Plans for a Newtown - Eric Melvin

Members were honoured to have Eric back as our speaker on the history of the development of the New Town.

Eric’s impressive knowledge, accompanied by slides took members through the development of early Edinburgh around the Castle from early 15th century, through to the need to create a new TOWN on the North Side of the Nor Loch in the 18th Century.

Buildings ( some 6/7 stories in height)  were overcrowded and unhygienic due to lack of clean running water and with little room to develop, a decision to build on the North side of the loch was taken and design tenders invited.

The development of the New town started in the mid 18th Century on the eastern side and a “generation” later was concluded with the building of Charlotte Square on its western boundary.

Daniel Cristea expressed the club’s appreciation for a very absorbing and educational presentation.