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George Square, Edinburgh

October 30, 2023

George Square (Scottish Gaelic: Ceàrnag Sheòrais) is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is in the south of the city centre, adjacent to the Meadows. It was laid out in 1766 outside the overcrowded Old Town, and was a popular residential area for Edinburgh's better-off citizens. In the 1960s, much of the square was redeveloped by the University of Edinburgh, although the Cockburn Association and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh protested. Most but not all buildings on the square now belong to the university (among the exceptions being the Dominican priory of St Albert the Great). Principal buildings include the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh University Library, 40 George Square and Appleton Tower.

Numbers 16 (right) to 23, George Square
George Square and the Old College at sunrise

Georgian square edit

 
Gardens in George Square, with the university library in the background

The square was laid out in 1766 by the builder James Brown,[1] and comprised modest, typically Georgian, terraced houses. Away from the overcrowded Old Town, George Square was the location of the homes of lawyers and nobles. Residents included Sir Walter Scott, the judge Lord Braxfield, and the politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. In June 1792, the square was the starting point of the Dundas Riots, aimed at the house of the Lord advocate, Robert Dundas of Arniston, who lived on the square. From 1876 to 1880, Arthur Conan Doyle, later author of the Sherlock Holmes novels, lived at No. 23 while studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School.[2]

 
A Baillie lamp in George Square, Edinburgh

Redevelopment of the square began in the late 19th century when numbers 4 to 7 were redeveloped as George Watson's Ladies College. In the 1920s the college expanded to absorb numbers 8 to 10. These minor interventions were mild in comparison with the changes of the 1960s: the whole south side was demolished, together with half the east side, to provide new facilities for the university. Combined with the redevelopments on Potterow to the north-east and completion of McEwan Hall, this made George Square the new hub of the whole university.

Gardens edit

 
Horonised pavement, Moray Place

The central gardens are privately owned and are not a public park as such. However, they are usually available to public use, though only the southern access is usually open.

The central gardens contain a memorial to Winifred Rushforth entitled "The Dreamer".[3]

The garden also contains several "Baillie lamps", which were formerly placed in front of the Edinburgh Baillies and latterly (until the 1970s) placed in front of councillors' houses.

The pavements adjoining the central garden are "horonised": a system of using vertical slivers of granite remaining from the squaring of the granite setts on the main road surface, thereby having no wasted material.

Famous residents edit

33 George Square was used as the base for HM Geological Survey of Scotland with notable employees including John Horne.

Other residents (whose exact addresses are unclear) include Henry Erskine, Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield (north side), William Craig, Lord Craig (west side), John Campbell, Lord Stonefield (north side) and Admiral Duncan of Camperdown.

Redevelopment edit

 
A Georgian house at the north-east corner of the square

The University of Edinburgh began drawing up plans to redevelop the square in the 1950s. Architects Basil Spence and Robert Matthew were closely involved in the plans. Opposition to demolition of the Georgian Square was led by the Cockburn Association, and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh, which was established by Colin McWilliam and others to resist the proposals. In the end, the western side of the square was retained. This was helped by the refusal of the Dominican Order who owned 23 and 24 George Square to sell their premises to the university, despite the offer to build a replacement church and priory. Fr Anthony Ross O.P. was instrumental in this refusal. On the northern side, the 19th century George Watson's Ladies College was retained alongside the modern Hugh Robson Building. Georgian terraces were retained along half of the east side, while the southern side was entirely redeveloped.

Today, George Square has the highest concentration of university buildings in its Central campus area, which includes the Brutalist Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, the university's main library, and the Appleton Tower and 40 George Square[4] teaching and administrative buildings.

Edinburgh Fringe edit

 
Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre in George Square.

During August each year, the square becomes an important hub for events during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Many of the university buildings, notably Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre and the lecture halls in 40 George Square are converted for use as venues by operator Assembly.[5] The gardens are filled with bars and pop-up venues, including, in recent years while nearby Bristo Square is being renovated, the Underbelly purple cow venue.

References edit

  1. ^ The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
  2. ^ "George Square". Edinburgh Southside Heritage Group.
  3. ^ "The Dreamer, statue in memory of Winifred Rushworth | Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland". womenofscotland.org.uk.
  4. ^ "Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - an update". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Assembly George Square Gardens". Edinburgh Guide. Retrieved 17 March 2016.

Bibliography edit

  • Historic Environment Scotland. "Edinburgh, George Square, General (122519)". Canmore. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  • "George Square". Edinburgh World Heritage. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  • Greenwood Tree, "George and Charlotte, The Old Squares", in Thomson, David Cleghorn (ed.), Saltire Review, Vol. 6, No. 22, The Saltire Society, Edinburgh, pp. 9 - 14
  • Robertson, Eleanor (1997). (PDF). Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011.
  • "George Square". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 18 May 2012.

External links edit

  •   Media related to George Square, Edinburgh at Wikimedia Commons

55°56′37″N 3°11′20″W / 55.9437°N 3.189°W / 55.9437; -3.189

October 30, 2023
george, square, edinburgh, george, square, scottish, gaelic, ceàrnag, sheòrais, city, square, edinburgh, scotland, south, city, centre, adjacent, meadows, laid, 1766, outside, overcrowded, town, popular, residential, area, edinburgh, better, citizens, 1960s, m. George Square Scottish Gaelic Cearnag Sheorais is a city square in Edinburgh Scotland It is in the south of the city centre adjacent to the Meadows It was laid out in 1766 outside the overcrowded Old Town and was a popular residential area for Edinburgh s better off citizens In the 1960s much of the square was redeveloped by the University of Edinburgh although the Cockburn Association and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh protested Most but not all buildings on the square now belong to the university among the exceptions being the Dominican priory of St Albert the Great Principal buildings include the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre Edinburgh University Library 40 George Square and Appleton Tower Numbers 16 right to 23 George Square source source source source source source source George Square and the Old College at sunrise Contents 1 Georgian square 2 Gardens 3 Famous residents 4 Redevelopment 5 Edinburgh Fringe 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksGeorgian square edit nbsp Gardens in George Square with the university library in the backgroundThe square was laid out in 1766 by the builder James Brown 1 and comprised modest typically Georgian terraced houses Away from the overcrowded Old Town George Square was the location of the homes of lawyers and nobles Residents included Sir Walter Scott the judge Lord Braxfield and the politician Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville In June 1792 the square was the starting point of the Dundas Riots aimed at the house of the Lord advocate Robert Dundas of Arniston who lived on the square From 1876 to 1880 Arthur Conan Doyle later author of the Sherlock Holmes novels lived at No 23 while studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School 2 nbsp A Baillie lamp in George Square EdinburghRedevelopment of the square began in the late 19th century when numbers 4 to 7 were redeveloped as George Watson s Ladies College In the 1920s the college expanded to absorb numbers 8 to 10 These minor interventions were mild in comparison with the changes of the 1960s the whole south side was demolished together with half the east side to provide new facilities for the university Combined with the redevelopments on Potterow to the north east and completion of McEwan Hall this made George Square the new hub of the whole university Gardens edit nbsp Horonised pavement Moray PlaceThe central gardens are privately owned and are not a public park as such However they are usually available to public use though only the southern access is usually open The central gardens contain a memorial to Winifred Rushforth entitled The Dreamer 3 The garden also contains several Baillie lamps which were formerly placed in front of the Edinburgh Baillies and latterly until the 1970s placed in front of councillors houses The pavements adjoining the central garden are horonised a system of using vertical slivers of granite remaining from the squaring of the granite setts on the main road surface thereby having no wasted material Famous residents editDionysius Wielobycki at number 3 Rev John Jamieson 4 Allan Maconochie Lord Meadowbank 5 Henry Dundas Lord Melville and Elizabeth Rannie 5 Richard Huie 8 John Campbell Lord Stonefield 11 Rev John Paul and his son James Balfour Paul 13 Waller Hugh Paton 14 John Struthers anatomist 15 Rev William King Tweedie 15 plus a short time at 50 Very Rev Patrick Clason 22 Simon Somerville Laurie 22 Jane Welsh Carlyle 23 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 23 Sir Walter Scott 25 Sir Adam Ferguson 27 Robert Kaye Greville 31 33 Joseph Noel Paton 33 Charles Lawson nurseryman 35 Dawson Turner radiologist 37 Dr Andrew Fyfe 38 William Archer Porter Tait 38 Percy Portsmouth 39 Alexander Adam 39 Very Rev John Inglis 43 Hugh Cameron RSA RSW 45 Edmund Taylor Whittaker 48 George Turnbull of Abbey St Bathans and his son John 49 Gerard Baldwin Brown 50 Robert Dundas of Arniston 57 Charles Maclaren 58 Thomas M Crie the Younger 58 earlier at 45 33 George Square was used as the base for HM Geological Survey of Scotland with notable employees including John Horne Other residents whose exact addresses are unclear include Henry Erskine Robert McQueen Lord Braxfield north side William Craig Lord Craig west side John Campbell Lord Stonefield north side and Admiral Duncan of Camperdown Redevelopment edit nbsp A Georgian house at the north east corner of the squareThe University of Edinburgh began drawing up plans to redevelop the square in the 1950s Architects Basil Spence and Robert Matthew were closely involved in the plans Opposition to demolition of the Georgian Square was led by the Cockburn Association and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh which was established by Colin McWilliam and others to resist the proposals In the end the western side of the square was retained This was helped by the refusal of the Dominican Order who owned 23 and 24 George Square to sell their premises to the university despite the offer to build a replacement church and priory Fr Anthony Ross O P was instrumental in this refusal On the northern side the 19th century George Watson s Ladies College was retained alongside the modern Hugh Robson Building Georgian terraces were retained along half of the east side while the southern side was entirely redeveloped Today George Square has the highest concentration of university buildings in its Central campus area which includes the Brutalist Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre the university s main library and the Appleton Tower and 40 George Square 4 teaching and administrative buildings Edinburgh Fringe edit nbsp Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre in George Square During August each year the square becomes an important hub for events during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Many of the university buildings notably Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre and the lecture halls in 40 George Square are converted for use as venues by operator Assembly 5 The gardens are filled with bars and pop up venues including in recent years while nearby Bristo Square is being renovated the Underbelly purple cow venue References edit The Buildings of Scotland Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker George Square Edinburgh Southside Heritage Group The Dreamer statue in memory of Winifred Rushworth Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland womenofscotland org uk Equality Diversity and Inclusion an update The University of Edinburgh Retrieved 13 September 2020 Assembly George Square Gardens Edinburgh Guide Retrieved 17 March 2016 Bibliography editHistoric Environment Scotland Edinburgh George Square General 122519 Canmore Retrieved 18 May 2012 George Square Edinburgh World Heritage Retrieved 7 July 2020 Greenwood Tree George and Charlotte The Old Squares in Thomson David Cleghorn ed Saltire Review Vol 6 No 22 The Saltire Society Edinburgh pp 9 14 Robertson Eleanor 1997 The Story of the Society PDF Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Archived from the original PDF on 18 July 2011 George Square Gazetteer for Scotland Retrieved 18 May 2012 External links edit nbsp Media related to George Square Edinburgh at Wikimedia Commons55 56 37 N 3 11 20 W 55 9437 N 3 189 W 55 9437 3 189 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Square Edinburgh amp oldid 1168005175, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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