Quote Originally Posted by Trinity Hibee View Post
This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
Is there more information on why there were so many buildings left derelict? Would be an interesting read
"By the 1960's Leith still suffered from chronic overcrowding, and the decision was taken to address this
problem, but to try and retain much of the population within Leith. The result was the demolition of many entire
streets, and their replacement with tall tower blocks".

THis quote is from the paper linked a few posts ago.

I'm not entirely sure that over crowding should sit as the main focus of the tenement clearances we saw in Leith in the 1960's and ran on into the 70's. My memories of living in Elbe St, c 1971-73, was that there was no inside toilet, no hot water (some flats did no doubt have immersions), no bath. Slum properties. We were overcrowded as well, no doubt about it.

The article mentions this

"In 1880, the Leith Improvement Act was passed and an Improvement scheme put into action. Under this scheme,
a large part of Leith, the area between the Shore and the Kirkgate, was demolished and spacious new tenements
were built ( like Henderson Street ). While this improved housing conditions per se, to meet the cost of the
redevelopment, the price of the new flats was beyond the reach of most of the Leithers who had been displaced
by the redevelopment. Consequently, these people had to crowd into the already overcrowded old tenements
which constituted the problem that the scheme had aimed to redress".

Property prices beyond the reach of most Leithers rings a bell. A lot of the properties above became the slum tenements knocked down in the 60 & 70's and were always owned by landlords and investors. This was mirrored in other parts of the city at different times. We bought a flat in Learmonth Gardens and some older folk living in the stair said that the tenements (late era tenements, built in the 1930's) were all bought by Ferranti's, to house employees (like their parents).