St Andrew Square

 Whether you walk through, sit awhile, or take time out for a cup of coffee and a chat, St Andrew Square is probably one of the most prestigious locations in Edinburgh New Town. Standing at the east end of George Street, in what was once the hub of the city's financial world, it now lies in an area more characteriesed by the many pubs, restaurants and designer shops that have sprung up around it in more recent years. The square itself, a delightful green space in the heart of the city, has a public garden housing the forty-one foot tall Melville Monument, a towering Roman column built in memory of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. Dundas was a lawyer and a politician who had the rather inglorious distinction of being the last person in the United Kingdom to be impeached. Member of Parliament for Midlothian, he held a number of junior ministerial posts before rising to member of the Cabinet in 1791 as Secretary of State for the Home Department. War Secretary from 1794 - 1801, he was given a peerage in 1802, becoming Viscount Melville. Despite being impeached on a charge of the misappropriation of public money,
he was acquitted but never held public office again. The monument
was designed by architect William Burn in 1821, the statue of
Dundas added to the top in 1828 by sculptor Robert Forrest.
The construction of St Andrew Square began in 1772, the first part of James Craig's New Town. Within only six years of its completion the Square became one of the most fashionable, and the most desirable, residential areas in Edinburgh. The close of the 19th century, however, saw it evolve into the city's commercial centre.
The east end of the public garden is dominated by the imposing Dundas Mansion, acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland as its head office in 1825. Now one of the bank's main branches, this wonderful building is fronted by a semi-circular driveway and gated garden. A statue of John Hope, 4th Earl of Hopetoun stands proudly on the lawn, an inscription by Sir Walter Scott on its plinth. Next door is the magnificent British Linen Bank building with its more than impressive facade of neo-classical figures standing atop Corinthian columns. Built in 1851-52 by architect David Bryce, it now belongs to the Bank of Scotland after it acquired the British Linen Bank in 1969.
The City of Edinburgh recently invested £2.6 million in the Square, partnered by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, and the Gardens reopened in 2008 boasting two new entrance gates, curved footpaths linking these new entrances, mood lighting, a reflective pool, small cafe pavilion .... and a bizarre sculpture of a lion. Repairs have also been carried out to the Melville Monument. This is a lovely place to spend an hour or so, especially when the sun makes an appearance. Exhibitions are held here, events pop up every now and then, and Christmas sees a beautiful nativity scene housed in one corner of the garden. And St Andrew Square will be an interchange for the controversial Edinburgh tramworks ......... unless you know better!