About the Introduction to Edinburgh: New Town Georgian Splendour Walk in Edinburgh
James Craig is the architect responsible for the layout of Edinburgh's elegant New Town. During this three hour walk we'll look at the work of Craig and Robert Adam and how they determined the look and character of this part of Edinburgh.
Beginning our tour on Calton Hill with spectacular views towards the Kingdom of Fife and the Highlands across the Firth of Forth we have an overview of the neo-classical New Town. This impressive example of 18th Century town planning – the largest of the time in Europe- with its grid of broad, straight streets is comparable to Bath and demonstrates the symmetry of the age of Reason. The New Town was built to expand from the overcrowded, disease-ridden tenements of the mediaeval Old Town and was influenced by Robert Adam’s borrowing from classical buildings he saw on the Grand Tour in Italy.
The ‘Hellenic’ site of Calton Hill with copies of Greek temples is a fitting introduction to the classical theme which we shall pursue in admiring the elegant a
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James Craig is the architect responsible for the layout of Edinburgh's elegant New Town. During this three hour walk we'll look at the work of Craig and Robert Adam and how they determined the look and character of this part of Edinburgh.
Beginning our tour on Calton Hill with spectacular views towards the Kingdom of Fife and the Highlands across the Firth of Forth we have an overview of the neo-classical New Town. This impressive example of 18th Century town planning – the largest of the time in Europe- with its grid of broad, straight streets is comparable to Bath and demonstrates the symmetry of the age of Reason. The New Town was built to expand from the overcrowded, disease-ridden tenements of the mediaeval Old Town and was influenced by Robert Adam’s borrowing from classical buildings he saw on the Grand Tour in Italy.
The ‘Hellenic’ site of Calton Hill with copies of Greek temples is a fitting introduction to the classical theme which we shall pursue in admiring the elegant architecture of Charlotte Square, among other masterpieces of urbanisation. The copy of the Parthenon ( an unfinished memorial to soldiers who died during the Napoleonic Wars) on its ‘Acropolis’ gives Edinburgh its soubriquet of ‘Athens of the North’.
We shall stroll through the pleasant streets and circuses between generous areas of parkland in this UNESCO World Heritage city, which epitomises the glories of civilised living in the drawing-rooms of the Bourgeoisie. Many of these elegant houses were the homes of the luminaries of the Age of Enlightenment such as Adam Smith; David Hume and James Young Simpson (pioneer of anesthesia). We can visit the Georgian House furnished in contemporary style by the National Trust; admire the public buildings including Register House; the churches and Assembly Rooms and look at details such as the blond sandstone; the footscrapers and wrought –iron balconies.
After the Union with England this part of the Capital City was intended to be one worthy of North Britain, combining allusions to the Hanoverian dynasty with Scottish features and architectural quotations and is outstanding of its type.
