

This railway played a crucial role in the harbour's development, facilitating the transportation of goods and people.

The harbour's infrastructure was further enhanced with the construction of the Granton Harbour Pier, which was completed in the late 19th century.

The pier was an engineering marvel at the time, stretching over 1,000 feet into the Firth of Forth.

Today, Granton Harbour remains an important hub for shipping and trade, with a range of industries and activities operating from the site.