George Square, Edinburgh

Gardens in George Square, with the university library in the background

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, despite the protests of the Cockburn Association and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh. 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 George Square Theatre, Main Library, David Hume Tower and Appleton Tower.

Georgian square

George Square and the Old College at sunrise

Daffodils in George Square, Edinburgh

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.

The central gardens contain a memorial to Winifred Rushforth.

Famous Residents

• John Struthers (anatomist) (15)
• Waller Hugh Paton (16)
• Simon Somerville Laurie (22)
• Jane Welsh Carlyle (23)
• Robert Kaye Greville (31)
• Joseph Noel Paton (33)
• Dawson Turner (radiologist) (37)
• Dr Andrew Fyfe (38)
• William Archer Porter Tait (38)
• Gerard Baldwin Brown (50)
• Charles Maclaren (58)

33 George Square was used as HM Geological Survey of Scotland with notable employees including John Horne.

Redevelopment

A Georgian house at the north-east corner of the square

The University of Edinburgh began drawing up plans to redevelop the square in the 1950s. Architects Basil Spence and 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

The Main Library at George Square

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.

Bibliography

• Historic Environment Scotland. "Edinburgh, George Square, General (122519)". Canmore. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
• Robertson, Eleanor (1997). "The Story of the Society" (PDF). Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• "George Square". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 18 May 2012.

External links

• Media related to George Square, Edinburgh at Wikimedia Commons