Edinburgh Sightseeing
What to see in
Edinburgh ...
Princes Street Gardens
and view of Edinburgh Castle
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Have you ever wondered why Edinburgh
is called the Festival City? Well, with our
extensive range of world-class events, visitor
attractions, museums and galleries you truly
will be spoilt for choice at any time of the
year.
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Of course there is much more to
Edinburgh than festivals , attractions and
B&B's. Perched high on an extinct volcanic
outcrop, home of the Scottish Crown Jewels,
Edinburgh Castle dominates the capital's
skyline with stunning views across the World
Heritage listed Old and New Town and out to the
Firth of Forth. B&B in Edinburgh
Nearby our B&B there are lovely
parks and a Nature Reserve for those who enjoy
walking.
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Salisbury Crags in
Holyrood Park
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Arthur Seat in Holyrood
Park
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Other recreational facilities in the
area include a golf course, tennis courts and
an Olympic size swimming pool.
In the city centre you will find a
wide array of quality bistros, bars, b&bs,
cafes and restaurants, offering dishes from a
wide geographical area: Indian, Japanese,
French, Italian, traditional Scottish Fayre,
seafood specialists, catering for every taste
in food and range of budget.
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"A warm welcome awaits you at AmarAgua"
Your hosts Dawn-Ann & Tony are
more than happy to share their local knowledge
with you and suggest places to visit and see,
eat and drink.
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Scottish Crown Jewels
and Stone of Destiny |
...More Sightseeing
Information!
Click on the following links to
obtain more tourist information! |
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Auld
Reekie Tours
[TOP]
Half-way between Edinburgh
Castle and Holyrood palace on the Royal Mile is the Tron Kirk, the
departure point for Auld Reekie's Ghost Tours in Edinburgh. Located in the
old town below South Bridge, in the centre of Edinburgh, are the infamous
underground vaults that have featured on U.S. and European television as
one of the most actively haunted and paranormal experiencing locations in
the world.
www.auldreekietours.com
Balmoral Hotel
[TOP]
Located at the most prestigious address in
Edinburgh, conveniently located in the heart of the city, close to the
shops and next to the central railway station, Waverley), the five-star
Balmoral Hotel combines the noble character of a Scottish baronial home
and the classic sophistication of an international hotel.
www.thebalmoralhotel.com
Canongate Church
[TOP]
Canongate on the Royal Mile (from the castle to the Palace of
Holyrood house) was one of the main entrances to the old city. The
residents of Canongate originally worshiped at Holyrood Abbey (inside the
city walls) but Canongate Church was built for them in 1588 (outside of
the walls) - by King James Vl after he turned Holyrood into a Chapel Royal
for use by the Knights of the Thistle.
The Edinburgh mob (the earliest form of democracy in the city) reacted by
destroying the Thistle Chapel.
The churchyard is as interesting as the church - with the graves of many
of Edinburgh's celebrities - including a headstone to the poet Robert
Fergusson which was paid for by Robert Burns and has an inscription by the
bard.
Charlotte Square
[TOP]
When Edinburgh outgrew its walled city, it was decided to build a "New
Town" to the north. Charlotte Square and St Andrew Square were at the two
ends of a new thoroughfare, George Street (named after King George III).
Charlotte Square has retained its elegant, old buildings on all four
sides, thanks in part to the National Trust for Scotland.
City Chambers
[TOP]
Home of Edinburgh City Council, the City Chambers was designed by John
Adam (the eldest of the Adam brothers) as a Royal Exchange and Customs
House. They were built in 1753-61 on top of an existing street - Mary
King's Close - which now forms the basement (and a tourist attraction).
At the rear of the building, it towers 12 stores above Cockburn Street.
Cockburn Street [TOP]
The broad sweep of Cockburn Street runs from the High Street on the Royal
Mile towards Waverley Station. It was built by the "Edinburgh Railway
Station Access Company", starting in 1859. The previous buildings were
demolished to make way for the new street. Surprisingly, it is named after
Lord Henry Cockburn who was a judge, advocate and journalist - and an
outspoken conservationist. The Cockburn Society in Edinburgh now seeks to
preserve the old buildings and architectural features in the city.
Crown Jewels
[TOP]
The Scottish crown jewels are also known as "The Honors of Scotland". They
consist of a crown, sword and sceptre. On the Union of the Crowns in 1603,
the Scottish crown jewels were left in Scotland when King James VI of
Scotland inherited the English throne. By the Treaty of Union in 1707,
which united the Scottish and English parliaments in London, the Scottish
regalia were to stay in Scotland. They are now displayed in Edinburgh
castle.
Also on display with the jewels is the Stone of Destiny, which was
returned to Scotland from Westminster Abbey in 1996.
Deacon Brodie [TOP]
William Brodie an 18th century Edinburgh "character” was a pillar of the
community by day and drinking and gambling by night which was leading to
his bankruptcy. So he turned to burglary and by taking wax impressions of
the keys to houses in which he was working legitimately as a wood-worker,
he was able to perpetrate some spectacular thefts. He was eventually
uncovered and sentenced to hang. Rumours saying that he had cheated (or
bribed) the hangman and was said to have been seen later living in Paris.
The double life of Deacon Brodie as the respectable tradesman and daring
thief is said to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's
story of "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
Dynamic Earth
[TOP]
The futuristic Dynamic Earth building nestles below the Salisbury Crags
and Arthur's Seat - and across the road from the new Scottish Parliament
Building on Holyrood Road, is the latest attraction to appear in Edinburgh
with a "time machine" that whisks you from the time of the "Big Bang" and
the formation of the universe, through 4,500 years of planet earth. You
will be shaken by earthquakes, chill in the ice ages and see tropical
rainstorms; travel to the depths of the oceans and fly high above towering
glaciers and mountains. You will see, hear, feel and smell the planet as
it was millions of years ago and how it might be in the future with a
myriad of interactive exhibits and the very latest interpretative
technology and special effects.
www.dynamicearth.co.uk
Edinburgh Castle [TOP]
Perched high on a volcanic rock with precipitous sides has been a
stronghold for thousands of years and was the capital of the Votadini, the
early inhabitants of the area. It is because of the defensive value of the
rock and the succeeding castles built on that, Edinburgh became important
and eventually the capital of Scotland.
The area around Edinburgh was not captured by King Malcolm II of Scotland
until 1018 but it was used as a royal residence by King Malcolm III
(Malcolm Canmore) later in the 11th century. It was captured more than
once by the English during the Wars of Independence.
Edinburgh Crystal
[TOP]
Founded in 1867 and still works with the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and
Water, to create the most captivating pieces. The origins of Edinburgh
Crystal stretch back almost four centuries to the 1600's when the
Venetians brought the techniques and skills of glassblowing to the
Edinburgh area.
www.edinburgh-crystal.co.uk
Edinburgh
Fringe Office
[TOP]
Whilst still remaining true to its founding
principle of open-access for all performers, the Fringe has come a long
way since its organisational beginnings in a disused pub with a leaky roof
just off the Royal Mile.
www.edfringe.com
Edinburgh
International Conference Centre
[TOP]
This modern building is part of a major redevelopment to the west of the
castle. The architect may have been alluding to the fortified round towers
from Scotland's past - or to the rounded form of the Usher Hall which is
not far away.
The EICC provides ultra-modern facilities for conferences of various
sizes, near the heart of Edinburgh. Around 200,000 delegates use the
facility each year and it is estimated that the EICC has generated over
£60 million in revenues for the city since it opened in 1995.
www.eicc.co.uk
Edinburgh Zoo
[TOP]
The zoo is particularly noted for its large collection of penguins and
when they parade, outside of their pens, in front of the visitors at
feeding time the cameras click furiously to capture the moment. The
penguin enclosure is the largest in the world and a suspension bridge
gives visitors a great view of the pool .
But… is not only penguins!
www.edinburghzoo.org.uk
Floral Clock
[TOP]
Not far from the Scott Monument, in Princes Street Gardens, is the "Floral
Clock". The clock face is made up of thousands of small plants (many of
them are sempervivums) and the hands of the clock are covered in plants
too. The clock even tells the right time. In Scotland's climate, the clock
is only there in the summer months and has to be replanted every year in
the spring.
Forth Rail Bridge [TOP]
The bridge stretches 1.5 miles across the River Forth estuary from Fife to
Lothian, nine miles west of Edinburgh. At its
highest point it is 361 feet above the water and 55,000 tons of steel,
640,000 cubic feet of Aberdeen granite, 8 million rivets and 145 acres of
paint went into its construction.
It was built between December 1882 and January 1890. The number of people
employed on construction reached 4,600 at one point.
Gladstone’s Land
[TOP]
"Gled” is the Scots word for a hawk, which explains the (modern) hanging
sign outside the building which has the date 1617 surmounted by a
gilt-copper hawk with outstretched wings.
Located on the Royal Mile, down from Edinburgh Castle, Gladstone's Land
was a typical 16/17th century dwelling.
In those days, rich and poor would live in cramped rooms in the same high
buildings. In the case of Gladstone's Land, it was bought and extended by
Thomas Gledstanes in 1617 (though it had been in existence before that
date) and rose to six storeys.
Greyfriar’s Bobby
[TOP]
The story of Bobby, the Skye terrier which refused to leave his master's
grave in historic Greyfriar's churchyard, came to prominence in the 1890s
when Eleanor Atkinson, an American, wrote a book about the dog which
became a first reading book for a generation of many Americans.
The
life-size sculpture of Bobby was erected on a drinking fountain at Greyfriar's
churchyard.
www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk
Heart of Midlothian
[TOP]
The heart-shaped design of the cobble stones near St Giles Cathedral marks
where the entrance to the Tollbooth used to be located, originally set up
in 1561 and demolished in 1817. The Tollbooth was, as the name implies, to
collect tolls but also became used as a prison after 1640. There was also
a scaffold for hanging criminals (and others) and the heads of the more
famous victims would be displayed on spikes in the face of the building.
Holyrood Palace
[TOP]
According to legend, King David II founded an Augustinian monastery where
he had a vision of a stag with a cross between its antlers. This was about
a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle (and the road linking the two
buildings is still called the Royal Mile). The monastery may have taken
its name from a fragment said to have come from the true cross, brought to
Scotland by the king's mother, Queen (later Saint) Margaret.
Many of the succeeding Scottish kings preferred staying beside the
monastery rather than the castle and gradually the Palace was enlarged.
King James IV and James V in particular, added considerably to the
structure and much of what they created has survived. King James IV was
married in the Abbey to Margaret Tudor.
www.royal.gov.uk
Jenners [TOP]
Jenners is the oldest independent
department store in the world, having maintained its original position on
Princes Street, Edinburgh, since 1838.
Situated in the heart of Scotland's thriving capital city, this
magnificent building is home to over one hundred different departments,
selling everything from international designer fashion to locally crafted
Scottish goods.
Jenners has gained a world-wide reputation for selling the finest
contemporary merchandise with traditional, first-class customer service.
www.jenners.com
John Knox House [TOP]
The rear of this old house was built not long after 1450, replacing an
earlier wooden construction. The frontage was added around 1472 and
subsequent additions, floors and modifications have been made ever since.
John Knox, the great reformer of the church in Scotland and over the
years, the legend evolved that he had given one of his thundering orations
to the people of Edinburgh from a bow-window on the house, overlooking the
High Street. By 1800 it was confidently being described as "John Knox's
House" Although there is no record of him ever staying in this house.
John Knox Statue
[TOP]
John Knox and the reformation of the church which he spearheaded in the
16th century have been tremendous influences on Scotland. This particular
statue to John Knox, with his arm flung high in the air in typical
declamatory style who had many arguments with Mary Queen of Scots. She
remained a staunch Catholic all her life, despite this being a
contributory factor to the loss of her throne.
Lady Stairs’ Close /
Writer’s Museum
[TOP]
There are many "closes" or alleyways running off the Royal Mile in
Edinburgh. They often contain substantial houses, such as this one which
was built in 1622 for a William Grey of Pittendrum who had the words "Feare
The Lord and Depart From Evil" carved above the door along with his
initials and those of his wife. William Grey installed an early form of
burglar defence in his house - the height of each of the main steps is
uneven, making it difficult to run up and down them!
The building was later bought by Lady Stair in 1719 and the exterior was
much modified in the 19th century with a balconied tower and other
stonework being added. The building is now occupied by a "Writers' Museum"
dedicated to Robert Burns (who stayed in a house opposite during his first
visit to Edinburgh in 1786), Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Lincoln Memorial
[TOP]
A monument to the American President, Abraham Lincoln, was erected in the
Old Calton Cemetery in Edinburgh 1893. It is said to be the first monument
outside of the USA to the American president It was built in memory of the
Scottish soldiers who fought in the American Civil war. It carries a
quotation from Lincoln: "To preserve the jewel of liberty in the framework
of freedom".
Mary King's Close
[TOP]
Edinburgh’s new icon
attraction, The Real Mary King’s Close is open now. Beneath the Royal Mile
lies a warren of concealed streets where real people lived, worked and
died in bygone centuries. Step back in time at The Real Mary King’s Close
to walk through these hidden closes.
www.realmarykingsclose.com
McEwan Hall [TOP]
The building with its ornate, Italian exterior and interior full of
imposing balustrades and balconies, was designed by Sir R Rowland
Anderson. But like the Usher Hall, it took a long time from design to
completion -in the case of the McEwan Hall, 23 years! The Hall provides an
imposing backdrop for the graduates as they line up to receive their
scrolls, marking the successful end to their years of hard work.
Mercat Cross
[TOP]
In olden days, the Mercat Cross was not only a place for the merchants to
gather, but was also where public executions took place and where official
proclamations were made. The shaft on top of the present Mercat Cross is a
copy of a 15th century original which was twice the height of the modern
representation. The octagonal cross-house is also a copy, based on old
drawings. Round the Mercat Cross are coats of arms - the royal arms of
Britain, Scotland, England and Ireland, plus the arms of Edinburgh, Leith,
Canongate and the University. Edinburgh's own arms are also seen in this
photo.
Mercat Tours [TOP]
Mercat Tours was founded in 1985 by a group
of Edinburgh history teachers who were determined that their tours would
tell the true story of the city’s past. From the very start, the Royal
Mile tour and the Ghosts and Ghouls proved very popular; the portfolio has
expanded to include the most extensive tours of Underground Edinburgh,
highly original corporate events, and tours abroad to the battlefields of
the First and Second World Wars.
www.mercat-tours.co.uk
Museum of Scotland
[TOP]
A Museum of Scotland had been talked about since 1780. It became a reality
on St Andrew's Day, 30 November 1998 when it opened next door to the 19th
century Royal Museum of Scotland. A major feature of the building is the
"Drum Tower" which is of course reminiscent of many of the castle towers
to be found around Scotland. The museum is a treasure trove of exhibits,
ranging from pre-history in the basement through the early Scots and the
Roman Invaders and the early Christians. The Wars of Independence, Mary
Queen of Scots, the Reformation and the Scottish "Enlightenment" are all
covered. So too is the industrial revolution, when Scotland was the
workshop of the British Empire and modern Scotland is not forgotten
either.
www.nms.ac.uk
National Gallery of Scotland & The Royal Scottish Academy
[TOP]
The National Gallery of Scotland was designed by William Playfair,
completed in 1858. It houses an important collection of Italian, French
and Dutch paintings, as well as Scottish artists. The Royal Scottish
Academy, facing Princes Street, was also designed by same architect in
1822-26 and was enlarged by him five years later. The building has a
profusion of detailed carved stonework and a regal statue of Queen
Victoria on the roof at the front of the building.
National Monument (Calton
Hill)
[TOP]
Dominating Calton Hill, east of Princes Street, the National Monument was
intended to be a memorial to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars. It was
designed by an eminent expert on Grecian architecture, C R Cockrell,
assisted by a young William Playfair who was to go on to complete even
more successful works. The foundations were laid during the visit of King
George IV to Edinburgh in 1824. But work came to an end in 1929 when the
money which had been provided by public subscription ran out - due in part
to the ambitious scale of the monument. While it has been suggested that
the architect had deliberately designed only the 12 columns, it was later
to be described as "Scotland's shame". Even so, the prominent Grecian
columns of this and other buildings in Edinburgh have led to Edinburgh
being described as the "Athens of the North".
This Gothic edifice stands on Queen Street in the centre of Edinburgh. The
building was designed by Sir Robert Rowan Anderson with all the
embellishments you would expect from a late Victorian architect. The
Gallery moved there in 1889 and has been compared, appropriately enough,
to a great shrine. On the exterior, it is decorated with life-size
sculptures. Inside can be found paintings, sculptures and photographs of
all the famous Scots of history - and also many of the lesser known and
"ordinary" people of Scotland. That is particularly true of the National
Collection of Photography, part of which is on display in the gallery.
www.natgalscot.ac.uk
Observatory
[TOP]
The City Observatory was established by the Astronomical Society of
Edinburgh in 1818 on top of Calton Hill, overlooking the centre of the
city. The building was designed by William Playfair who was to make such a
major contribution to making Edinburgh the "Athens of the North". It was
Playfair's uncle, Professor Playfair who was instrumental in establishing
the society and getting the observatory built. By the end of the century,
increasing pollution from coal fires and railway engines forced the
telescopes to move to the south of the city at Blackford Hill.
Outlook Tower
[TOP]
Located at the top of the Royal Mile on Castlehill, just down from the
castle forecourt, the lower part of Outlook Tower was built in the 17th
century. The upper stores were added in 1853. Sir Patrick Geddes, regarded
as the "father of town planning" converted the building into a
"sociological observatory" and added its famous “ CAMERA OBSCURA” .
Paisley Close
[TOP]
On 24 November, 1861, the 250 year-old houses at 99 and 103 High Street,
on the Royal Mile, collapsed. 35 of the occupants were killed but as the
debris was being cleared away, a young lad was heard to shout out from
within the collapsed building "Heave awa' lads, I'm no deid yet". The
memorial inscription above Paisley Close, which was built in place of the
collapsed houses, has a more anglicised, middle-class interpretation of
what was said - "Heave awa' chaps, I'm no' dead yet". The tragedy (and the
overcrowding which was prevalent at that time) resulted in the creation of
a Medical Officer of Health in Edinburgh for the first time.
Princes
Street
[TOP]
Princes Street was part of the "New Town" of Edinburgh. It was built in
the latter half of the 18th century during the reign of the Hanoverian
King George III. Originally, George Street (parallel to Princes Street,
but further to the north) was to be the main thoroughfare. Princes Street
was named after King George's sons - but only after the King had objected
to the original proposal - St Giles Street, after the patron saint of the
city.
Rosslyn Chapel
[TOP]
A candlelight service held in the historic Chapel, surrounded by its
unique carvings, gives a magical setting for any couple wishing to be
married here.
Built in 1446 by William St. Clair, third and last Prince of Orkney.Many.
Bible stories can be found depicted in the beautiful carvings. There are
also carvings of plants from the New World which predate Columbus by 100
years.
www.rosslynchapel.org.uk
Royal Botanic Gardens
[TOP]
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Inverleith is full of flowers, trees and
shrubs at all times of the year and there is a Victorian Palm House and
more recent greenhouses which help in the winter time. The gardens moved
here between 1822 and 1824, making them amongst the oldest in Britain.
www.rbge.org.uk
Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
[TOP]
Scotland's largest historical medical
library collection ( started in 1682) house in impressive portrait-lined
19th century premises, with over 50.000 printed monographs on subject
areas that include medicine, botany, science and travel.
www.rcpe.ac.uk/
Royal High School of Edinburgh
[TOP]
Located on the southern edge of Calton Hill, the Royal High School of
Edinburgh was designed by Thomas Hamilton and built in 1825-9. By that
time Edinburgh's New Town was well advanced and this was the only suitable
site left. The Greek Doric columns are based on the Temple of Theseus,
overlooking Athens. After the school had moved to modern accommodation
towards the end of the 20th century, the large oval main hall was set up
as a debating chamber for a projected Scottish Assembly in the late 1970s
but that did not materialise. The school was again considered as the site
for the new Scottish Parliament in 1999, but was rejected in favour of a
new building on a site in Holyrood.
Royal Museum of Scotland
[TOP]
The Royal Museum of Scotland is the largest museum in Britain outside of
London. Its interior, slim, elegant cast iron pillars and glass roof has
galleries leading off from the main hall. It was opened in the 1860s at
the height of Victorian confidence as an "industrial" museum. It became
the Royal Museum of Scotland in 1904 and is now part of the National
Museums of Scotland.
www.nms.ac.uk
Royal Yacht Britannia
/Ocean Terminal
[TOP]
The former royal yacht has become a tourist attraction at Leith Docks
which was voted "Best New Attraction in the UK" in 1999. The site gives
details of how to book a tour of the ship, its history and there is a gift
shop and tartan goods collection.
www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk
Not only the berth of the Royal Yacht Britannia , the Ocean Terminal is a
444,000 sq.ft. shopping and leisure complex at Leith Docks, including
restaurants, bars and a 12-screen cinema complex.
www.oceanterminal.com
Scotch Whisky
Heritage
[TOP]
The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre visitor
attraction brings 300 years of Scotch Whisky history to life.
This unique interactive visitor attraction Edinburgh, allows you to
experience of sights, sounds and smells, and the opportunity to discover
how whisky is made.
www.whisky-heritage.co.uk
St. Cuthbert’s Kirk
[TOP]
St. Cuthbert's is at the west end of Princes Street Gardens and was built
on a site of an present building was erected in 1892-4 the remains of at least six
previous churches were found. Some of the earlier churches had been
pressed into service during the many sieges on the nearby castle. The
opulent baroque design reflected the increasing wealth of the city towards
the end of the 19th century. Its Georgian steeple was from an earlier
church, built in 1789. The building behind is St John's Episcopal Church
which was partly modelled on St George's Chapel, Windsor. It has some of
the finest stained glass windows in Scotland.
St. Giles Cathedral
[TOP]
Named after the patron saint of lepers, St Giles has had a long and varied
history. There has been a church on this site since 854 although the
oldest parts of the present building date back "only" to 1120. The church
was burnt down by the English in 1385. Thereafter, it was rebuilt,
enlarged and adapted over the centuries. The distinctive crown spire was
raised in 1495. In 1637, King Charles I set up a new diocese in Edinburgh
and made St Giles a cathedral. He also attempted to re-introduce the
Episcopalian mass which led to a riot in St Giles (and Jenny Geddes
supposedly threw her stool with the words "Don't thou say Mass in ma
lug").
www.stgiles.net
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral [TOP]
The Cathedral has had a distinguished history since its consecration in
1879. Its doors still stand open every day to welcome people, so that
through liturgy, music, prayer and silence, they are helped to grow in the
ways of God.
www.cathedral.net
Scott Monument
[TOP]
The soaring, Gothic monument to the memory of Sir Walter Scott (who died
in 1832) was built in Princes Street Gardens in 1840-46 to a design by
George Meikle Kemp, a self-taught architect. But he never saw his ideas
come to fruition - he tripped in a fog into the Union Canal in 1844 and
drowned. The building rises 200.5 feet and has 287 steps to the top and it
is decorated with 64 statuettes, illustrating many of the characters from
Scott's novels, placed there in the 1870s, some years after the monument
had been completed.
Stewart Dugald Monument
[TOP]
The monument to him on Calton Hill was designed by Sir William Playfair
and was built in architects. Dugald Stewart (1753-1828) was a son of the Professor of
Mathematics at Edinburgh University. From 1775, father and son held the
Professorship jointly. Dugald Stewart went on to become the university's
Professor of Moral Philosophy. His well written books on philosophy made
him one of the leaders in the field and it is this which gave him such
fame as he has. He also taught Walter Scott and James Mill, among many
others.
Surgeons'Hall, Museum of Surgery
[TOP]
The Royal College of
Surgeons of Edinburgh, founded in 1505, is the oldest medical institution
of it kind in the world. The college holds the lager collection of
medical, anatomical and pathological material in Scotland, dating from
Roman times to the present day. Surgeons' Hall Pathology Museum, opened in
1832, is Scotland's oldest medical museum.
www.surgeonshallcomplex.com/index.html
www.rcsed.ac.uk/site/0/default.aspx
Tolbooth at
Canongate / People’s Story Museum
[TOP]
Built around 1590 in a Franco-Scottish style, this was the centre of the
burgh of Canongate, at the lower end of the Royal Mile. The entrance to
the Council Chamber was by an external stair as the ground floor was the
local prison. On the front of the building is an inscription (in Latin)
which reads "The place of the seal of the Burgh. For one's country and
one's successors, 1591. King James VI. Justice and Piety are the strong
bulwarks of a Prince." The building was restored in 1879 and it now houses
the "People's Story Museum". This illustrates life of ordinary people in
Edinburgh over the last 200 years. The clock on the outside of the
building is a replacement for one made in the 17th century.
Tron Kirk
[TOP]
On the junction of High Street with South Bridge, at Hunter Square, the
Tron Kirk gets its name from the salt-tron, a public weighing beam which
used to be located outside the church. It was founded in 1637 by King
Charles I to house the congregation displaced from St Giles when he made
that church a cathedral. It originally had a wooden spire but that burned
down in 1824 and was replaced in stone a few years later.
Victoria Street
[TOP]
Victoria Street from the Eastern side of
the Grassmarket. The Grassmarket area has had a market dating back several
hundred years. The first written record of a trading area is from 1477.
William Wallace & Robert
the Bruce [TOP]
The bronze statues placed on niches in the gatehouse of the castle in
1929. Robert the Bruce was initially prepared to kneel before King Edward
of England but in 1306 he declared himself king of Scotland. His fight
against the English was long and hard and it took until the Battle of
Bannockburn in 1314 to fully set Scotland free - at least for a time. Sir
William Wallace (on the right ) was the first leader of the Scots to rebel
against the rule of the English King Edward I who had over-run Scotland in
1296. After a guerrilla campaign, Wallace appeared to be successful when
he defeated the English army at Stirling Bridge in 1297. But the freedom
was short-lived and Wallace and the Scots army were defeated at Falkirk in
1298. Sir Wallace was not fighting to gain the throne of Scotland but in
order to free the country from English domination.
1 O’Clock Gun
[TOP]
The firing of a gun at one o'clock every day at the Castle, started as a
means of giving the sailing ships in Leith harbour an accurate time check
to assist them their navigation. The tradition has continued for more than
twenty years as a popular tourist attraction by District Gunner, Staff
Sergeant Tom Mackay, MBE (better known as "Tam the Gun") with his own
military theatrical performances.
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