All About Edinburgh
Chambers Street
Edinburgh Attractions
Guthrie Street
The streets are all part of the old town area all with street names being changed.
The First known name for the street which extended from Candlemaker Row at George IV Bridge included Chambers Street and Infirmary Street finishing in High School Yards was called Jamaica Street.
(Ainslie’s map of Edinburgh 1580 – 1919). It was changed to Chambers Street in 1867 after William Chambers Lord Provost of Edinburgh for four years. The main attraction in Chambers Street is the National Museum of Scotland.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street Edinburgh
The National Museum of Scotland houses outstanding international collections from Science and Industry, The Natural World, Decorative Arts plus the History of Scotland from its geological beginnings to the 21st century and many other wonderful and interesting exhibits. The museum was modernised after a 2 year closure and was re-opened in July 2011. There are two parts to the building, the former Museum of Scotland and the modern extension of the building opened in 1998. The former Royal Museum opened in 1866. There are many things for adults and children to do and see on a cold wet summer day, such as becoming an astronaut. The museum is on 7 floors and has lifts and stairways connecting each area. Enter the Museum from the new extension and you will come across Sir Jackie Stewart’s Formula One Car.
There is also a café and restaurant. Entry is free.
Old Dental Hospital
Chamber Street
NON NOBIS SOLUM SED OMNIBUS
Translation; people should contribute to the general greater good of humanity, apart from their own interests.
The Edinburgh Dental Hospital and teaching School was formed in Chambers Street 1878. Due to the patient numbers it moved to Lauriston Lane in 1889. It returned to Chamber Street in 1894. A split between The Dental Hospital and teaching facility took place in 1948 when the Dental Hospital became part of the NHS and the Teaching School joined the University of Edinburgh.
It closed and moved to Lauriston Place in 1997
William Chambers Statue
Chambers Street Edinburgh
The statue of William Chambers stands at the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street. William Chambers was the Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1865 to 1869. Look at the panels on the base of the statue. He was a bookseller, printer and publisher. He was also responsible for the restoration of St Giles Cathedral. Chambers Street was named after him in 1867. The picture below shows the statue of William Chambers. The Statue was renovated and moved from the centre of the road a few years ago
William Playfair
Chambers Street Edinburgh
William Playfair Born Benvie Dundee 1790 – 1857 The Statue of William Playfair Stands outside the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street close to the Playfair Library in the University of Edinburgh Building. William Playfair was a renowned architect and a leader of architectural methods.
National Museum of Scotland Inside
The School of Arts of Edinburgh
Heriot-Watt history was started as the School of Arts of Edinburgh by Scottish businessman Leonard Horner on 16 October 1821 in Niddry Street as the world's first mechanics' institute, providing working men with education in technical subjects.
They moved to a building in Adam Square in 1837. In 1852 it changed name to Watt Institution and School of Arts. The statue of Watt was unveiled in May 1854 Adam Square was demolished in 1870 for Chamber street to be built, they then moved to 25 Chambers Street in 1874. The Watt Institution officially became Heriot-Watt College in 1885 when they merged with The George Heriot Trust. The statue remained on Chambers Street until 1990, when it was moved to its current location at Heriot-Watt’s Riccarton Campus.
Crown Office, 23 – 25 Chambers Street, Edinburgh was the site of Edinburgh’s Phrenological museum. It then became Heriot Watt College and the Crown Office. George Heriot; A goldsmith and banker to King James VI, who left his fortune to fund education in Edinburgh. Leonard Horner; An educational and social reformer who founded the trailblazing Edinburgh School of Arts in 1821,
the world’s first mechanics’ institute. George Combe President of the Edinburgh Phrenological Society, Lawyer and was a
Scottish lawyer and a spokesman of the phrenological movement for over 20 years. He founded the Edinburgh Phrenological Society with his brother Andrew Combe in 1820 and wrote The Constitution of Man in 1828. The four heads of prominent contributors to the Society of Phrenology: Franz Joseph Gall, Johann Spurzheim, George Combe and Andrew Combe originally this was the main door to the museum No23 which closed in 1887.
George Combe
Andrew Combe
Johann Spurzheim
Franz Joseph Gall
A medical school opened at 20 Chambers Street in 1878, featuring anatomical teaching by James Cossar Ewart.
16 Chamber Street French-Renaissance styled building was built in 1878 and opened as a teacher training college.
16 Chamber Street
20 Chambers Street
Guthrie Street | College Wynd
Guthrie Street was built to replace College Wynd and was named after Dr Thomas Guthrie the founder of the first Ragged School in 1841, which can be seen in Ramsay Lane of Castlehill Royal Mile Edinburgh. Guthrie Street is a link between Chambers Street and the Cowgate Edinburgh. There are steps from Chamber Street to Guthrie Street which was previously Horse Wynd before Chamber Street was built.
Horse Wynd Joined Potterrow with the Cowgate.
Walter Scott was born in College Wynd which was demolished and replaced with modern housing. The plaque can be seen on the wall at the corner of Guthrie Street and Chambers Street is to signify the location of the house where Sir Walter Scott was born in August 1771. Walter Scott's Birthplace Stone Guthrie Street Edinburgh
