George Square, Edinburgh facts for kids
George Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is in the south of the city centre, adjacent to the Meadows. It was laid out in 1766 outside the overcrowded Old Town, and was a popular residential area for Edinburgh's better-off citizens. In the 1960s, much of the square was redeveloped by the University of Edinburgh, although the Cockburn Association and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh protested. Most but not all buildings on the square now belong to the university (among the exceptions being the Dominican priory of St Albert the Great). Principal buildings include the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh University Library, 40 George Square and Appleton Tower.
Georgian square
The square was laid out by the builder James Brown, and comprised modest, typically Georgian, terraced houses. Away from the overcrowded Old Town, George Square became popular with lawyers and nobles. Well-known residents included Sir Walter Scott, the judge Lord Braxfield, and the politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. The square was named after James Brown's elder brother, George Brown.
Redevelopment
The University of Edinburgh began drawing up plans to redevelop the square in the 1950s. Architects Basil Spence, Robert Matthew were closely involved in the plans. Opposition to demolition of the Georgian Square was led by the Cockburn Association, and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh which was established by Colin McWilliam and others to resist the proposals. In the end, the western side of the square was retained. On the northern side, the 19th century George Watson's Ladies College was retained alongside the modern Hugh Robson Building. Georgian terraces were retained along half of the east side, while the southern side was entirely redeveloped. The David Hume Tower stands at the south-east corner, adjacent to the main lecture theatre and the business school. The Main Library occupies most of the southern side of the square.
Edinburgh Fringe
During August each year, the square becomes an important hub for events at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Many of the university buildings, notably George Square Theatre and the lecture theatres in the David Hume Tower complex are converted to use as venues by venue operator Assembly. The gardens are filled with bars and pop-up venues, including, in recent years while nearby Bristo Square is being renovated, the well-known Underbelly purple cow venue.
Famous residents
- Dionysius Wielobycki (at number 3)
- Allan Maconochie, Lord Meadowbank (5)
- Henry Dundas Lord Melville and Elizabeth Rannie (5)
- Richard Huie (8)
- John Campbell, Lord Stonefield (11)
- Rev John Paul and his son James Balfour Paul (13)
- Waller Hugh Paton (14)
- John Struthers (anatomist) (15)
- Rev William King Tweedie (15) plus a short time at (50)
- Very Rev Patrick Clason (22)
- Simon Somerville Laurie (22)
- Jane Welsh Carlyle (23)
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (23)
- Sir Walter Scott (25)
- Sir Adam Ferguson (27)
- Robert Kaye Greville (31/33)
- Joseph Noel Paton (33)
- Charles Lawson (nurseryman) (35)
- Dawson Turner (radiologist) (37)
- Dr Andrew Fyfe (38)
- William Archer Porter Tait (38)
- Percy Portsmouth (39)
- Alexander Adam (39)
- Very Rev John Inglis (43)
- Hugh Cameron RSA RSW (45)
- Edmund Taylor Whittaker (48)
- George Turnbull of Abbey St Bathans and his son John (49)
- Gerard Baldwin Brown (50)
- Robert Dundas of Arniston (57)
- Charles Maclaren (58)
- Thomas M'Crie the Younger (58) earlier at (45)
33 George Square was used as HM Geological Survey of Scotland with notable employees including John Horne.
Other residents (whose exact addresses are unclear) include Henry Erskine, Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield (north side), William Craig, Lord Craig (west side), John Campbell, Lord Stonefield (north side) and Admiral Duncan of Camperdown.
Images for kids
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Gardens in George Square, with the university library in the background
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A Baillie lamp in George Square, Edinburgh
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Horonised pavement, Moray Place
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Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre in George Square.
