25 Albany Street

John Lorne MacLeod (portrait by George Fiddes Watt) was a solicitor (SSC) and the brother of Phoebe, the wife of George Whigham. He lived with the Whighams at Number 23, and from 1905 also was in partnership with Whigham (also a SSC). When, in 1909, George died, MacLeod went to live in Great King Street, along with the two Whigham daughters (it is likely Phoebe had also died before this), and he moved the law practice here, although it still traded under the name of Whigham and MacLeod.In 1905, MacLeod was elected to the Edinburgh Council, representing Canongate ward, and served in that capacity to 1919. From 1912 – 1914, he was City Treasurer, and, from 1916 to 1919, the city’s Lord Provost. He held a diverse range of public and private positions including from 1925, until his death in 1946, chairman of Scottish Life Assurance Company, Food Commissioner for Scotland from 1920 to 1921, chairman of the General Nursing Council for Scotland, and chairman of the Consumers' Committees for both Scotland and Great Britain. He also was active with a range of organisations promoting Highland and Celtic culture, including a member of the Clan MacLeod. He was knighted and in 1920 appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in recognition of his services as Lord Provost during the First World War.

From 1912 until 1929, James S MacLeod, presumably a relation of John Lorne MacLeod, and also a solicitor, is recorded as part of the firm. In 1912, he also is recorded at the Albany Street address as the secretary of the Lochris Curling Club, and Treasurer of the Clan MacLeod Society. Clan MacLeod Societies were founded in both Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1891.

In 1925, Mena Whigham joined the firm, and possibly also lived in the house. In 1922 she had been the only women out of 94 students graduating from Edinburgh University, where she studied law.

In the late 1930s and 1940s, Mena was recounted as questioning aspects of the law that adversely affected women, including inequality in the law of intestate succession and anomalies in divorce law. She was active in a range of activities. including a member of the Edinburgh French Circle, honorary treasurer of the Edinburgh Old people’s Welfare Council; and involved in the Edinburgh Women’s Citizens Association.

Like her uncle, she was a member of committees of a number of organisations promoting Highland and Celtic culture. These included the Celtic Union, a literary and historical society; the Highland Fiell; and the 1951 Mod which took place in Edinburgh. She was convenor of a ball to raise funds for the Celtic Conference to take place in Edinburgh: ‘The Assembly Rooms presented a gay scene when filled with the many-coloured tartans. Spirited reels danced to Pipe-Major Stark’s music figured largely on the programme.’

In 1950, at a dinner to mark the appointment of Sir Andrew Murray as Lord Provost of Edinburgh given by ‘the women citizens of this Modern Athens’, Mina proposed the toast to the guests. A subject raised at the dinner was the controversy at the time over whether the money spent by the city on the Edinburgh Festival was worthwhile or not. The incoming Lord Provost argued that it was as the Festival brought the city ‘tremendous value’. In 1950s Mena served on the Wages Council.

1955 – (about) 1960 John and James Lyall

General warehousing company.

1960s John Lees & Co

Boot and shoe manufacturers. In 1963, a major fire at their factory in Maybole forced their production to end. However, they continued as a hire purchase company.

1970 - at least 1980 Alexander Sloan & Co.

Glasgow and Edinburgh Chartered Accountants - still in existence.