Parliament Square, Edinburgh facts for kids
Parliament Square is a historic area in Edinburgh, Scotland, right off the famous Royal Mile. It's not a perfectly shaped square, but rather a space that wraps around the old St Giles Kirk (another name for a church). You'll find different sections: an L-shaped area to the east and south, and another part to the west called West Parliament Square.
In this important square, you can see the Edinburgh Mercat Cross, which is a historic market cross. There's also a statue of Charles II of Scotland on horseback, standing proudly in front of the Supreme Courts of Scotland and Parliament House. In West Parliament Square, you'll find a memorial to the 5th Duke of Buccleuch.
A special statue of James Braidwood was added in 2008. He was a very important person who started what many believe was the world's first city fire service right here in Edinburgh, after a huge fire in 1824.
History of Parliament Square
Parliament Square came to be in 1632. It was created as an open area in front of the new Parliament House, built on what used to be the graveyard of St Giles Kirk. Parliament House was a very important building. It was home to the Parliament of Scotland, which was like the country's government before Scotland joined with England in 1707. It also housed the Court of Session, which is Scotland's highest civil court.
Because of these important buildings, Parliament Square became a busy meeting place. Politicians and lawyers would gather here before going inside. This continued from the time the square was created until 1707, when the Scottish Parliament stopped meeting there after the Act of Union.
Another building next to the square was the Old Tolbooth. This building had many uses over the years. It served as a meeting place for the Town Council, an office for collecting taxes, a law court, and even a prison. It was finally taken down in 1817.
