George Street, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

7818

Title

George Street, Edinburgh

Description

Amongst the grand buildings of George Street in Edinburgh is the statue of George IV which stands in the centre of a cobblestone road. The tall spire and clocktower of St Andrew's and St George's church can be seen. Along from the church is the Melville Monument which has a statue at the top of a tall column. Bordering the thoroughfare there are rows of street lighting.

Artist / maker

Wilson, George Washington

Date

1880

Size

11.8 x 16.8 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by Douglas Kinloch Anderson, Director of Kinloch Anderson Highland Dress & Kilt Manufacturers - "Our six generation old company, Kinloch Anderson, began life in a building now occupied by the George hotel, and then moved across the road to 14-16 George Street, which was our headquarters for over a century. The end of this building can be seen on the far right of the photograph'. Douglas Kinloch Anderson

George Street is located in central Edinburgh and forms part of James Craig's geometric New Town plan. It runs from St Andrew Square in the east to Charlotte Square in the west, parallel with Princes Street to the south and Queen Street to the north.

View a map of George Street

Edinburgh's New Town, which lies to the north of the Old Town, was designed by James Craig. Craig was the winner of a design competition held in 1766 which invited contestants to submit plans for the city's northward expansion. This expansion had become necessary due to terrible overcrowding in the Old Town. Based on a regular geometric scheme around the three streets of Princes Street, George Street and Queen Street the New Town continued to be developed until 1830. It has now been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The word cobble has been used here to help with searching, an alternative term is sett. Sett stones describe both the type of stone and the method in which they are used.

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Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Architectural features > Spires

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Protestant churches

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets

(55°57′11″N, 3°12′1″W)

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