The Pilrig Muddle
These two large cable-winding wheels were constructed between 1898 and 1900 and were discovered nearby during the construction of the Trams to Newhaven Project in August 2021. Located at the junction of Leith Walk and Pilrig Street they formed part of the underground cable system for the Edinburgh and District Tramways Company's cabletrams.
Although Edinburgh and Leith had been connected by horse-drawn trams since the 1870's, Leith Burgh Council decided not to join Edinburgh'scable-tram system. Instead in 1905 Leith pioneered electric traction under the Leith Corporation Tramways.
However the use of two different tram systems meant that passengers travelling between Leith and Edinburfh would have to change tramcars at the LeithWalk /Pilrig Street Juction, the boundry betwen the two burghs. Known as the 'Pirig Muddle', this lasted until 1922 when theroute became fully electric allowing passengers to travel without having to change