Description

Thomas Hamilton, 1829-34. Multi-arched bridge on piers, built up on both sides, carrying roadway and pavement from Bank Street to Forrest Road/Bristo Place. Ashlar. Visible spans at Cowgate and Merchant Street. At Cowgate: semicircular groin-vaulted arch on chamfered oblong piers, the spaces between now blocked (see Notes); moulded capitals and arch; modillioned entablature; at Merchant Street: semieliptical tunnel arch with flanking segmental pavement arches.

RAILINGS: cast-iron railings with anthemion quartefoils (replaced beside National Library by stone balusters).

Statement of Interest

A photograph of circa 1860 shows the spaces between the piers of the Cowgate arch open. King George IV Bridge was part of Thomas Hamilton's plan for the new Southern Approach. The plan was first proposed in an article in the Scots Magazine in 1817 (attributed to Hamilton) proposing the formation of 'a Communication between the N and S sides of the City of Edinburgh by means of a bridge entering the Lawnmarket nearly opposite Bank Street.' Hamilton and William Burn produced a 'Report relative to the proposed approaches' in 1824, of which a plan appeared in 'The Scotsman' (27th November 1824). Hamilton and Burn went to London in 1825 to gain support for an Act of Parliament, and the City Improvement Act was passed in 1827. Hamilton was appointed architect to the Commissioners, and carried out the 2 major town planning initiatives for which they were responsible - the W approach - King's Bridge and Johnstone Terrace, and the S approach - George IV Bridge, and the link to the Grassmarket - Victoria Street. Hamilton was replaced as architect to the Commissioners in 1834 by George Smith. Memorial plaque to James Connolly (born at 107 Cowgate) on SE pier.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• George IV Bridge at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q3752968

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)