{{Short description|Historic building in Edinburgh, Scotland}} thumb|right|The former college building at 108 Commercial Street, Leith '''Leith Nautical College''' was a maritime college in Leith, Scotland.<ref name="HeriotWatt">{{cite web|url=https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/is/heritage/museum/leith-nautical-college.htm |title=Leith Nautical College |publisher=Heriot Watt University |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/former-students-leith-nautical-college-meet-586559 |title=Former students of Leith Nautical College to meet up |publisher=The Scotsman |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Dominies">{{cite book |date=1987 |title=The Sea Dominies: The Story of Leith Nautical College, 1855-1987 |location=London |publisher= Board of Governors of Leith Nautical College |isbn=978-0951240809}}</ref> The college provided instruction for the training of Merchant Navy officers and other seafarers.<ref name="Scotsman"/> Courses offered included naval architecture, marine engineering, telegraphy, radar and marine electronics.<ref name="Scotsman"/><ref name="Dominies"/>
==History== In 1855, the college was established as the Leith Navigation School, after the passing of the Merchant Shipping Act 1854 that authorised the Board of Trade to allow training and examination of officers.<ref name="Dominies"/><ref name="HeriotWatt"/><ref name="GlasgowCollege">{{cite web|url=https://www.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Maritime50_history.pdf |title=MARITIME50: HISTORY |publisher=City of Glasgow College |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Gillon">{{cite book |last1=Gillon |first1=Jack |last2=Parkinson |first2=Fraser |date=2014 |title=Leith Through Time |publisher=Amberley Publishing |isbn=978-1445640952}}</ref> 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 ({{coord|55.9777|-3.1768|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Leith Nautical College (1903–1978)}}) a short distance from the Mariner's Church.<ref name="Dominies"/><ref name="GlasgowCollege"/><ref name="Scotsman"/><ref name="HES">{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB26852|desc=104-108 COMMERCIAL STREET, MACDONALD HOUSE (FORMER LEITH NAUTICAL COLLEGE) WITH FRONT WALL AND RAILINGS; EH6 6NN|cat=B|access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Gillon"/> The new college was opened on 4 February 1903 by the Secretary for Scotland Lord Balfour of Burleigh.<ref name="HES"/> The 1903 building was extended in 1926 and 1931, and is Category B listed.<ref name="HES"/>
Marine engineering was first introduced as a course in the college in 1920.<ref name="Robins">{{cite book |last1=Robins |first1=Nick |date=2014 |title=Scotland and the Sea. The Scottish Dimension in Maritime History |publisher=Pen&Sword |isbn=978-1473834415}}</ref> In 1927, a radio department was added to the college.<ref name="Robins"/> In 1944, the college introduced training courses for the deck officers.<ref name="Robins"/>
In the 1960s, a final extension to the college for marine engineering was added at 104/106 Commercial Street.<ref name="Canmore">{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=155550 |num2=NT27NE 705 |desc=Edinburgh, Leith, 104, 106 Commercial Street, Former Leith Nautical College |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="HES"/>
thumb|right|The former college building on Milton Road (designed to resemble a ship) In 1974, the number of full time and part time students enrolled at the college reached 2,000.<ref name="Robins"/> In 1978, the college moved to a new building on Milton Road in Portobello ({{coord|55.9432|-3.0968|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Leith Nautical College (1978–1987)}}).<ref name="Dominies"/> 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.<ref name="Robins"/> 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.<ref name="Dominies"/> In 1987, the college was finally closed by the Scottish Education Department.<ref name="Scotsman"/><ref name="Dominies"/> The college site became part of the Jewel and Esk College, later renamed Edinburgh College.<ref name="HeriotWatt"/> 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.<ref name="HeriotWatt"/><ref name="Archive">{{cite web|url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/6dd34d87-5faa-3d6e-b18c-238506de6c53 |title=Leith Nautical College |publisher=Jisc |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref>
==TS Dolphin== The college owned a training ship, the ''TS Dolphin''.<ref name="Dominies"/><ref name="HESDolphin">{{cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/archives-and-collections/properties-in-care-collections/object/photographs-of-training-ship-dolphin-circa-1950s-modern-trinity-house-5984 |title=Collections. Photographs of training ship Dolphin |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Robins"/> The training ship was in operation between 1944 and 1977.<ref name="Dominies"/><ref name="LF">{{cite web|url=https://www.leithforever.org/100days/day13 |title=Day 13. Leith Nautical College |publisher=Leith Forever |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="HESDolphin"/> The ship was berthed at the West Old Dock.<ref name="HESDolphin"/><ref name="CanmoreDolphin">{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=IMG |num=733454 |num2=SC 733454 |desc=General view looking WSW showing Training Ship (TS) Dolphin beside entrance to dock with warehouse on right |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>
The TS was originally launched in 1882 and before becoming a training ship was commissioned in the Royal Navy as ''HMS Dolphin''.<ref name="PortsmouthNews">{{cite web|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/retro/hms-dolphin-revealed-be-mystery-hulk-nostalgia-980890 |title=HMS Dolphin revealed to be mystery hulk – Nostalgia |publisher=Portsmouth News |access-date=14 September 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{GeoGroup}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Leith Category:Maritime colleges in the United Kingdom Category:Training ships of the United Kingdom