Old Meets New in Leith

Mixing the industrial history of the port of Leith with the smart decor of modern Edinburgh, 137-5 Constitution Street is a perfect example of how old meets new in the Capital.

Set in the heart of the Capital’s traditional industrial heartland – the historic port of Leith – the unique property has been created inside a former warehouse building that would once have been used to store a wealth of goods brought into the city from across the world.

And while the building’s days as a bustling centre for trade and commerce may be long gone, it has lost none of its historical charm in its transformation into a stylish duplex apartment.

Unlike many other new flats that have arisen in the Leith area in recent years, 137-5 Constitution Street has deliberately sought to retain the traditional look and feel of its heritage. Rather than having all of its original features stripped out, there are plenty of heavy-duty beams and supports that have been retained in the property – which now form some of its biggest talking, and selling, points.

David Spencer, who has lived in the property for the past six years, explains, “Our apartment is quite different to what you’d expect in this part of Leith, but that is part of its charm. Although some of the interior is very modern and stylish, there’s no mistaking the building’s heritage and a lot of the old original features are still in place, such as the beams and the high ceiling cornices.

“The main living area takes up two levels, but the original floorboards that divided these levels have been taken out. It means that we’ve got a huge open plan living space stretching up two storeys that is a real eye-opener, but there are also some of the original support pillars that have been left in place and turned into interesting feature pieces.

“It’s an interesting mix of old architecture and new design.

“The flat really is also in a fantastic location, just up from the green space of Leith Links but also right in the middle of a very historical part of Edinburgh. For example, South Leith Parish Church – one of the oldest churches in Leith – is located just across the street and there are many old warehouses and tenement buildings in the surrounding area. They all look like they are from a long-gone era, so the whole area has a very pleasant and traditional feel to it.

“It’s easy to forget when you’re walking down the street that there are some very modern developments just a stone’s throw away in areas such as the Shore. They are a world away from what our building looks like, so it’s nice to be living somewhere that has that kind of heritage.”

The apartment has a ground floor level consisting of an impressive open-plan living/kitchen/dining, a double bedroom and a newly-refitted family bathroom. The upper level has a mezzanine landing and hallway leading to a master bedroom and en-suite wet room, as well as a further double bedroom.

The property also has a secure communal courtyard to the rear which has residents parking facilities and a large, secure basement storage area.

Scott Brown, estate agency partner at Warners, said, “This is certainly an unusual property for this area, as it uses many of the original warehouse features of the building while maintaining a stylish, modern interior.

“Constitution Street is a very historical part of Leith – and of Edinburgh in general – so an apartment that displays some of this architectural and cultural heritage is likely to prove very popular.”

137-5 Constitution Street is being sold for offers around £269,000. For more information or to arrange a viewing, please contact Warners on 0131 667 0232.