Day 13
Leith Nautical College
Places of Leith: explore the history of Nautical education in Leith.
Nautical education in Leith started in the 1600’s with children of members of the Maritime and Merchant’s guild given training at Trinity House. But 1855 with the passing of the Merchant Shipping Act, the decision was taken to create what began as Leith Navigational College.
Initially based at St Ninian’s Church, (otherwise known as the Mariner’s Church), in 1903 the college moved to custom built premises - now Ocean house at 108 Commercial Street, and was renamed Leith Nautical College.
“I remember when graduating from the TS Dolphin at Leith Nautical College, the captain saying to us:
’Now remember guys, you’ll be travelling all over the world and people will ask you:
”Where are you from?”
Never ever say Edinburgh out of convenient expediency. ALWAYS say LEITH and let them work it out.’
I’ve made that custom and practice ever since and promote LEITH a every opportunity.”
The college offered courses in navigation leading to ships Masters and ships Mates Certificates. In 1861 the college began taking boys from the age of 10 years old - as with many other traditional male occupations girls would not be admitted until the mid 1900’s. Over time more courses were added beginning with courses in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture and over time wireless telegraphy, classes to fishermen, deck boy courses and catering, radar and electronics.
From 1944 to 1977 much of the training took place on board the T.S. Dolphin - a refitted Merchant Navy vessel no longer in active service. In 1977 the Commercial Street premises were no longer fit for purpose, and the college moved again. This time to another custom building on Milton Road East (what is now the Milton Road campus of Edinburgh College).
In 1983 following a review by the Scottish Education Department into the teaching of Nautical Education in Scotland a decision was made to close Leith Nautical College and transfer naval education to what is now Glasgow College. The nautical college finally closed its doors for good in 1987.
“The students had some interesting stories to tell, but none more so than Bill Walker of Edinburgh...
He was a prisoner on the Altmark after his ship was sunk by the Admiral Graf Spee. In defiance of international law, HMS Cossack intercepted the Altmark in Norwegian territorial waters and brought her prisoners to Leith.
This event occurred in February 1940 and, being a local boy of only 16, Bill made the lead story in the local paper.”
