11. Castlehill School

Castlehill School

Geddes used the school to implement his innovative ideas of early learning and he often took the children out of class in the afternoon to work on his many garden projects throughout Edinburgh Old Town.

11. Mylne's Court

Mylne’s Court

In 1892 Geddes converted the two buildings to the north and south of the court in to Edinburgh’s very first self-governed student accommodation. Geddes’ vision for the accommodation was to create ‘a community of co-operative living for learning and intellectual interaction’. Anon, www.patrickgeddestrust.co.uk

10. Burn's Land

Burn’s Land

Unheard of at the time, Geddes collaborated with Henbest Capper to establish accommodation for the University of Edinburgh’s first female students.

9. James Court

James Court

Once married in 1886 Geddes took his new wife to live in a second floor flat of James Court. At the time the Old Town was widely considered a slum and a very bleak place to live. However carrying from Geddes’ early studies in reciprocal accommodation Geddes felt it was possible to create a pleasant residence in difficult situations. Geddes quickly convinced his neighbours to help improve their surroundings by painting, cleaning and planting.

8. Blackie House

Blackie House

As a part of the urban renewal program in 1894 Geddes created a new court, now called Wardrop’s court. To get air and light into the ‘slum’ like tenements Geddes had to smaller closes removed to achieve this and develop a better standard of living for the residents. Geddes converted the house to the north of the court in to morte self-governing student accommodation.

7. Riddle's Court

Riddle’s Court

Yet another example of a concerted effort to retain rather than demolish Geddes renovated two houses of the court and created a self-governing accommodation for students. Student housing was relatively uncommon at the time with only Oxford and Cambridge offering accommodation of any sort for students. Geddes’ influence is given pride of place in the court with his life motto, ‘Vivendo Discimus’ (By living we learn) inscribed on the round stione arch.

6. Lady Stair's Close

Lady Stair’s Close

In one of his earliest conservation efforts, Geddes persuaded the Fifth Earl of Rosebery to purchase the house and with the help of George S Aitken, a colleague of Geddes, they restored the dilapidated house.