History of the Gardens
Before the New Town was built the area that is now Queen Street Gardens was fields. A stream in the area fed a pond known as Farmer Wood's cattle pond.
In the 1767 masterplan of the first New Town, James Craig proposed open spaces to the north of Queen Street. These spaces resembled the ones on the opposite side of George Street, which later became Princes Street Gardens.
1822
In 1822, under a private Act of Parliament, the Central Gardens, along with the East and West Gardens of Queen Street, were established as communal pleasure gardens. Each of the three gardens is managed separately.
All the property owners in Heriot Row and Queen Street joined forces to purchase the land, including Farmer Wood's pond, which is now Central Gardens. Their successors now jointly own the land, have access to it, and collectively cover the maintenance costs. This is an interesting precursor to what we now call a community buyout.
Andrew Wilson (1780-1848), an eminent Scottish landscape artist involved in the designing of Hopetoun House's grounds, designed the gardens. Wilson created a small version of a romantic landscape, utilising the natural valley, winding paths, and a pond with an island. The layout of the gardens has remained largely unchanged since Wilson's original design, although the planting has evolved as the trees have grown.
Wilson designed a small Grecian temple folly, which cost £47. It was intended to become an entrance to a tunnel under Hanover Street, connecting to the East Gardens, but this tunnel was never built.
Discover the gardens
Discover more about some of the fascinating features in the gardens
Benches
Enhancing the garden's charm, four meticulously crafted benches, handmade by a skilled blacksmith in the 19th century, offer a nostalgic nod to bygone eras. These unique seats not only provide a timeless allure to our garden but also share a kinship with two counterparts gracing other New Town Gardens—one in Queens St West and another in the Moray Feu Gardens. Their enduring craftsmanship and shared legacy weave a thread connecting our serene space with the broader historical tapestry of New Town, creating inviting spots for reflection and appreciation of the past.
The Nissan Hut
A notable 20th-century inclusion in the gardens, the Nissen Hut, constructed during the 1939-1945 period, stands as a resilient prefabricated structure made of corrugated iron. Today, it fulfills a dual role as an occasional storage space and a charming garden shed, echoing its wartime origins while contributing to the gardens' practical functionality. In its enduring presence, the Nissen Hut encapsulates a tangible link to the past, narrating a story of wartime necessity transformed into a unique and functional element of the contemporary garden landscape.
The Railings
Standing resilient against the tests of time, the original Georgian iron railings gracefully encircle three sides of the Central Gardens. A testament to enduring elegance, these historic barriers not only define the garden's periphery but survived the wartime demands that claimed many of Edinburgh's iron railings. They weave a narrative of permanence, embodying the spirit of an era that valued both aesthetics and resilience.
Georgian water pump
Nestled in Central Gardens, the Georgian water pump stands as a historic gem, whispering tales of a bygone era. This relic, a, once quenched the thirst of generations. Now a picturesque reminder, it adds a touch of timeless charm to the vibrant tapestry of the garden's rich history.
The well
Our gardens once harbored a well, its depths echoing tales of eras long past. Though now discreetly covered, the well stands as a testament to the lifeline it once provided to the community. While the well's physical presence may be obscured, its legacy endures, contributing to the rich narrative woven into our garden's tapestry.
The Pond
Nestled within our lush sanctuary lies a captivating pond, adorned with an enchanting island at its heart. Legend has it that this island, a muse to the young Robert Louis Stevenson, fueled the imagination of the famed author during his playful escapades in these very gardens. Let the pond inspire your own imagination amidst the natural beauty that graces our timeless oasis
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