St Andrew Square

“All built in the modern style…free from the inconveniencies of the old city” Thomas Pennant, 1769

St Andrew Square was one of the first parts of the New Town to be completed, and in the 1780’s it was one of the most fashionable addresses in the city. Residents included the famous philosopher David Hume who lived at No. 8, and entertained Benjamin Franklin as one of his first guests.

The Melville Monument
At the centre of the gardens is a monument to the man once described as ‘the uncrowned king of Scotland’, Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville. The 150ft tall column caused many concerns, and so the lighthouse engineer Robert Stevenson (grandfather of author Robert Louis Stevenson) was consulted about the foundations.

Look out for…
In the entrance hall of the Royal Bank of Scotland at No.36 St Andrew Square, a plaque on the floor marks the point from which the New Town was planned by James Craig in 1766. 

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Charles McKean, Professor of Architectural History at Dundee University, describes the history of the square and its inhabitants.

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