Princes Street Gardens Heritage in Pictures: Here are 40 fascinating photos of the famous Edinburgh park in the 1950s and 1960s

Princes Street Gardens are a relatively recent addition to the historic city of Edinburgh - having been created in the 1820s following the draining of the Nor Loch.

The artificially created body of water was designed as part of the city’s medieval defences but had become a fairly smelly health problem due to the sewage that flowed into it from the Old Town.

Named after Princes Street, which was itself named after the sons of King George III, the new park was instrumental in turning the area into the stylish New Town we know today.

Actually two separate parks divided by The Mound - East and West Princes Street Gardens - it’s home to many monuments.

Read more: Leith Heritage in Pictures: Here are 28 fascinating photos of Edinburgh's Leith in the 1950s and 1960s

These include the Scott Monument, statues of explorer David Livingstone, publisher and Lord Provost Adam Black, essayist Professor John Wilson, poet Allan Ramsay, church reformer Thomas Guthrie, obstetric pioneer and Wojtek the Bear, as well as the Ross Fountain and Ross Bandstand.

It’s long been used for a wide range of events, and most recently attracts thousands every Hogmanay for the Concert in the Gardens - this year headlined by Grammy-winning indie band Wet Leg.

Here are 40 pictures to take you back to the gardens in the 1950s and 1960s.

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