Throughout the Trams to Newhaven project there have been plenty of historic discoveries under the surface as preparations are made for tracklaying. We have seen bodies exhumed which are helping to give the medieval history of Leith more context but now something all together more recent has been discovered – and it has a tram connection! Dating back to the turn of the 19th/20th century an old cable tram wheel has been discovered and is now being studied by archaeologists
The wheel has been discovered during excavations on Leith Walk close to the junction with Pilrig Street. It is thought that it dates to approximately 1899 when the first cable tram route was inagurated by Edinburgh and District Tramways from Nether Liverton to Pilrig (the Leith boundary) via the Bridges. Edinburgh once had the most extensive cable tram network in the British Isles with, at its height, 18.75 miles of route being available. The last cable tram routes were abandoned in June 1923.
There have been other cable tram discoveries over the years with a section of track on display at Waterloo Place, a pulley on display at Henderson Row and the façade of the old depot also visible on Henderson Row. (All three have featured in our “Still Standing” series). Previous Trams to Newhaven project work also discovered some ironmongery under the road surface close to the depot.
The wheel which has been found will be treated as have other artefacts discovered during the work with archaeologists from contracts Guard Archaeology investigating further. No decisions have been made on what will happen to the wheel at this stage.
Photos showing the discovered pulley wheel still in situ to allow full archaeological investigations to take place. (Both Photographs by John Hampton)
This type of wheel, when used in connection with cable tramways, was usually known as a ‘sheave’. Interestingly, I can see no sign of a groove around the circumference of the wheel, which you would normally expect, for the cable to run in. There appear, however, to be holes for bolts (?) around the rim, so perhaps part of the wheel was removed when the cable system was abandoned.
That is so important a find of Industrial Archaeology in transport terms, that if possible it should be kept in situ. I can’t see from the photos how it relates to the new tram line, but if off line and practical to do so, should be conserved on site. The brick chamber looks excellent, its width strengthened by a girder. The wheels considering their age look good. Drainage, lighting, brickwork repair, etc, and topped with toughened glass suitable for viewing would set it off brilliantly.