York Place, Edinburgh

York Place is a street in central Edinburgh of almost exclusively 18th century buildings, linking Queen Street to Broughton Street and Leith Walk. The street's architecture remains almost completely intact but it is one of the busiest streets in the city centre being part of the main east-west route for traffic together with the Edinburgh Trams line and several bus services.

1. History

York Place was developed as a dual sided street on the north-east edge of Edinburgh's First New Town. The land was purchased by the city from James Erskine, Lord Alva in 1793 and it was joined by the Heriot Trust which also owned land here. Work began immediately and was complete by 1804 (other than the church (see below). The street is little altered. The only major change has been the demolition of the east side of Elder Street on the south side including the east corner with York Place, in 1969 (to improve access to the bus station). In 1888 a tram system was introduced. Originally drawn by underground cables the system was invisible except for the rails and central channel (for the cable). This all changed in 1921 following unification of Edinburgh and Leith (which had electric trams since 1905) when a complex of poles and wires were added, to the severe detriment of the streetscape. These poles and cables were removed in 1956 following the demise of the trams. More conscious of the issue of "street clutter" the planners removed all lamp-posts from the street in the 1970s. The street is lit by high level floodlights mounted at eaves level on the buildings. The temporary Edinburgh Trams terminus on York Place was removed in 2022 as part of the Trams to Newhaven project. A new permanent stop opened on nearby Picardy Place in June 2023 after completion of the line extension.

1. Notable Buildings

St Paul's and St George's Church by Archibald Elliot (built as St Paul's Chapel, 1816) St George's Episcopal Chapel by James Adam in 1792 with a new front added in 1934, now in use as a Genting Casino 7 York Pl - St George's manse, an unusual castellated house immediately east of the chapel (1793 remodelled in 1818 by Alexander Laing for his own use) 1 to 3 York Place, an exceptional corner block by David Paton featuring three lower commercial floors with more glass than wall 44 York Place built as a tax office in 1964, remodelled as a Premier Inn in 2018 72 York Place - The Conan Doyle public house - linked to the birthplace of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 50m eastwards at Picardy Place.

1. Notable residents

see No :

2 - James Orrock 6 - Thomas Meik civil engineer 7 - Alexander Laing (architect) 10 - David Milne 10 - William Craig, Lord Craig 10 - Admiral Sir David Milne and his son Sir Admiral Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet 10 - Lady Elizabeth Finch-Hatton 15 - James Bonar WS 16 - Adam Gillies, Lord Gillies 19 - John Abercrombie (physician) 20 - Sir James Montgomery, 2nd Baronet 21 - James Archer (artist) 22 - Alexander Irving, Lord Newton 23 - James Miller (surgeon) 23 - John Yule (botanist) 28 - Rev David Dickson 30 - Alexander Gillespie 32 - Sir Henry Raeburn artist (as his studio and sales room) 32 - Colvin Smith, artist 35 - Dionysius Wielobycki 36 - James Scarth Combe 37 - John Starforth architect 38 - John Lizars 40 - Alexander Osborne the giant 43 - John Abercrombie (physician) 47 - Alexander Nasmyth and his sons James Nasmyth and Patrick Nasmyth 55 - Andrew Geddes (artist) 57 - Thomas Hamilton (architect) 61 - Lady Sinclair of Murkle 61 - Frederick Hallard, legal author

1. References