The layout of medieval Edinburgh was cramped and crowded. This post argues that the forces that caused this was the constant threat of foreign invasions and Edinburgh’s geography.
As Edinburgh was close to England’s border, two walls were erected around the city to protect themselves if the English attacked; as nobody dared to leave the walls of the city, tenements were built close to one another to accommodate the growing population (Henderson 1999, pp. 18-26). Gordon’s (1647) map depicts a crowded and crammed Edinburgh surrounded by the walls mentioned, supporting the evidence that the townsfolk stayed within the walls for protection and built upwards house the population.
Additionally, Henderson (1999, p. 20-21) remarked that the geography
As Edinburgh was close to England’s border, two walls were erected around the city to protect themselves if the English attacked; as nobody dared to leave the walls of the city, tenements were built close to one another to accommodate the growing population (Henderson 1999, pp. 18-26). Gordon’s (1647) map depicts a crowded and crammed Edinburgh surrounded by the walls mentioned, supporting the evidence that the townsfolk stayed within the walls for protection and built upwards house the population.
Additionally, Henderson (1999, p. 20-21) remarked that the geography