We were lucky to have Jim Mackay of the Kirkmichael Trust as well as Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard Liz Lockhart and Mark Hatton, presenting to the National Lottery team. Thanks to everyone who came along, and to National Lottery players!
The National Lottery are funding Legacies in Stone, a new community heritage project focused on strengthening community stewardship of three graveyards within Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, and in graveyards and historic burial sites across Scotland.
Yesterday we welcomed the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Scotland Team for a tour of Greyfriars Kirkyard – including a peak into the Covenanter’s Prison!
Thanks to Blackhall Developments (Unit 8 West Shore Road, Edinburgh EH5 1QP; 0131 552 8972; www.blackhalldevelopments.co.uk), Bellair Three, Colin Campbell, Elephant House & Emporium, and Simon Laird Associates for their work on this project.
This visit is reputedly credited with re-popularising tartan as Scotland’s national dress.
The bridge’s namesake, King George IV, visited Scotland in 1822, the first visit by a reigning British monarch in over 170 years. He was invited personally by Sir Walter Scott and was flanked by artists including Turner and Wilkie who came to document the moment.
They sit on George IV Bridge, built between 1827 and 1836 as part of the Edinburgh Improvement Act. Designed by Thomas Hamilton, the structure connects the South Side, Old and New Towns, but the build came at the cost of demolishing two of the Old Town’s historic streets.
Project complete!
Fire-damaged Elephant House cafe and neighbouring shop have been freshly restored with the support of EWH’s Shopfront Repair Grant. Works to both shopfronts included woodwork, glazing, paintwork, awnings and signage - all completed using traditional materials.
Image: Bakehouse Close by Kenny Lam (c) Visit Scotland
You have until tomorrow to apply to be our new Head of Operations and Business Support!
Head to Goodmoves to find out more:
goodmoves.org/vacancy/a4sP...
@heraldscotland.bsky.social's report on our work (with @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social) to restore Grassmarket's Covenanters Memorial 🔨
www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586313...
Thanks to everyone who joined for Richard Rodger's excellent talk on Edinburgh and @thecockburn.bsky.social at Riddle's Court last night.
More info coming soon about our next event in March, a deep-dive into Georgian furniture 🛋️
JOB ALERT: You have just over a week to apply to be our new Head of Operations and Business Support!
It is a chance to be an important part of our small, dedicated team at Edinburgh World Heritage.
Deadline: 20 February
ewh.org.uk/head-of-oper...
Last chance to buy tickets for this Thursday's event "Campaigning for Edinburgh: The Cockburn Association 1875-2049" @thecockburn.bsky.social ewh.org.uk/cockburn-tal...
2/ World Heritage Site Management Plan and Action Plan. A huge thank you to the students who attended and for their thoughtful contributions throughout the day!
1/ We were glad to host students from Durham University's MA in International Cultural Heritage Management 🏛️
Our Head of Conservation Silke spoke to the students about our grant programmes, our partnership with @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social and Historic Environment Scotland, and our work on the...
Read the full report, titled Connecting People and Place: Valuing the Felt Experiences of Historic Places here: eprints.gla.ac.uk/376324/
New research from Historic England and @glasgow.ac.uk finds that 70% of young adults report being in or around historic buildings positively impacts their wellbeing 🏛️🌞
Image: Visit Scotland (c) Kenny Lam
We are looking for a new Head of Operations and Business Support.
Closing date: Friday 20 February 2026
Find out more here: ewh.org.uk/head-of-oper...
3/ We hope to increase the visibility of the text carved into the ground at the monument’s base and are exploring ways to deepen onlookers’ understanding of both the Covenanters and the memorial’s heritage importance.
Photos: conservation work in progress (Nic Boyes)
2/ Huge thanks to UK Government for their funding contribution through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and to the @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social for their partnership in delivering the project.
Next steps: enhancing the interpretation...
Photo: detail of finished conservation work (Nic Boyes)
1/ Conservation work to the Covenanters Memorial in Grassmarket is complete!
Swipe for before and after shots captured by Stone Conservator Nic Boyes ACR.
Photos: (1) Before (2) After
3/
When: Thursday 12 February 2026
Where: Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket EH1 2PG
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Tickets: ewh.org.uk/cockburn-tal...
2/ He will reflect on 150 years of advocacy from the civic trust, and look into the future to imagine what the association, and Edinburgh at large, has in store for the years to come.
1/ Upcoming Event!
Next month, we’ll be hearing from Professor Richard Rodger, the co-author of Campaigning for Edinburgh: The Cockburn Association 1875-2049.
4/ Edinburgh World Heritage is contributing funding towards a new bronze plaque to be placed on the wall beside the Jane Haining’s Stolperstein. This piece of interpretation will detail her story, as well as the significance of Stolpersteine across Europe.
3/ It lies in memory of Jane Haining, outside St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge. Jane Haining was a Church of Scotland missionary and school matron who died in Auschwitz-Birkenau after refusing to abandon Jewish girls in her care.
2/ In November of last year, Edinburgh became the first place in Scotland to install a Stolperstein: a “stumbling stone” to commemorate victims of Nazi atrocities, placed on the ground outside their home, or place of work or study.
1/ Today, on Holocaust Memorial Day, we remember the 6 million Jewish people murdered by the Nazis and honour the memory of those who have perished in genocides to follow.
