Scottish Parliament Building, Monuments & History

Edinburgh History

Edinburgh's name dates back to the 7th century when the Angles of Northumbria first set up a stronghold here and their king Edwin erected a fortress. So it became known as Edwin's Burgh or Dun Eidyn which translates as Edwin's fortress.

Edinburgh really started to prosper in conjunction with the opening of the port of Leith in 1329 during the Medieval period when it became an important centre for trade. From the 15th century onwards it was firmly Scotland's administrative and political capital. Development was somewhat penned in after by the city walls dating from 1513, erected after the Battle of Flodden. They had to build upwards during the 16th century (see Gladstone's Land for an example of the tall tenement houses of the period).

As administrative and political Scottish centre, Edinburgh has seen its fair share of conflict. In 1560 the Scottish Parliament declared Presbyterianism the official religion, and Edinburgh became the centre for conflict between Protestants and Catholics, particularly after Catholic Mary Queen of Scots came to the throne in 1561. Charles I tried to introduce the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the re-establishment of bishops to be greeted by riots outside St Giles in Edinburgh in 1637. It was a resounding no, followed by the signing of the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirk in 1638 by the Presbyterians.

The Act of Union in 1707 saw Scottish and English Parliaments coming together, whilst ensuring Scotland retained its religious independent and national institutions. There was plenty of resistance to this however in Scotland, and in Edinburgh there were huge protests on the day the Union was passed. Edinburgh pushed forward into its golden age from the 1760s, seeing building work in the New Town area from 1764. Edinburgh today remains Scotland's administrative and cultural capital, with recently the erection of the new dramatic Scottish Parliament Building on the site of a former Brewery near Holyroodhouse.

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The Scottish Parliament & Building

Amidst stiff competition, the job of designing the new Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh went to Catalan architect Enric Miralles (weblink right). Despite being finished later than planned and a little over budget, there's no denying this building is impressive and stands as a modern highlight of the city. Miralles is one of the world's most acclaimed architects, with numerous striking buildings across Barcelona particularly.

You can tour the new Scottish Parliament building both inside and out (the new debating chamber inside is a particular highlight). Checkout the downloadable 'Discover the Scottish Parliament Building' leaflet right for a closer look, and see the Scottish Parliament website for visitor opening times. You can actually sit and watch the Scottish Parliament in session.

The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP. Tel. 0131 348 5000 (weblink right for details).

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Edinburgh Historic Houses

Gladstone's Land on Edinburgh's Royal Mile is a 17th century tenement house, amazingly preserved and offering a prime example of cramped living conditions during the period. This Edinburgh tenement is more like a social document, and its completion is dated at 1620. Following the building practice of the time in Edinburgh (with little choice anyway) this house has 6 storeys - building was up, not out. The original painted ceilings remain inside, plus there's a reconstructed shop booth with 17th century goods.

It's debatable whether John Knox (leading Scottish Religious Reformer and key player in pushing Scotland's Reformation towards Calvinist Protestantism) actually did live in this house, which is essentially anyway two 15th century houses, on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Nevertheless it's a point to find out more about John Knox who was minster at St Giles from 1559 to 1572 when he died and was buried there. The house is of interest for itself, with its external staircase built in 1556 by John Mosman who was silversmith to Mary Stuart. Inside too is a 16th century fireplace, painted ceilings again from the 16th century and an impressive collection of rare books including bibles, plus assorted manuscripts.

John Knox's house is located on The Netherbow, a halfway point on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. It's part of Edinburgh's Storytelling Centre which has other attractions on-site including a theatre, exhibitions, a caf and an art gallery.

Gladstone's Land, The National Trust for Scotland, 477b Lawnmarket. Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, EH1 2NT. Tel. 44 (131) 2265856. (see Gladstone's Land weblink right/National Trust for Scotland for opening hours and visiting details). John Knox House & The Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR. Tel. 0131 556 9579. (weblink right for John Knox House opening times and visitor details).

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Edinburgh Monuments

Edinburgh is a city of monuments, and Calton Hill towering up 100m above the eastern tip of Princes Street is home to rather a few of Edinburgh's Monuments. A haul up Carlton Hill is well worth the effort for some of the best views of Edinburgh. In the first half of the 19th century Edinburgh went monument crazy, and in the Calton Hill area around Regent Road you've both the Burns Monument and Nelson Monument. The Burns Monument sits neatly in the Greek architectural style typical of Edinburgh's New Town architecture which earned it the nickname 'Athens of the North'. The Nelson monument, like so many around the UK, was built to celebrate his victory at Trafalgar in 1805.

Moving up to the summit of Calton Hill, you're rewarded not just by splendid views but here sits the City Observatory which was inspired by the Greek Temple of the Winds in Athens.

Edinburgh's monument to Sir Walter Scott - The Scott Monument, is situated on East Princes Street Gardens. It's a suitably mammoth monument this one, erected shortly after Sir Walter Scott's death in 1832. The architect, one George Meikle Kemp unfortunately died during the monument's construction.

If you've visited Melrose Abbey on the Borders, a building close to Scott's heart, you'll note the similarity of this Gothic spire monument to it. Take a close look at the Scott Monument, as it depicts characters from his Waverley novels, surrounding the central bit statue of Scott himself. The monument opened in 1846, and fans of Scott continue to make pilgrimage, climbing up the 200 foot monument staircase. Check the Scott Monument weblink right for opening times.

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Scottish Genealogy, Genealogy Scotland & Scottish Family History, Edinburgh

Edinburgh is home to both the Scottish Genealogy Society and the National Library of Scotland, both of which are excellent sources for assistance in tracing Scottish genealogy and Scottish Family History.

Huge numbers of Scottish people have emigrated to countries like Canada, Australia, North America, New Zealand and The West Indies since the late 1600s. Many were fleeing starvation, particularly during the Highland clearances. Interest in tracing Scottish roots and ancestry has boomed in recent times, and the web makes it all the easier, with a number of databases of Scottish names on ships and so on now online. If you're starting from scratch both the Scottish Genealogy Society and the National Library of Scotland are good places to start for assistance (weblinks right). Note too the informative selection of pamphlets on Emigration and Immigration via the online shop of the Scottish Genealogy Society.

The Scottish Genealogy Society, 15 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2JL. Scotland. Tel. 44 (0)131 220 3677. (weblink right for details of Scottish Genealogy Edinburgh Library opening times and Tracing Scottish Family History advice and guidance).

For more details on Scots Abroad, and Emigration see also the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EW Scotland, UK. (weblink right for details).

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