image copyright Rachel Windsor

The old bridge across the Water of Leith was about 100m away from the new Sandport Bridge, and was named for Abbot Ballantyne of Holyrood, who erected it in the late 1400’s.  At the north end of the bridge stood St Ninian’s Church, built c. 1493 to serve North Leith, a replacement of which is visible in this picture. At the south of the bridge were St Leonard's Lands, also owned by the Abbot of Holyrood.