I imagine the first question anyone will ask is what is a column called "Scottish Flotsam". I guess we will have to begin with what is "flotsam". Among the definitions of the word are "things washed ashore" or "miscellaneous trifles". Well, we believe you can find some great treasure on the ocean shore. But -- you will never know what you will find or its value. So we decided that is what this column is - flotsam. We wanted a place to put things that didn't fit anywhere else and might be of interest. Each item could be a column itself and might be some day but for now it will be the flotsam, which washes our way.

New Town (Edinburgh)

The late eighteenth century New Town is perhaps the best physical and architectural manifestation of the Scottish Enlightenment, built 1776-1840 to a symmetrical plan characteristic of the period. The original proposals of 1752 owed much to George *Drummond (d.1776), while the plan conceived by James Craig (174O-95) dates from 1767. The New Town - in contrast to the Old - was dignified by broad and stately streets and squares, among which George Street and Charlotte Square are perhaps the finest. Some of the most

elegant buildings of the great Georgian architect, Robert Adam (1728-92), grace the district, notably Register House, the Old College and many of the houses around Charlotte Square, including Bute House. In George Street are the Assembly Rooms (1787) and Music Hall (1843), although the most famous street, Princes Street, with its array of shops on the north side, is much altered. Otherwise the original core of the classical New Town is much as it was conceived, though greatly extended southward and northward after the early 1800s. A major conservation scheme has restored much of the New Town's former grandeur.

YOUNGSON,A. J., The Making of Classical Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 1966

New Towns

The Scottish New Towns grew from the United Kingdom-wide post-war planning movement after 1945, though the idea of such new communities had been canvassed earlier during the depression and World War II. The New Towns were designed to relieve population pressure, ease slum clearance in the cities, provide greenfield sites for industrial expansion, and generate employment. East Kilbride (1949) was the pioneer, followed by Glenrothes (1948), Cumbernauld (1956), Livingston (1962) and Irvine (1966). A sixth, Stonehouse, was designated but later abandoned. Though experiencing mixed fortunes, the New Towns were generally successful in their aims. This was at considerable cost to the core of older communities - notably Glasgow - from which large numbers were decanted and which took many years to regenerate as a result.

Now lets look at some specific dates:

1605 -November 5
On the night of the gunpowder plot in London the North of Scotland was battered by ferocious winds which many took to be a sign of treason.

1650 - November 13
Palace of Holyrood House largely destroyed by fire while occupied by Cromwell's troops. However, the apartments of Mary Queen of Scots were saved.

1928 - November 18
Approximately 78 miles in length, the Great Northern Road between Inverness and Blair Atholl was completed at a cost of £630,000.

1412 - November 29
To mark the renewal of the ancient bond between Scotland and France, James IV was presented with a 35-gun warship by the French Ambassador, de La Motte.

Source - Scotching the Myths by Jim Hewiston can be found in the History Book Section of Scottish Radiance.

It is time to stop combing the library but we can not quit without some quotes from Quotable Scots another great History bookshelf resident. Let's see what quotes we can find.

Brag

York was, London is, but Edinburgh shall be
the greatest of the three.
Thomas the Rhymer,thirteenth century

Parole, parole, nothing but words. The Scots will boast but rarely perform their brags.
David Riccio (1533 - 66), Italian courtier and musician

This city needed something to believe in - so I gave it me.
Jock Wallace manager of Leicester City

Nì an sporan falamh ceannach tais. Empty purse makes slow purchase.

You can find more articles in the archive under Scottish Flotsam.