A Walk through Edinburgh's New Town (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781500122010)

Edinburgh's historic New Town is one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian town planning. Even before work on the first phase of the New Town was completed, visitors were recording their very favourable impressions. An English tourist, Robert Heron, writing at the end of the 1790s, wrote that: "With regard to the buildings that have of late arisen in this City (Edinburgh) with such incredible rapidity, we may venture to say, that, in regularity and magnificence, they are scarcely equalled, or at least not excelled, by any in Europe...When Charlotte Square, at the west end of George Street, shall be completed, this City will certainly surpass, in regularity and magnificence, every other in Great Britain." Edinburgh's New Town was created thanks to the determination and vision of a group of leading citizens led by Lord Provost George Drummond. Having obtained the permission of Parliament to extend the city's royalty to the open fields beyond the Nor' Loch, (now Princes Street Gardens.) The City, very commendably, decided to organise a competition to design what even then was called The New Town. This competition was won in 1766 by a young 23 year old architect James Craig. His plan was a simple but very effective grid-iron design with three parallel streets running from east to west with a grand square at either end of the principal street which was to be named George Street after the King, George III. The foundation of the first house, which still stands, in Thistle Court, was laid in November 1767. Progress westwards though was slow. It was not until 1792 that work started on the houses of Charlotte Square at the west end of George Street. Although commercial development has spoiled much of Princes Street, the majority of Edinburgh's first New Town has survived the passage of time. It remains as one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian Town Planning and as such was recognised, along with the neighbouring Old Town, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. 'A Walk Through Edinburgh's New Town' is intended both as a guide book for our many visitors and as an informative reference book for those, perhaps living far away as expatriate Scots, who have an interest in Edinburgh's unique story. Sharing your journey are some true Edinburgh 'local heroes' - George Drummond, six times elected as Lord Provost who was the driving inspiration behind the planned New Town, Sir James Young Simpson who discovered the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in his house in Queen Street, Sir Walter Scott who penned many of his famous 'Waverley Novels;' in the study of his home in Castle Street and Sir John Sinclair who masterminded the production of 'The Statistical Account of Scotland', a unique survey of the Scotland of the 1790s, from his home in Charlotte Square. Your will also meet some colourful eccentrics including the self-styled Sobieski brothers who claimed to be the grand-sons of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Hugo Arnot, the asthmatic lawyer, whose 'History of Edinburgh', published in 1779, gives us an invaluable account of the dramatic changes taking place in the city in the second half of the 18th century. From its early days, the New Town attracted famous visitors including Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Vincent Lunardi, the balloonist and George IV who made what was arguably the first modern royal visit, planned by Sir Walter Scott, in August 1822. 'A Walk Through Edinburgh's New Town' draws from several contemporary sources in describing such events as the visit of George IV, the financial troubles of Sir Walter Scott and the creation of the Earthen Mound. The book is generously illustrated with pictures of the New Town as we can enjoy it today as well as contemporary prints and drawings. The book concludes with a bibliography and some suggestions for further reading. If you enjoy this book then why not continue your journey by purchasing the companion title 'A Walk Down Ed

Author: Eric Melvin
ISBN-10: 1500122017
ISBN-13: 9781500122010
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Language: English
Published: 10/31/2014
Pages: 112
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.29d