History of the Leith Benevolent Association (LBA)

The earliest records of what is now the Leith Benevolent Association are traced from 1872 but the association clearly predates this. The name Leith Benevolent Association was adopted after the amalgamation with another charity, the Destitute Sick Society, in 1953. The charity became a company limited by guarantee in 2007.

The association ran a "house of call" from 1872 until 1941. This property was for men but a section for women (in the attic) was approved in 1891. The association also ran a day nursery and this continued until 1942. They also supported a local charity school. In 1872 the charge was 1 penny a week plus a penny halfpenny for sewing and writing. In 1873 the school became the responsibility of a school board.

Other activities supported during the 19th century included a boarding house for working girls, home work for women, providing coal to poor families during winter, the creation of a penny bank, running a labour test (those who passed were employed by the docks at 1 shilling and sixpence a week), support for Leith women, emigration assistance (about 25 families supported) and employment of district nurses.

From 1900 to 1914 help given included hot meals during a harsh winter in 1905, assistance for the unskilled unemployed (the provost fund dealt with skilled unemployed), cooperation between the association and Miss Quarrier for Leith children at her home in Bridge of Weir and a shop was opened at the house of call.

During the Great War the association helped following the Gretna Green disaster and cooperated with the Leith Council on various matters. Unfortunately there is a gap in the records for the period 1917 - 1927.

From 1927 until the start of the Second World War a lot of work was carried out to the house of call including rewiring because of the introduction of alternating current. The association took over the distribution of clothing from the Red Cross, provided help to uninsured families following a major fire and ran a free New Year breakfast for children which was provided for with funds from a legacy.

During the war years the association housed 25 evacuees from a Craiglockhart poor house at the house of call as their property had been requisitioned. The association became a news centre for information following any air raid. The fire guard service took over the premises formerly occupied by the house of call and the air force requisition Forthland House which was owned by the association.

In 1946 Forthland House was returned to the association. It was agreed that the association should aim to provide an old people's home for Leithers. The home was opened and various improvements carried out. In June 1952 a television was purchased for the home at a cost of £147/3/9 and it became one of the first homes in a Scotland to have one. At some point a second home, Holly Lodge, was purchased. In the 1990s both these properties were sold as new legislation required major alterations to the houses if they were to continue as homes for the elderly. From the proceeds of the sale a new purpose built care home was constructed in Restalrig Road. The Association chose not to accept privately funded residents but relied on the Council grant to cover residents' costs. This grant was totally inadequate and the additional costs were eroding the Association's funds. The running of the home continued until around 2005 when the property was sold as a going concern. The proceeds from the sale allowed the association to establish and endowment which provides funds to support Leith charities and this continues to this day. To date over £300,000 has been given to over 75 charities which operate in Leith.

This brief note was written by Allen Kerr who became Chairman of the charity in 2024. It is based on research by Cron Mackay, a previous Chairman. His work extends to over 30 pages.

January 2026