Can money grow on trees?

Published on Friday 15 February 2008 21:12

Built in 1770, St Andrew Square is the oldest of Edinburgh's private 'pleasure gardens'

IT is a patch of land last open to the public when George III was on the throne. Ever since the former parkland was fenced off in 1770 to make way for the creation of St Andrew Square, it has been out of bounds to the public.

The square has long been seen as one of Scotland's most prestigious addresses and one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture anywhere in Britain. But the green oasis at its heart has lain all but empty. Like dozens of other gardens in the city's New Town, access has been restricted to businesses and local residents, although there has been no-one actually living on St Andrew Square for more than 100 years. However, its garden is set for a new lease of life from next month when it is opened up permanently to the public.

The creation of a direct link between Jenners and Harvey Nichols is hoped to provide the biggest boost to the area since the latter department store opened its doors over five years ago.

The new-look square, which is due to open up in the middle of next month after a year-long refurbishment programme costing 2.6 million, will by then be completely relandscaped, boast its own coffee bar and delicatessen, and even a reflective pool. Two new entrance gates are being created, in the south-west and north-east corners of the garden, along with curved footpaths linking the new entrances.

Moira Tasker, director of heritage group the Cockburn Association, says: "Our founder Lord Cockburn was on the committee for the upkeep of St Andrew Square Garden himself, and he advocated its opening up in the 1850s. We've been arguing for it ever since."

Retaining pride of place in the square will be the fully refurbished Melville monument, the statue of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount of Melville, founder of the modern Scottish Conservative Party. The 17th-century former War Minister was also the last person in Britain to face impeachment. But the square itself also has a colourful history, from its origins from when the plans for the New Town were first drawn up.

Since it was established, St Andrew Square Garden has primarily been for the exclusive use of the surrounding businesses and residents. However, during the First World War, the garden was used to house American soldiers on leave and also contained air-raid shelters during the Second World War.

Built in 1770, St Andrew Square is the oldest of Edinburgh's private "pleasure gardens", and was created to help cater for the growing number of grand homes in the area. However, St Andrew Square was gradually abandoned by residents as more businesses moved in.

The New Town still has 41 communal pleasure gardens. Only those who live or have a business in close proximity can apply for a key.

Building work on St Andrew Square, which was designed by James Craig, started in 1768, after the young architect had won a contest to design the initial stage of the New Town. His plan consisted of two elaborate squares, with three long streets, Princes, Queen and George, running between them.

The square was originally envisaged by Craig as being the mirror to George Square (later renamed Charlotte Square), with St Andrew's Church looking out from the far east side of St Andrew Square down George Street to its twin St George's Church.

However a wealthy businessman, Sir Lawrence Dundas, preferred the site for his home and bought the ground before Craig's plan could be implemented. The church had to be built part of the way along George Street. To this day the east side is dominated by the tycoon's Palladian townhouse, Dundas Mansion, which was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1825 for its head office.

The growth of St Andrew Square as a commercial centre for the city saw it tagged "the Golden Square" by the turn of the 19th century. It still features offices of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax Bank of Scotland, IBM and Standard Life.

Richard Miller, project manager for the St Andrew Square refurbishment for the city council, says: "It's been a fairly lengthy project because of the need to get agreement from all the property owners around the square.

"The design of the garden will be changing with the new caf, the water feature and the new pathways, which are being designed to help draw people off the street and into the garden.

"It's also allowed us to completely refurbish the Melville Monument for the first time since 1957, and extensive repairs have been carried out on the stonework and cornices."

The most famous resident of St Andrew Square was philosopher David Hume, who lived at No 8.

The oldest building, at No 35, was built by architect Robert Adam. Formerly the Douglas Hotel, it was patronised by the likes of Sir Walter Scott, Queen Victoria and Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon. The building is now owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Ian Broadfoot, head of the Edinburgh City Centre Management Company, says: "We initiated the project to open up the garden to the public for the first time in its history six years ago and we're delighted that it's now imminent."

Work on the next major redevelopment will get under way in the summer, after former Scottish Provident offices were snapped up by Australian property giant Stockland Halladale. Also on the cards is a complete overhaul of the Royal Bank of Scotland's former headquarters. Hearts FC owner Vladimir Romanov is planning a hotel there.

The site of 42 St Andrew Square used to be home in the early 1800s to Dumbreck Hotels, who sold the site on to the National Commercial Bank in 1825. The old buildings were knocked down in 1936 to make way for the existing one. The building at 42 St Andrew Square was built for the bank and remained its head office until 2006 when RBS opened its new HQ at Gogarburn.

Although best known as a financial centre, St Andrew Square has long been a key transport hub for the city, and has been home to Edinburgh's main bus station since 1957. St Andrew Square will be a main interchange for the new Edinburgh tram network, and work on the first phase of the line is already under way in the area.

Gordon Drummond, general manager of Harvey Nichols, says: "We can't wait for the square to be opened up. It'll be a fantastic asset for the city centre and should work wonders in attracting people here and persuading them to spend more time here."