The view west over St Andrew Square |
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| Type | square |
|---|---|
| Managed by | City of Edinburgh |
| Main feature | Public garden; commercial and retail buildings |
| Other features | Transport interchange |
| Country | Scotland |
| Region | |
| UK Grid square | NT2574 |
| Postcode | EH1 |
St Andrew Square is a city square in Edinburgh, Scotland located at the east end of George Street. The construction of St Andrew Square began in 1772,[1] as the first part of the New Town, designed by James Craig. Within six years of its completion St Andrew Square became one of the most desirable and most fashionable residential areas in the city.[1] As the 19th century came to a close, St Andrew Square evolved into the commercial centre of the city.
Today, housing in St Andrew Square is restricted to the northern side of the square. Its gardens are now surrounded all day by buses and crowded walkways.[2] Most of the rest of the square is made up of major offices of banks and insurance companies, making it one of the major financial centers in Scotland. St Andrew Square claims to be the richest area of its size in the whole of Scotland.[2]
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Dominating the centre of St Andrew Square is the fluted column of the Melville Monument, commemorating Henry Dundas, the first Viscount Melville.[3] The Melville Monument is surrounded by the beautiful St Andrew Square Gardens.
On the east side of the square stands the impressive mansion of Dundas House, built by Sir William Chambers for Sir Lawrence Dundas between 1772 and 1774. Once the intended site for St Andrew's Church, Dundas House became the head office of The Royal Bank of Scotland in 1825.[4] Architectural features of Dundas House are represented today on the "Ilay" series of banknotes issued by the Royal Bank; the building's Palladian facade features on the obverse of each note, and the background graphic on both sides of the notes is a radial star design which is based on the ornate ceiling of the banking hall inside Dundas House, designed by John Dick Peddie in 1857.[5][6]
A short distance from Dundas House, down George Street, is where St Andrew's Church was built in 1784. In 1806 the head office of the British Linen Bank moved to St Andrew Square, where the offices of the printers and publishers still occupy the building.[7] St Andrew Square was also home to the National Bank of Scotland, which was headquartered at no.42, until it merged with the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1969.
St Andrew Square is also home to the Stock Exchange and many of the principle insurance offices, such as the Edinburgh, the Standard, the Royal, and the Prudential.[8]
Many famous Scots occupied the residences of St Andrew Square. On the north side of the square, No. 21 was the birthplace of Lord Henry Brougham in 1778. His family was one of the first families to take up residency in St Andrew Square.[1] Another resident was philosopher and economist David Hume, friend of architect Robert Adam. Hume was persuaded to move to St Andrew Square by Adam with the hopes that the recruitment of such a powerful person would induce others to cross from the Old Town to the New Town and St Andrew Square.[2] Hume chose a site on the southwest side of the square at the corner of Princes Street and an unnamed street (later named St David Street).[9] Also on the north side, No. 26 was the home to architect Sir William Chambers.
St Andrew Square has been used as a transport hub for a number of years. The Edinburgh Bus Station (formerly called St Andrew Square Bus Station), located to the east of the square, is served by long-distance bus services such as Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach Fife. It was redeveloped in 2003 to incorporate a new luxury shopping street, Multrees Walk, and the Edinburgh branch of Harvey Nichols.
The square is to acquire a tram station in (approximately) 2014 when the new Edinburgh Trams are expected to come into operation. This will be the nearest stop to Edinburgh Waverley railway station and Edinburgh bus station. Trams will operate from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Airport, calling at thirteen intermediate stops. Much of the east side of St Andrew Square (including North St Andrew Street and South St Andrew Street) will be closed to traffic during 2012 to allow for tram construction work.