Princes Street from Calton Hill
by Yvonne Johnstone
Title
Princes Street from Calton Hill
Artist
Yvonne Johnstone
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Princes Street in Scotland's capital city - Edinburgh.
There aren't many cities in the world where the foremost shopping thoroughfare boasts an uninterrupted view of an ancient castle, but Edinburgh's Princes Street does just that! It's unique with its shops lining only one side of the street, leaving the opposite side a lush and verdant garden space giving shoppers breathtaking views of the Old Town cityscape.
After the defeat of the Jacobite upsing (cumulating in the Battle of Culloden in 1746). The idea for creating a New Town for Edinburgh came to light. It was planned under Provest Drummond to be built on the farmlands to the North of The Castle. Building commenced in 1767 to plans submitted by a young architect James Craig who won the competition nine years previously when was only 22 year old.
Princes Street was originally to be named 'St. Giles Street' after Edinburgh's patron saint. but was renamed after George III's two sons, Prince George (future George IV) and the Duke of York.
The Nor Loch, which for centuries had acted as a Northern defence for the Castle and once a picturesque lake, had over the years become an open, stinking sewer. The decision to drain it in 1759 to create Princes Street Gardens was welcomed by everyone who lived nearby.
The ornamental gardens were originally included in Craig's plans. Although he included a canal which was abandoned when the mound was built to join the Old Town to the New Town in 1790.
Uploaded
March 12th, 2019
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Viewed 1,939 Times - Last Visitor from Ottawa, ON - Canada on 03/29/2024 at 3:37 AM
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