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Leith Nautical College was a maritime
In 1974, the number of full time and part time students enrolled at the college reached 2,000. In 1978, the college moved to a new building on Milton Road in Portobello (). Following a review by the Scottish Education Department and the Convention of Scottish Authorities, it was decided to close the college and instead move all maritime training to a single site in Glasgow. A campaign was raised in 1986 to prevent the closure of the college, but it was unsuccessful as Allan Stewart, Scottish Minister for Education ordered the college to end its teaching the following year. In 1987, the college was finally closed by the Scottish Education Department. The college site became part of the Jewel and Esk College, later renamed
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...
in Leith
Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith.
The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...
, Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. The college provided instruction for the training of Merchant Navy officers and other seafarers. Courses offered included naval architecture, marine engineering, telegraphy, radar and marine electronics.
History
In 1855, the college was established as the Leith Navigation School, after the passing of the Merchant Shipping Act 1854 that authorised theBoard of Trade
The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for Business and Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...
to allow training and examination of officers. The school was first located in the Mariner’s Church in Commercial Street. In 1903, the college was renamed as Leith Nautical College and moved into a new building at 108 Commercial Street () a short distance from the Mariner's Church. The new college was opened on 4 February 1903 by the Secretary for Scotland
The secretary of state for Scotland (; ), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incum ...
Lord Balfour of Burleigh. The 1903 building was extended in 1926 and 1931, and is Category B listed.
Marine engineering was first introduced as a course in the college in 1920. In 1927, a radio department was added to the college. In 1944, the college introduced training courses for the deck officers.
In the 1960s, a final extension to the college for marine engineering was added at 104/106 Commercial Street.
In 1974, the number of full time and part time students enrolled at the college reached 2,000. In 1978, the college moved to a new building on Milton Road in Portobello (). Following a review by the Scottish Education Department and the Convention of Scottish Authorities, it was decided to close the college and instead move all maritime training to a single site in Glasgow. A campaign was raised in 1986 to prevent the closure of the college, but it was unsuccessful as Allan Stewart, Scottish Minister for Education ordered the college to end its teaching the following year. In 1987, the college was finally closed by the Scottish Education Department. The college site became part of the Jewel and Esk College, later renamed Edinburgh College
Edinburgh College is a further and higher education institution with campuses in Edinburgh and Midlothian, Scotland. It serves the Edinburgh Region, Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, and is the largest college in Scotland. It was f ...
. When the college closed, maritime education services were moved to the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies. The records and collections of the college are held at the Museum and Archive of Heriot Watt University.
TS Dolphin
The college owned atraining ship
A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is mostly used to describe ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house class ...
, the ''TS Dolphin''. The training ship was in operation between 1944 and 1977. The ship was berthed at the West Old Dock.
The TS was originally launched in 1882 and before becoming a training ship was commissioned in the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
as ''HMS Dolphin''.
References
{{GeoGroup Buildings and structures in Leith Maritime colleges in the United Kingdom Training ships of the United Kingdom