Canongate
Encyclopedia
The Canongate is a small district at the heart of Edinburgh
, the capital city of Scotland
.
The name derives from the main street running through the area: called Canongate without the definite article
, "the". Canongate forms the lower, eastern half of the Royal Mile
in Edinburgh
's historic Old Town
. Until formal incorporation into Edinburgh in 1856, Canongate was a separate burgh
. The eastern end of the Canongate is known as the Holyrood
area of the city.
The Canongate is named after the canon
s of Holyrood Abbey
and the Scots
word gait meaning "road" (echoed in the name of the pub on the street "The Canon's Gait").
As well as the new Scottish Parliament
building, which incorporates the historic Queensberry House
, the Canongate contains some other notable public buildings, including Huntly House (the Museum of Edinburgh
) and the People's Story Museum (located in the historic Canongate Tolbooth
.) In 1691 the new Canongate Kirk was opened, replacing Holyrood Abbey
as the parish church of the Canongate. The church is still used for Sunday services as well as weekday concerts.
in 1128. King David I, who established the Abbey, gave the surrounding area to the Augustinian canons then resident at Edinburgh Castle. As part of this process, the Canongate was granted burgh
status The area originally covered by the Canongate included parts of Broughton, areas around the Pleasance and part of Leith, which gave the Burgh access to a port.
The royal palace at Holyrood was developed from the 14th Century as successive monarchs made increasing use of the Abbey for political events such as parliaments and royal councils. The royal lodgings were officially converted into a palace by James IV in 1503.
The burgh of Canongate had a turbulent relationship with its neighbour, Edinburgh. The main result of this was a continual battle over the exact boundaries of the Canongate, until unification in 1856.
The Canongate started to decline after the accession of King James VI of Scotland
to the throne of England
in 1603. The loss of the royal court
from the Palace of Holyroodhouse inevitably had an impact of the surrounding area. This was further compounded by the union of the parliaments
in 1707 as Edinburgh was the location of the Parliament of Scotland
. The building of Edinburgh's New Town
also moved wealth away from the area.
The Canongate was an important district during the Scottish Enlightenment
with founding of the Canongate Theatre by Lord Monboddo, David Hume
and other intellectuals of that era.
Due to the redevelopment of the 1950s/60s the once overcrowded and poverty
-stricken area suffered from serious depopulation. From the 1980s onwards the Canongate area became notably less industrial, with many of the breweries closing, and residential redevelopment began. In the 1990s and 2000s, flats and offices were built on the former industrial land south of the main road, reversing the decline in population. Whilst much of this development has a modern appearance, it has been laid out in the "fishbone" pattern characteristic of the Royal Mile.
As of 2006, the redevelopment of the few remaining pieces of industrial land to the north of the Canongate has aroused controversy partly due to the proposal to demolish some of the 1930s replacement buildings.
Above all, the construction of the new Scottish Parliament
building on the site of the old Abbey Brewery has led to a resurgence of the area's vitality. For the first time since 1707 the Canongate has again become the centre of Scottish political life
.
The Canongate is also the location of Moray House, the Education department of the University of Edinburgh
(formerly Moray College of Education). It comprises a number of buildings centred around St. John Street, some of which are historic, whilst others are purpose built. A number of other university buildings including the Pleasance student union building and the Centre for Sport and Exercise are located in the area historically covered by the Canongate.
named Chronicles of the Canongate
(1820s) after the area.
The burgh cross now stands in the south-east corner of Canongate Churchyard
to the right hand side of the entrance to Canongate Kirk. This previously stood within the road but was transferred to improve traffic flow.
A second market cross stood further up the Canongate to the west. The site of this is marked by a maltese cross
in the road surface near the top of St John's Street. This marks the subsection of the Canongate known as St John's which had separate trading rights.
The parish of Canongate also included Edinburgh Castle, hence a large common grave area for the soldiers at the lower end of the churchyard.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the capital city of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The name derives from the main street running through the area: called Canongate without the definite article
Definite Article
Definite Article is the title of British comedian Eddie Izzard's 1996 performance released on VHS. It was recorded on different nights at the Shaftesbury Theatre...
, "the". Canongate forms the lower, eastern half of the Royal Mile
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland.As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
's historic Old Town
Old Town, Edinburgh
The Old Town of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the medieval part of the city. Together with the 18th-century New Town, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings....
. Until formal incorporation into Edinburgh in 1856, Canongate was a separate burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
. The eastern end of the Canongate is known as the Holyrood
Holyrood, Edinburgh
Holyrood is an area in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Lying east of the city centre, at the end of the Royal Mile, Holyrood was once in the separate burgh of Canongate before the expansion of Edinburgh in 1856...
area of the city.
The Canongate is named after the canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
s of Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
and the Scots
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
word gait meaning "road" (echoed in the name of the pub on the street "The Canon's Gait").
As well as the new Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
building, which incorporates the historic Queensberry House
Queensberry House
Queensberry House is a 17th century Category A listed building in the Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland, incorporated into the Scottish Parliament complex. It contains the office of the Presiding Officer, two Deputy Presiding Officers, the Parliament's Chief Executive, and other staff.The mansion...
, the Canongate contains some other notable public buildings, including Huntly House (the Museum of Edinburgh
Museum of Edinburgh
The Museum of Edinburgh is a museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, depicting the town's origins, history and legends. Situated in the late 16th-century Huntly House on the Royal Mile, it is maintained by Edinburgh City Council.-External links:*...
) and the People's Story Museum (located in the historic Canongate Tolbooth
Canongate Tolbooth
Canongate Tolbooth is a historical landmark of the Old Town section of Edinburgh, Scotland . Built in 1591, it served as a tolbooth or toll-collecting gate for those entering Edinburgh from the lower end of what is now known as the Royal Mile. It originally served both as toll collection point and...
.) In 1691 the new Canongate Kirk was opened, replacing Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
as the parish church of the Canongate. The church is still used for Sunday services as well as weekday concerts.
Early History
The Canongate owes its existence primarily to the establishment of Holyrood AbbeyHolyrood Abbey
Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by King David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Reformation the Palace of Holyroodhouse was expanded...
in 1128. King David I, who established the Abbey, gave the surrounding area to the Augustinian canons then resident at Edinburgh Castle. As part of this process, the Canongate was granted burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
status The area originally covered by the Canongate included parts of Broughton, areas around the Pleasance and part of Leith, which gave the Burgh access to a port.
The royal palace at Holyrood was developed from the 14th Century as successive monarchs made increasing use of the Abbey for political events such as parliaments and royal councils. The royal lodgings were officially converted into a palace by James IV in 1503.
The burgh of Canongate had a turbulent relationship with its neighbour, Edinburgh. The main result of this was a continual battle over the exact boundaries of the Canongate, until unification in 1856.
The Canongate started to decline after the accession of King James VI of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to the throne of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1603. The loss of the royal court
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
from the Palace of Holyroodhouse inevitably had an impact of the surrounding area. This was further compounded by the union of the parliaments
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union were two Parliamentary Acts - the Union with Scotland Act passed in 1706 by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act passed in 1707 by the Parliament of Scotland - which put into effect the terms of the Treaty of Union that had been agreed on 22 July 1706,...
in 1707 as Edinburgh was the location of the Parliament of Scotland
Parliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
. The building of Edinburgh's New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
also moved wealth away from the area.
The Canongate was an important district during the Scottish Enlightenment
Scottish Enlightenment
The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments. By 1750, Scots were among the most literate citizens of Europe, with an estimated 75% level of literacy...
with founding of the Canongate Theatre by Lord Monboddo, David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
and other intellectuals of that era.
Modern Era
The area has seen various attempts at improvements and slum-clearance, including a notable scheme by Sir Robert Hurd started in the 1950s and completed by 1969, which included many new tenement blocks, some replicating their predecessor's facades and others blatantly of their time.Due to the redevelopment of the 1950s/60s the once overcrowded and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
-stricken area suffered from serious depopulation. From the 1980s onwards the Canongate area became notably less industrial, with many of the breweries closing, and residential redevelopment began. In the 1990s and 2000s, flats and offices were built on the former industrial land south of the main road, reversing the decline in population. Whilst much of this development has a modern appearance, it has been laid out in the "fishbone" pattern characteristic of the Royal Mile.
As of 2006, the redevelopment of the few remaining pieces of industrial land to the north of the Canongate has aroused controversy partly due to the proposal to demolish some of the 1930s replacement buildings.
Above all, the construction of the new Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
building on the site of the old Abbey Brewery has led to a resurgence of the area's vitality. For the first time since 1707 the Canongate has again become the centre of Scottish political life
Politics of Scotland
The Politics of Scotland forms a distinctive part of the wider politics of Europe.Theoretically, the United Kingdom is de jure a "unitary state" with one sovereign parliament and government...
.
Education
Royal Mile Primary School is a non-denominational state school that provides primary education for 5-11 year old children. Within the school, there is also a nursery which caters for 3-5 year old children. As the school is so central and historic, its pupils are often involved in illustrious events at the Scottish parliament and Edinburgh Castle. Formerly, the school was known as Milton House Public School and is used as a polling station for the constituents of Edinburgh Central.The Canongate is also the location of Moray House, the Education department of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(formerly Moray College of Education). It comprises a number of buildings centred around St. John Street, some of which are historic, whilst others are purpose built. A number of other university buildings including the Pleasance student union building and the Centre for Sport and Exercise are located in the area historically covered by the Canongate.
Trivia
Walter ScottWalter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
named Chronicles of the Canongate
Chronicles of the Canongate
Chronicles of the Canongate was a collection of stories by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1827 and 1828. They are named after the Canongate, in Edinburgh.* 1st series: **The Highland Widow**The Two Drovers...
(1820s) after the area.
The burgh cross now stands in the south-east corner of Canongate Churchyard
Canongate Churchyard
The Canongate Kirkyard stands around Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. The churchyard was used for burials from the late 1680s until the mid 20th century....
to the right hand side of the entrance to Canongate Kirk. This previously stood within the road but was transferred to improve traffic flow.
A second market cross stood further up the Canongate to the west. The site of this is marked by a maltese cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
in the road surface near the top of St John's Street. This marks the subsection of the Canongate known as St John's which had separate trading rights.
The parish of Canongate also included Edinburgh Castle, hence a large common grave area for the soldiers at the lower end of the churchyard.
Important Buildings
- Canongate Kirk 1691.
- Moray House, 1625, extended as Moray College of Education.
- Lodge Kilwinning 1736, an early masonic lodgeMasonic LodgeThis article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
, officially "Lodge no. 1" attended by Robert BurnsRobert BurnsRobert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
. - Chessel's Court, 1745.
- Morocco Land, a tenement of 1730 bearing the carved upper torso of a MoorMoorsThe description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
. - Shoemaker's Land, a tenement of 1725.
- Bible Land, a tenement of 1677.
- Huntly House, from 1517, now Huntly House Museum.
- Whitefoord House, 1769, now the home of the Scottish Veterans Association.
- Queensberry House, 1686, now part of the Scottish Parliament.
- White Horse Close, a picturesque courtyard, originally serving the Edinburgh to London coach and mailcoach route, dating from around 1680, restored in 1964.
Famous Residents
- Adam SmithAdam SmithAdam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations...
- Mary Paterson, Burke and Hare's final victim
- Tobias SmollettTobias SmollettTobias George Smollett was a Scottish poet and author. He was best known for his picaresque novels, such as The Adventures of Roderick Random and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle , which influenced later novelists such as Charles Dickens.-Life:Smollett was born at Dalquhurn, now part of Renton,...
External links
- The Basil Spence archive — Canongate
- Canongate Community Forum — a group concerned about proposed demolition and development on the north side of the Canongate
- Edinburgh Old Town Association