Who could have imagined that these tranquil London Road Gardens were once a bustling quarry? Yes, you heard right. This green oasis we stand before, nestled beneath Calton Hill, has a past as industrious as the city it graces. Before the gentle rustling of leaves and birdsong filled the air, the clang of pickaxes and shouts of workers echoed through these slopes.
The London Road Gardens, formerly known as Royal Terrace Gardens, were born from a vision. This vision belonged to William Henry Playfair, a renowned architect who shaped Edinburgh’s landscape. In 1819, he conceived these gardens as part of the New Town expansion, a green counterpoint to the grand terraces he envisioned rising above. The very earth that was excavated to build those elegant homes of Royal Terrace and Carlton Terrace was used to fill the quarries, transforming a site of industry into a haven of peace.
By 1829, the transformation was complete. The once-bare slopes were cloaked in lush greenery, planted with trees that still stand tall today. Among them are majestic limes and remarkably resilient elms, their branches interlacing to create a verdant canopy. Stroll through the London Road Gardens in springtime, and you’ll be greeted by a sea of daffodils, their cheerful blooms a testament to the gardens’ enduring beauty.
But the gardens hold more than natural splendor. A path winds its way through the greenery, a path imbued with history. This path was a later addition, created for a rather special resident: the deposed King Charles X of France. Taking refuge in Edinburgh, he resided at Holyrood Palace. This path through London Road Gardens provided him a discreet route to attend mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, a silent witness to a king in exile.