The City Chambers are the civic headquarters of Edinburgh City Council. Members of the public can attend most meetings of the Council, Committees, and Sub-committees. Completed in 1761 and designed by the architect John Adam, the building was originally a merchant exchange. However, merchants preferred to do their business in taverns in the High Street so, in 1811, the Council took over the building. A civic reception was held here to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Edinburgh Association for Improving the Conditions of the Poor, along with a service in St. Giles Cathedral, a Fashion Show, a Ball and a Yule Fair. On the 19th April 2018, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council (EVOC) celebrated their 150th anniversary with a reception in the Scottish Parliament.
Caroline Park House, originally known as Royston House, was built around 1585 by Andrew Logan. In 1683, it was bought by Sir George Mackenzie, 1st Viscount of Tarbat, who had the house completely rebuilt as a quadrangle, and moved its entrance to the south side, facing Edinburgh.
In 1739 the house and its estate was sold to John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, who renamed it Caroline Park, in honour of his eldest daughter. The house was further altered in the 1740s by architect William Adam, father of neo-classical architects Robert, John and James Adam.
In 1742, Caroline Campbell married Francis Scott, Earl of Dalkeith. The house and estate were eventually inherited by their son Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch, in 1793 – a pivotal event in Granton’s history. Subsequent Tenants of the house were; Archibald Cockburn, father of Lord Cockburn – who was opposed to the development of Granton harbour, and Alicia, Lady John Scott, composer of the tune Annie Laurie, to which the romantic words of William Douglas, 17th Century Scottish poet, were set.
Increasingly disturbed by local industrial development, Caroline Park House became less attractive as a formal residence. The house was eventually leased as an office to AB Fleming, a nearby printing ink and chemicals company. In 1872 the company bought the house outright. It was their headquarters until 1966, when they relocated to Corstorphine. Currently, Caroline Park House is in private ownership. It is a Category A Listed Building, notable for its French-influenced south elevation, and its fine internal features.
Of 670 grave plots here, at least 60 have Indian connections. Henry Mackenzie wrote essays against men with Indian fortunes coming back to lord it over Scotland with rubies and fiery curries, but his gravestone mentions three of his own sons who themselves served in India. Famous Latin poet George Buchanan was the earliest Scot to criticise colonialism in India in his ‘Polyonymum’ (1552) and ‘De Sphaera’ (1555). Isabella Hope survived shipwreck off Madagascar in 1792. In 1825, John Adam, acting Governor General of India, died aboard ship in the same seas, according to his memorial in the family mausoleum.
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ
