Location of Papermills
Papermills had been a major feature of the landscape of the Water of Leith since the mid sixteenth century, using the power and resources of the river. The mills relied on waterpower and a plentiful supply of water was also needed for many of the papermaking processes. The Water of Leith was the perfect location for this blossoming industry. The proximity of the river to Granton Harbour was ideal for the shipping in of raw materials and exporting of paper products. Edinburgh was also a waiting market for paper goods and a ready supply of the raw material rags.
The advent of the Balerno Branch railway in 1874 linked the Water of Leith to the centre of Edinburgh. The line left the main Edinburgh to Carstairs line near Dalmahoy. It then came to Balerno reaching the river just above Newmills following the river and then rejoining the mainline at Slateford. For most of its run along the Water of Leith the line ran directly along the river and consequently just past the door of many of the mills. Many mills including Kinleith Mill and Kate’s Mill had railway sidings directly into the mill and bought their own railway carriages, aiding the import of fuel and raw materials and export of goods.
‘You had the river on one side, 0the railway on the other side. To be honest looking back now it was a somewhat stupid place to build a papermill. But I would imagine in the very early days, you know in the 1800s it would be ideal.'
Many of the modern mills including Kinleith Mill, Balerno Bank and Woodhall were built in the site of seventeenth century mills. By the 1950s modern machinery and methods of production meant that the existing buildings were too small, but the sites had little or no room for expansion. They were hemmed in by the river on one side and the railway on the other; Woodhall was forced to overhang the river, as this was the only space available for growth. The provision of steam power and mainlined water and electricity meant that the dependence on the river decreased and many companies began to look for alternative sites for production.
The Balerno Branch Railway closed for passengers in 1943 but continued to provide a freight service until 1967 after the closure of Kinleith Mill in 1966 sounded the death knell for the line.