From the medieval ancient times – “horrible accommodations, no comfortable home, no soft bed,” complained French knights in 1341 – the city of Edinburgh evolved into one of the architectural wonders of the world. However, over the centuries, many of its beautiful buildings have vanished. Despite invasion and political upheaval, some buildings simply collapsed due to age and neglect. Others disappeared during the "improvements" of the nineteenth century, while more were demolished by the destruction of builders in the twentieth century, as changing social habits, industry, housing, and road systems required large-scale changes. Few buildings escaped the consequences as the medieval heritage of the Old Town suffered destruction, Georgian squares were attacked, Princes Street was ravaged, old tenements were leveled during massive slum clearances, and familiar and beloved landmarks disappeared.

In this informative and thought-provoking book, Hamish Coghill attempts to seek out many of Edinburgh's lost buildings – from imposing structures in the city center to residential buildings – and to explore why they were doomed. Lavishly illustrated, "Lost Edinburgh" offers a captivating look at a city that has continually been reinvented over time and continues to develop in the most unexpected and dramatic ways of the twenty-first century.

Pages: 272, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm