Fascinating history of a city street goes online

RESIDENTS of an historic Edinburgh street have developed a website revealing its fascinating history.

Heriot Row is one of the most famous streets in the New Town, well known as the childhood home of Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson.

Less well known, however, is the crime that took place on Christmas Eve, 1845, when five unlucky residents had their Christmas dinners stolen from their game larders.

The research by residents has uncovered many other fascinating characters and events in the street's 206-year history, and brought together, for the first time, details of past residents, stories associated with Heriot Row, photos and period maps.

The long terrace of plush properties forms part of the New Town, the planned and phased expansion, which coincided with the Scottish Enlightenment. It was the first street in its second phase, now known as the Second New Town.

The first houses in Heriot Row were built in 1804, with residents drawn from Edinburgh's professional classes.

Lawyers, in particular, appear to have been attracted to the street, although renowned scientist James Clerk Maxwell, author Elizabeth Grant and artist Alexander Munro also lived there.

The street is now A-Listed and sits within an Outstanding Conservation Area and a Unesco designated World Heritage Site - and therefore graded at the highest level in all the recognised national and international categories.