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Edinburgh, Leith, North Fort Street, Leith Fort, Lodges
Gate Lodge (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Leith, North Fort Street, Leith Fort, Lodges
Classification Gate Lodge (19th Century)
Canmore ID 259099
Site Number NT27NE 288.01
NGR NT 26118 76618
NGR Description and NT 26135 76598
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/259099
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Photographic Survey (December 1959)
Photographic survey of Leith Fort, Edinburgh, by the Scottish National Buildings Record in December 1959.
Watching Brief (8 January 2013 - 7 February 2013)
NT 2615 7662 A watching brief was carried out, 8 January – 7 February 2013, during ground-breaking work associated with the demolition of Fort House. The original fort was built in 1780, and the boundary wall and two gatehouse buildings, all Category B listed, still survive. A previous evaluation (DES 2011, 75) had identified remains relating to the fort, but it was thought that the foundations of previous buildings would have destroyed remains at this location. This was not the case, and several foundations and walls relating to different phases of the fort’s buildings were recorded throughout the site. The remains corresponded to features on early maps, and possibly predate the fort. Furthermore, a large post-medieval pit was recorded next to the fort wall which appears to predate the fort.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: City of Edinburgh Council
Kevin Paton, AOC Archaeology Group, 2013
(Source: DES)
Excavation (11 November 2013 - 29 November 2013)
NT 2615 7662 An excavation was undertaken, 11–29 November 2013, prior to development of Fort House. The site was previously used as an extension to the adjacent gun battery and fort built in 1780. It is contained to the SE, SW and NW by the original 19th-century boundary wall, which with two gatehouse buildings still survive as Category B listed structures.
The excavation of six areas in the development area recorded several phases of fort construction which match with the cartographic and historical evidence. Furthermore, the earlier soil horizons provided ceramic and other artefacts that will help to provide dates for activity in the medieval and post-medieval period. Finally, a boundary ditch relating to earlier agricultural activity on the site and a series of postholes running parallel to it were recorded along the NW boundary of the site.
Archive: RCAHMS (intended)
Funder: City of Edinburgh Council
Kevin Paton, AOC Archaeology Group, 2013
(Source: DES)
