Timber Bush facts for kids
Timber Bush is a historic area in Leith, which is the port town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located just north of Bernard Street. The word "Bush" comes from the French word "Bourse," which means a market or exchange. So, "Timber Bush" means "timber market." This area used to be an open space where wood was unloaded from ships and sold.
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History of Timber Bush
Early Days as a Merchant Hub
Long ago, James VI gave permission to a man named Bernard Lindsay to build a special area near the harbour. This area, which Bernard Street is named after, was like a public square with stone arches. It was meant to be a busy meeting place for merchants, both local and from other countries. Over time, this entire space became known as a market for selling wood.
Whisky, Wine, and Barrels
Leith was a very important port for trading. It exported whisky and imported wine. This meant there was a big need for people who made barrels, called "coopers." Barrels were essential for storing and moving these drinks. The famous writer Sir Walter Scott even mentioned Timber Bush in one of his books, Bride of Lammermoor. He wrote about a cooper who worked at the "Timmer Burse," which was another name for Timber Bush.
Fires and Old Buildings
Sadly, most of the large storage buildings in Timber Bush burned down in one night in 1982. These buildings were often called "bonded warehouses" because they held goods like whisky before taxes were paid on them.
A few old buildings on the south side of Timber Bush survived. These buildings were used for different things. One held leather goods, another stored peanuts and raisins, and one was used for wine before it held whisky. The last one stored slates, which are thin pieces of rock used for roofs.
These surviving buildings stand on top of the old foundations of a much bigger warehouse that was taken down in 1830. This older building might have been the "Queen's Stores" that Sir Walter Scott wrote about. Today, all the old warehouses have been changed into new uses, like homes or offices.
Some of the buildings that look like one big structure are actually two separate warehouses. There's even a small gap between two of them. This gap was important because, before electricity, warehouses needed lots of natural light. They couldn't use open flames for lighting because of the flammable goods inside. The windows on these buildings line up perfectly, so if they are open, you could even reach from one building into the next!
Timber Bush Today
Today, Timber Bush is a quieter area, tucked away from the busy Bernard Street. It is now home to modern apartments, as well as offices for marketing companies and small media businesses. It's a mix of old history and new life!
