All About Edinburgh
East Princes Street Gardens
Edinburgh
Attractions
Princes Street Gardens is a public park in the centre of Edinburgh in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The gardens were formed after a Loch (Lake) was drained that surrounded the Castle Rock to the north. The Nor Loch stretched from under the North Bridge where the Waverley Station is now to the west end of Princes Street in front of St Cuthbert's Church. After draining the Nor Loch which began in 1759 and was completed by circa 1810 a large earthen mound was created as a short cut between the new town and the High street in the old town. This created two areas which were later cultivated into to garden areas the east and west gardens.Circa 1840 the railway was built in the valley
and Waverley Station opened in its present form in 1854.
David Livingstone
East Princes Street Gardens
(MAR 1813 - MAY 1873)
David Livingstone was an explorer and Scottish missionary.
Deep in Africa, Livingstone lost contact with the outside world for six years. In 1871 Henry Morton Stanley was sent as a publicity stunt by The New York Herald to find him, eventually tracking Livingstone to the shores of Lake Tanganyika and giving rise to the saying for which he is best known. "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
Adam Black
East Princes Street Gardens
Adam Black was born in Charles Street Edinburgh in Feb of 1784, the son of a builder and educated at the High School and Edinburgh University. He was twice Lord Provost of Edinburgh. In 1826 he was the main bookseller in Edinburgh.
He published the 7th, 8th and 9th editions of Encyclopaedia Britannica. He died of old age, 89 almost twice as long a life as most lived in these times.
Scott Monument
East Princes Street Gardens
A 200-foot-high monument to Scottish Author Sir Walter Scott was erected in Princes Street Gardens in 1832 in his honour and funded mainly by another author, Catherine Sinclair, author of Holiday House. Climb the steps to the top for a wonderful view of Edinburgh city centre. There are many statues of famous people on the monument and on the first floor a museum.
There is also a replica of the Monument on the corner of St Colme Street, down from Charlotte Square which was erected by the city council after her death.
To honour Catherine Sinclair for her donation in having the Scott Monument built and many other city amenities.
Professor John Wilson
East Princes Street Gardens
John Wilson born 1785 near Paisley in the west of Scotland. A Lawyer and writer and was appointed Professor of
Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University in 1819. He lived in Ann Street in the new town and Died in Edinburgh 1854. He is buried in the Dean Cemetery less than a mile from where he lived. John Wilson made his
name writing for Blackwood's Magazine under the pseudonym of Christopher North. He had many influential
friends of one was Sir Walter Scott.
Spanish Civil War
Memorial Commemorative Stone
East Princes Street Gardens
The stone is to honour the volunteers from the Lothians and Fife who fought in the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Civil War was fought from 1936 to 1939.
Model of Edinburgh Old and New Town
The model can be found in the Precinct at the foot of the mound steps. This was crafted to enable people with impaired vision to enjoy the city.
East Princes Street Gardens
Christmas Market and Amusements
East Princes Street Gardens hosts a German Market over the Christmas and New Year period and an outdoor ice rink.
The festivities start at the beginning of December and finish in the New Year. At that time the closing times change and Bars and Night Clubs can stay open until 5 am. To give everyone more time to party.
