Love watching Alice's presentations, there so soothing and pure! it's my first point of call when I'm on a Sunday comedown and need to hibernate away from the world all day. 100% wholesome material
The tenement that collapsed was on the High Street, at Paisley Close. The keystone of the archway above the close's entrance is a boy's face - one of the few survivors whose voice could be heard from the rubble: "Heave awa, lads - I'm no deid yet". Great wee tour!
Wonderful historical piece. There is another Edinburgh, in southern New Zealand. It is called Dunedin, which is a slightly altered Gaelic name for Edinburgh. Dunedin began in 1848 with the arrival of two ships full of Scottish settlers. The town was laid out in a plan inspired by the Edinburgh new town. The main streets were George and Princes, with Queen, Castle, Frederick, Hanover, St Andrews, Arthur, and High along with a central space known as The Octagon looked over by St Paul's Cathedral and a statue of Robbie Burns. Dunedin has elegant buildings reminding one of Edinburgh. I have lived a lot of my life in "The Edinburgh of the South" as some call it.
Construction on Calton hill actually started a little before the new town, about 1770. My flat is on Calton hill (just under the Dugald monument) and I have the original (vellum) deed of sasine from 1772. After 35 years here the place still gives me goose bumps. The city is magic.
Reference is made to the Flodden Wall built in anticipation of an invasion that did not come. Not true. The invasion had already started. This particular invasion started during the 17th century when nobles, sympathetic to the colonising ways of the British state were inserted into seats of power within Scotland. Knowing fine well that the jungles of Panama were a disease-ridden pit of certain death, these inserted usurpers persuaded the people of Scotland that a war chest was required so that Scotland would have the funds to defend itself, once again, against an invasion from England. These usurpers persuaded the Scot that running a trade link through Panama would provide that war chest. Duped into this pit of certain death the Scots through all their money into the Darien scheme. The Flodden wall went up to bolster the claims that the invasion would be military. The military invasion came later in the form of some 625 garrisons run by the British state and staffed with starving Scots to subdue the riotous tendencies of their friends and family. The Scottish men had the choice to take the English King's shilling and feed their family or refuse and see their family starve. The poverty that ravaged Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland was brought on by the planned failure of the Darien scheme. This grinding poverty remained throughout the 18th century. Please put in the research required to put the flesh on the bones of truth I have lain before you and reshoot the foundations of why the Flodden Wall was erected. The descent the Scots felt ran right through the building of the new town. Absolutely disgusted at the English crown laying claim to the streets of Edinburgh by imposing their family heritage upon them through the street names we see today, the National Monument of Scotland was the final straw. With the memory of the martyrs still ringing in Scots years, this crowd-funded project to build the National Monument of Scotland did not succeed. It is not because this project was never finished that it earned the nickname, “the Edinburgh disgrace”, it was because it was a disgraceful monument to a colonial victory during the Napoleonic wars. In contrast, the crowd-funded monument to the martyrs, sited across the road in the Calton Cemetery, was finished around the same time which, you will find from your research, stands as true testimony to the mood in Edinburgh around the time of the construction of the new towns.
Beautiful video, inspiring to anyone who lives in a wreck of a city. And mad respect to anyone who can carry their bicycle up a flight of steps like that!
Alice is the best. I love her style of presentation and her enthusiasm. This was very interesting. I have only been there twice but didnt realise so much of the history. Now i will have to go again.
Alice's love for The City of Edinburgh is clearly evident in this beautifully crafted and presented film. I was wondering for a while which university had helped to shape this hugely talented polymath, and had thought the degree might be MA Oxon, but seeing this the most distinguished University Of Edinburgh definitely fits the bill. I really enjoyed this. Impressive. ⭐👍
I visited the Athens of the North 6 years ago and enjoyed seeing the spots I visited by Alice. I will have to return again armed with the knowledge that this knowledgeable young woman has given us.❤
Scottish history is so interesting, regardless of the rather strange choices that the Scottish aristocracy made I still find it so interesting to come from a land so rich in history and to live here in Edinburgh surrounded by beautiful Georgian buildings is truly such a gift! Well done history hit for making this such a great episode!!
Such a wonderful story teller and historian. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. So easy to listen to and fun to feel your excitement about your story. 😊
I hate being in cities and crowded places, but you're right Alice, Edinburgh is literally the only city on the planet that I truly love 😍 it's beautiful, historical, mysterious, enchanting, and magnificent 💫
@@JXMGAMING98Compared to where? I lived for many years right in the city centre at the foot of the castle, until quite recently and my children still live in Edinburgh. The festival I would agree is very crowded, but Edinburgh generally is no more crowded in its ambience than even towns in England, never mind cities. Edinburgh population density is about 2000 per sq km. Reading, an example town in south of England, is 4,313 per sq km. (2021/2022 stats).
@@irene3196 Only for a few weeks in August and a week around Christmas and Hogmanay...but that's in a good way with Christmas markets and fairground and mulled wine and jolliness. Rest of the time is fine...pretty normal urban rather than mad crush London type of density. That said if you are someone who comes from a very remote and sparsely inhabited place and love the countryside and not clapping eyes on anyone for a week, Edinburgh would probably be a bit overwhelming. However, Edinburgh is the smallest, prettiest Big City you will ever go to in my humble opinion.
Alice, thank you for a spectacular, informative presentation! I loved learning this aspect as most channels focus on historical persons that are typically royalty. This was a refreshing change!
This is a wonderful presentation. I visited Edinburgh in 2018 for some 10 days, and fell in love with it. Perhaps partly because it reminded me a lot of my Krakow, the former royal capital of Poland. The Castle, the Royal Mile, the epic hills surrounding Edinburgh stole my heart. Wojtek The Bear's statue and Polish shops reminding me of home, and those long, long June days, never truly becoming nights, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the capital of the Scots. Greetings to all, I will be back!
A few years ago I had the opportunity to go to Edinburgh on business. Had a bit of free time to explore and fell in love with it. The old town and new town. So fascinating. The people were so warm. I do want to return.
Wonderful. And excellent. Edinburgh is indeed 'the most wonderful city in the world'. Thank you. Given your familiarity with and obvious love for this place, possibly a history-tracing stroll from the Gallery of Modern Art via Dean Cemetery down to the Water of Leith and along to Dean Village, Stockbridge (Circus Lane, Saxe Coburg Place, Glenogle Road Colonies, Canonmills (originally mills and a brewery for the canons of Holyrood) to the Royal Botanic Garden could be a consideration...a juxtaposing of the arts and gentry with the working class and industry at the base of the New Town Hill.
Fantastic video! I'll watch this one several times. And agree with your conclusion. Edinburgh is the world's most beautiful city (that I've ever seen at least).
Cracking stuff Alice - I will be visiting Edinburgh in a fortnight. Although I have been many times before, you have shed new light on the place, I cannot wait. Thank you.......more please 👍
Thank you so much Alice,your exuberant presenting style really brings history alive.One thing you did not mention was the Edinburgh Vaults beneath the old town,dating back to the 17th century.They were home to poor and homeless people and have a dark and spooky atmosphere,infamous for their link to body snatchers Burke and Hare!😀
A really great video, about a city I've lived & worked in, for much of my adult life. Edinburgh, as is the case with most British cities, suffers the usual pitfalls of modern city life. Dirt, grime, litter, graffiti, crime, overcrowding in parts, sky high rents & property prices, high council tax for not a lot in return, etc, etc. Being a tourist & student hot spot, new developments are aimed squarely at tourists & students. The difference between visiting a city & actually living in it, is night & day. Yes, in parts the buildings are grand and historic. Not so in the outer suburbs and housing estates. The council late last year declared a housing emergency. Currently 70 000 folk are awaiting housing or being moved out of emergency housing. I'm sure gentrification was invented in Edinburgh, as entire communities were swept out of the city centre from the 70's onwards. Yes a lot of slums and squalor were cleared and demolished, but at the price of turning parts of the city centre into a theme park. I can't afford to stay at these wonderful new hotels, or drink wine & whiskey in a new themed bar, with great views of the castle. And all those Michelin stars restaurants will have to wait. I've actually seen 70's style office blocks torn down, to be replaced by pretty much the same style of building. St James Quarter, that recent must visit shoppers paradise, has on one hand created a great place to spend your money, but has gouged most of the big retail names from Princes Street. Those that haven't actually gone bust. A yes, 🥁🥁🥁 Princes Street is being redeveloped into more bars, with great views of the Castle, luxury boutique hotels and restaurants. Did I mention the 'Trams?' That wonderful council inspired, 16 year project to re-build the tram system, in 2 phases so far, with some where in the region of 750 Million £'s to repay, over the next 30 years. Nice one. Of course they look great and are convenient, for that price, what would you expect!? Notwithstanding the years of chaos, gridlock, noise, dirt, shops going bust etc, etc. Then came Covid. "Those the Gods would destroy, first drive mad!" But I hear you cry... "There's the wonderful Edinburgh Festival & Fringe?" All controlled by big businesses in London. Yup the punters come in August, to get fleeced and ripped off. A few minimum wage jobs are created, to sell those tickets, crap food (sorry authentic street food and crap craft beer, by the tanker) And to round it off, we have Xmas Market, from mid November to end December, also foreign controlled, selling hot chocolate for a tenner or Glühwein in paper cups. Yummy 😋 So amid the endless gridlocked roads, streets filled with tourists, grimly stomping from one Harry Potter themed delight to another, you'll have to push & shove your way along. Everything changes. But not always for the best. If you're wondering down a cute, adorable close, wynd, alleyway or stairs, poking your smart phone, into places you shouldn't, remember there could still be people living there, or trying to. Now b*gger off, and upload your latest IG video from Circus Lane, the Vennel, or Princes Gardens, for likes & comments. Don't worry, millions have done so, before you came along 👍🤣😂😅🙂🎉
Wonderful and unique introducing video about Edinburgh city in Scotland🏴 ..how it was the most crowded city in Europe and dirtier city during Medieval years. How transformed to modern city during 18th century ...thank you 🙏( history Hit) channel for sharing.
This video was great. I like Alice's presentational style. Not too polished but very watchable. I was brought up in Edinburgh and had a flat in the new town, and I did not know that there were 3 'new towns'. I lived in the cheapest one, I reckon. But it was nice to see some of my old haunts. It is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Well done! I’ve written a novel and on the second that occurs during the time periods mentioned. Your information and insight was beneficial. Thank you!
Ahhh...Dunedin...my love! I lost my heart to this wonderful city 15 years ago and lived there for three years. First in Dundas St. and then in Merchiston Cres. This is where I met the father of my two lovely lasses, and for that I love it even more. I still miss it very much, and one day I'll go back.
I just went to Scotland for the first time last September, and my biggest regret is that I didn't have enough time to go to Edinburgh. Next time I think I might go and spend at least a week there.
Informative presentation. I was not familiar with the architect of the 1st New Town. But as I am a Playfair, I was a little disappointed that no mention was made of renowned Scottish architect William Henry Playfair (1790-1857) who designed not only the Dugald Stewart Monument and the National Monument on Calton Hill as mentioned in the video, but also Edinburgh's 3rd New Town and many of the buildings on The Mound including New College.
Ps, if ye take one of the open top bus tours in Edinburgh the guide lady's will show you all the streets & tell ye a bit history of Edinburgh as well, they're entertaining and educating 🏴
I live over the forth in Fife up a hill on a farm and I can see Edinburgh, leith & all the other wee toons headin out to dunbar out my livinroom window 😊🏴💪🏻
Thank you Alice for the information. My Mum was born in Thistle St. I did not realise the significance of her local area. 😊 my grandmother had a mixed business/sweet shop in St Stephen St in the 50's
before i even watch this being from Glasgow taught in school how ppl lived in the big under ground fault 100 meters deep was so fascinated , that on day on the weekend me and two friend went with my father to see then to this day give me the chllls very erie place 😱
Great video but had to laugh at the "just like the students now living in these flats" comment whilst overlooking Ainslie Place! (according to Rightmove: "Properties in Ainslie Place had an overall average price of £1,052,500 over the last year")
