inscribed " Leith Martello Towerr" a page from an album inscribed in the frontispage "F W Staines 3 Uplands St Leonards on Sea"
Amelia Jackson, Nee Staines (1842 – 1925) and thence by descent
The Tally Toor is the local name for a Martello tower in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is one of Scotland's three Martello towers, the other two being at Hackness and Crockness in Orkney. Originally built offshore on a rocky outcrop called the Mussel Cape Rocks, the land around it was subsequently reclaimed, and the building now lies, half-buried, in an industrial area on the eastern breakwater of Leith Docks.
Tally Toor during breakwater construction, 1942
Tally Toor was built in 1809 during the period of the Napoleonic Wars to defend the entrance of Leith Harbour at a cost 17,000 pounds. The tower was altered in 1850 to add a trefoil gun-emplacement and reorganise the interior accommodation.
Irish folk symbols carved on the stonework indicate that it was built by Irish navvies.
Later, during the Second World War, the tower housed an anti-aircraft battery.
On 27 April 1964, it was designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland. Keys to the structure are with Forth Ports.
Francis William Staines was the last of a family of merchants from the City of London. Not only was he a successful businessman but he possessed a large independent fortune, such that he could devote his time to the cultivation of his talents in music and art. He was a brilliant amateur violinist, and also loved to spend much of his time painting. His daughter Amelia and her mother accompanied Mr Staines as he travelled throughout the country finding subjects for his painting. One area of the country that they visited frequently was Scotland and the Lake District, and Amelia grew particularly fond of the dramatic landscape of the Fells. Skelwith Bridge with the view of the hills around it 43 was one of her father’s favourite scenes. He painted landscapes and maritime paintings , exhibited 11 works at the RA including views on the Italian Coast, address in London, Hastings and St Leonards on Sea Susssex.