Edinburgh's historic New Town is one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian town planning. Even before work on the first phase of the New Town was completed, visitors were recording their very favourable impressions. An English tourist, Robert Heron, writing at the end of the 1790s, wrote that: "With regard to the buildings that have of late arisen in this City (Edinburgh) with such incredible rapidity, we may venture to say, that, in regularity and magnificence, they are scarcely equalled, or at least not excelled, by any in Europe...When Charlotte Square, at the west end of George Street, shall be completed, this City will certainly surpass, in regularity and magnificence, every other in Great Britain." Edinburgh's New Town was created thanks to the determination and vision of a group of leading citizens led by Lord Provost George Drummond. Having obtained the permission of Parliament to extend the city's royalty to the open fields beyond the Nor' Loch, (now Princes Street Gardens.) The City, very commendably, decided to organise a competition to design what even then was called The New Town. This competition was won in 1766 by a young 23 year old architect James Craig. His plan was a simple but very effective grid-iron design with three parallel streets running from east to west with a grand square at either end of the principal street which was to be named George Street after the King, George III. The foundation of the first house, which still stands, in Thistle Court, was laid in November 1767. Progress westwards though was slow. It was not until 1792 that work started on the houses of Charlotte Square at the west end of George Street. Although commercial development has spoiled much of Princes Street, the majority of Edinburgh's first New Town has survived the passage of time. It remains as one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian Town Planning and as such was recognised, along with the neighbouring Old Town, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. 'A Walk Through Edinburgh's New Town' is intended both as a guide book for our many visitors and as an informative reference book for those, perhaps living far away as expatriate Scots, who have an interest in Edinburgh's unique story. Sharing your journey are some true Edinburgh 'local heroes' - George Drummond, six times elected as Lord Provost who was the driving inspiration behind the planned New Town, Sir James Young Simpson who discovered the anaesthetic properties of chloroform in his house in Queen Street, Sir Walter Scott who penned many of his famous 'Waverley Novels;' in the study of his home in Castle Street and Sir John Sinclair who masterminded the production of 'The Statistical Account of Scotland', a unique survey of the Scotland of the 1790s, from his home in Charlotte Square. Your will also meet some colourful eccentrics including the self-styled Sobieski brothers who claimed to be the grand-sons of Bonnie Prince Charlie and Hugo Arnot, the asthmatic lawyer, whose 'History of Edinburgh', published in 1779, gives us an invaluable account of the dramatic changes taking place in the city in the second half of the 18th century. From its early days, the New Town attracted famous visitors including Charles Dickens, Queen Victoria, Vincent Lunardi, the balloonist and George IV who made what was arguably the first modern royal visit, planned by Sir Walter Scott, in August 1822. 'A Walk Through Edinburgh's New Town' draws from several contemporary sources in describing such events as the visit of George IV, the financial troubles of Sir Walter Scott and the creation of the Earthen Mound. The book is generously illustrated with pictures of the New Town as we can enjoy it today as well as contemporary prints and drawings. The book concludes with a bibliography and some suggestions for further reading. If you enjoy this book then why not continue your journey by purchasing the companion title 'A Walk Down Ed
About the Author: Born and educated in Edinburgh, Eric Melvin graduated with First Class Honours in History and Political Thought from Edinburgh University in 1967. He qualified as a Secondary teacher of History and Modern Studies. He retired from teaching in 2005, working latterly as Headteacher at Currie Community High School located in the west of the City. In addition to teaching History at school, Eric has for many years taken Community Education classes for The City of Edinburgh in both Scottish History and The History of Edinburgh. He also gives regular talks to various groups on aspects of the City's History. (e.g. Probus and Local History Clubs). Eric is a trained volunteer guide for The Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guides Association (EFVGA) and regularly takes groups down the Royal Mile and through the New Town. The EFVGA offers free walks for visitors and local residents during the Festival month of August and at other times of the year. Eric is also an Edinburgh High Constable. For 400 years the High Constables have acted as the official bodyguard of Edinburgh's Lord Provost, providing a ceremonial escort for the Civic Head of the City. Eric has had several books published for younger readers on aspects of Scottish History, including the companion volume 'A Walk Down Edinburgh's Royal Mile.' Eric works voluntarily in his local Oxfam Bookshop at Morningside in Edinburgh and, having set up a Global Schools' Partership link while Headteacher at Currie, he has done voluntary teaching in Chogoria Girls' High School in Kenya. Eric is happily married to Lynda, a retired Nursery School Teacher. They have two sons, John currently lecturing in Heritage Tourism at Hosei University in Tokyo and Graeme, also working in Tokyo as a Business Communications Skills Trainer for American Express. John is married to Shizue Ichikawa from Sakata in Japan. They are the proud parents of Isla, a first grand-child, born in August 2010 and Rui born in April 2013. .