The History Of Edinburgh City
So where did it all begin ?
So where did it all begin ?
During the Iron and Bronze ages, stone settlements scattered the Pentland Hills which overlook the Edinburgh of today. There were also inhabited areas around the future site of Holyrood Palace and Craiglockhart Hill. Over time the Castle Rock was most probably used as a lookout post, guarding against invasion from the north. Up until the year 1018 the area was part of The Kingdom of Northumbria and ruled by King Edwin for part of this time. The area became known as Din Eidyn translated as Edwins Fort, and over time became Edwinesburch and later Edinburgh.
By the 12th century, Edinburgh was an established settlement along with Holyrood to the East. The port of Leith soon prospered and in 1603 the first Parliament of Scotland was formed, which convened in Edinburgh Castles Great Hall.
In the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellion Edinburgh was expanded in honour of King James VI and the royal family. With the Kings Flag as a template and the royals names as inspiration, several new streets were constructed : Castle Street, George Street, Princes Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, Queen Street, Rose Street and Thistle Street. Later, the Nor Loch was drained (now the Princes Street gardens) and the New Town was formed.
Edinburgh eventually industrialised, earning the nickname Auld Reekie, and Leith became a bustling whaling and trade port. Glasgow soon overtook Edinburghs industrial scale but Din Eidyn became and remains Scotlands cultural epicentre and of course, the nations capital.
Edinburgh City centre is essentially split in two, with the Princes Street Gardens acting as a North-South divide between the Old Town and New Town of Edinburgh.
The Old Town
The Old Town of Edinburgh stretches from the gates of Edinburgh Castle, down the length of the Royal Mile, and outwards from that cobbled spine.
The narrow closes or wynds which emanate from the Royal Mile give this part of Edinburgh its character and have existed, along with much of the Old Town of today, since medieval times.
In the 16th century, the area was dominated by high-rise buildings stretching up to 14 stories high. One such construction ended in disaster when the building collapsed and there is a plaque in its place on the Royal Mile commemorating the victims.
This part of Edinburgh is not only famous for the castle, but also for Edinburghs Underground City, a series of vaults which were mainly inhabited by Irish immigrants during the industrial revolution. The most famous of these recently excavated areas is Mary Kings Close which attracts and enthrals visitors from around the globe.
The Scottish parliament and Holyrood Palace are also located in Edinburghs Old Town, along with Edinburgh University, The Royal Museum of Scotland and the Dynamic Earth visitor attraction.
The New Town
By the 18th century the Old Town area of Edinburgh surrounding the Royal Mile was bursting at the seams and could no longer cope with its swelling population. In addition many families were becoming wealthier and longed to move farther away from the lower classes and their slums.
In 1766 a competition was launched which enabled architects and town planners to submit designs for the New Town layout. In the end a design by a young architect named James Craig. Craigs design was modified slightly (chiefly some street name changes) by King George III, but in essence remained true to the original plans. One notable change was that of St Giles Street to Princes Street. The King disliked St Giles being the patron saint of lepers, and so renamed what is now Edinburghs main street in his sons honour.
Edinburghs New Town now includes the main shopping districts of the city and some of the best hotels in Edinburgh as well as Edinburghs financial sector in The West End. Other worldly recognisable buildings of the New Town include Waverly Station and the National Gallery of Scotland.
New Town streets known even to foreign visitors include Rose Street, Queen Street, George Street, Hanover Street, Thistle Street, Frederick Street and Castle Street. The buildings constructed as part of the original New Town are considered in modern times to be some of the finest examples of Georgian architecture anywhere in the world.
by: Jen Sersh
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