A History of Edinburgh

Probably drawn from the Celtic tribe of the Votadinii who based themselves at Dunedin which is now probably Edinburgh Castle.

The Roman Governor of Britain in 79 AD was Agricola who advanced north and met the Votadinii.

Many battles ensued with Mons Graupius in 84 AD and the defeat of Calgacus the Pictish leader but the Romans never mastered Caledonia and left in 211 AD.
638 AD The Gododdin are defeated and the site is captured by Edwin of Northumbria.
In 7th century the English called the place Eiden’s burgh (burgh being a word used for fort).
854 AD St Giles Kirk founded.
960 AD Edinburgh falls into Scottish hands.
1020 Malcolm II annexes Edinburgh to Scotland.
1074 Refortification of Castle by Malcolm III Canmore.
King Malcolm’s Wife Queen Margaret dies 1093 and St Margaret’s chapel built soon afterwards.

1128 Holyrood Abbey founded by David I.
1153 Royal Mint established.
1230 Alexander II founds Dominican Friary.
1230 Hospital opens in town.
1296 town held by the English.
1314 Edinburgh Castle captured by Thomas Randolph, Robert the Bruce’s Nephew the 1st Earl of Moray.
1329 Robert the Bruce grants Edinburgh its first Charter.
1330 Castle somewhat destroyed by David II.
1341 Scots again regain the Castle from the English.
1360 Edinburgh regarded as Capital.
1367 David II starts work on refortification of castle.
1385 English burned St Giles Kirk and the Town Hall   
1437 Edinburgh becomes the Capital of Scotland.
1440 Earl of Douglas murdered at castle by William Crichton.
1450 defensive wall around the City.
1455-1458 Greyfriars friary founded.
1457 “Mons Meg” the 20in siege gun is installed at the castle.
1477 all markets in the town are arranged along High Street.
1479 Hospital founded along Leith Wynd.
1483 The Hammermen (Smiths) are incorporated.
1485 first stone tenements appear in the town.

1505 Royal college of Surgeons founded.
1507 first printing press patent granted by James IV.
1520 Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus seizes control of city.
1528 Holyrood Palace built for James V
1532 Holyrood Abbey turned into a Palace.
1532 Court of Session built.
1544 Earl of Hertford burns the City
1547 English destroy the City again.
1566 Mary Queen of Scots held captive at Holyrood.
1569 Outbreak of the Plague.
1570 Huntly House built.
1574 Castle’s “Half moon” battery built.
1582 University of Edinburgh founded and given Royal Charter.
1583 Canongate Tolbooth erected.
1585 Outbreak of the Plague.
1592 First Presbytery census 8,000 adults.
1593 Lauriston Castle built.
1600 12 roads out of Edinburgh.
1603 Headquarters of Scottish Post Office in Edinburgh.
1619 Hospital built in 1479 becomes a work house.
1628 Heriot Hospital built.
1632 Parliament House begun for Parliament of Scotland.
1633 Charles I crowned in Edinburgh.
1640 Parliament House completed.
1647 A map of the city is constructed by Rothiemay
1650 City occupied by English after the battle of Dunbar.
1661 Thomas Sydserf produces first Scottish Newpaper.
1670 Botanical Gardens founded.
1677 First coffee house opened.

1700 Severe fire in Edinburgh.
1707 Act of Union
1722 Signet Library founded.
1735 Golf played on Bruntsfield Links.
1767 Construction of new town begins. After six plans were submitted James Craig won the contract. Work commenced in 1795.
1772 North bridge completed.
1791 Charlotte Square started, completed 1800 designed by Robert Adam considered one of the finest squares in Britain..

1801 First Census population just under 100,000 approx
1805 Princes Street finished.
1816 Regent bridge built.
1817 Coal Gas supplies available to the city.
1818 Union Canal begun.
1824 Fire in Edinburgh.
1831 Railways start to come to the city.
1832 Outbreak of Cholera.
1833 City goes bankrupt.
1842 Edinburgh-Glasgow Railway opened.
1844 Scott Monument begun.
1889 National  Portrait Gallery opened.
During the 19th Century Edinburgh was known as the Athens of the North.
1895 Electric Street lights were first installed.
During the 18th and 19th Centuries a number of academic figures made Edinburgh their home including: David Hume, Adam Smith, Alexander Graham Bell, James Young and Authors including: Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Walter Scott.

1903 the Floral Clock was made.
1910 First electric Trams
1911 Palladium Cinema opens.
1913 Edinburgh Zoo opened.
1914 Usher Hall opened.
1916 First female employee at the Bank of Scotland.
1932 City Museum opened
1933 Portobello Swimming Pool opened.
1947 First Edinburgh Festival held.

1956 Tram system finally closes.
1968 Palladium Cinema becomes a disco.
1970 St James shopping centre opened.
1970 Commonwealth Games held in the City.
1971 Tom Farmer begins Kwik-Fit
1980 City Arts Centre opened.
1984 Camerontoll shopping centre opened.
1984 Gallery of Modern Art opened.
1989 Peoples History Museum opened.
1995 International Conference Centre opened.
1997 Scottish Tartan Museum opened.
1999 Scottish Parliament opened after a gap of 292 years. Both the first Minister of Scotland Donald Dewar and the Architect Enric Miralles failed to see its completion.
Currently the population is approx 450,000.

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.