Princes Street Gardens
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to Princes Street Gardens, the verdant heart of Edinburgh. This 37-acre expanse of manicured lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and historic monuments offers one of the most dramatic urban landscapes in the world. …
Listen in the app2The Dark Legacy of the Nor' Loch
Beneath the soft green grass where children now play lies the site of the Nor' Loch, an artificial lake created in 1460 on the orders of King James III. Originally intended as a defensive moat for the northern side of the city,…
Listen in the app3The Mound: An Engineering Marvel
Dividing the East and West Princes Street Gardens is the massive earthwork known as The Mound. As we learned from the geological history of the gardens, this is not a natural feature but a man-made landmass constructed from over…
Listen in the app4The Ross Fountain and Victorian Grandeur
Deep within West Princes Street Gardens stands the magnificent Ross Fountain, a masterpiece of 19th-century ironwork. Cast in France at the famous Antoine Durenne foundry, the fountain was a gift to the city from a wealthy…
Listen in the app5The Floral Clock: A Living Tradition
Located near the entrance at the corner of Princes Street and The Mound is the world-famous Floral Clock. Commissioned in 1903 by the Superintendent of Parks, John McHattie, it was the first of its kind in the world. …
Listen in the app6The Scott Monument: A Gothic Sentinel
Towering over the eastern end of the gardens is the Scott Monument, a massive Victorian Gothic spire dedicated to the legendary Scottish novelist Sir Walter Scott. Standing over 200 feet tall, it is the largest monument to a…
Listen in the app7The Well-House Tower: Guardian of the Spring
Nestled at the very base of the castle rock, within the gardens, are the ruins of the Well-House Tower. This structure dates back to at least the 14th century, predating the flooding of the Nor' Loch. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As our journey through Princes Street Gardens comes to an end, take a final look around this 'majestic' landscape. We have traversed a valley that has seen everything from 'extremes of Vulcan heat' to the 'putrid stench' of a…
Listen in the app
What is Princes Street Gardens?
Princes Street Gardens is a place with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Type | Heritage |
|---|---|
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 55.9525, -3.1989 |
| Last updated |
