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New Town

Documentary charting the planning and realisation of Edinburgh's New Town, which became the biggest building project in Britain upon its inception 250 years ago.

250 years ago, Edinburgh launched a competition to design a 'New Town' for the Scottish capital. The city desperately needed an upgrade - it was overcrowded, filthy and crumbling. With Scotland a partner in the new United Kingdom, it needed a capital to be proud of. At the same time, Edinburgh was seen as the intellectual capital of Europe - with Adam Smith, David Hume and other figures of the 'Scottish Enlightenment' creating an explosion of ideas that would change the world. The winning plan by James Craig was a masterpiece of Georgian city planning that reflected these Enlightenment ideas. This film tells the story of how the plan was made real - becoming the most ambitious building project in Britain, and transforming Edinburgh into the most perfect Georgian city on earth.

1 hour

Last on

Sat 28 Mar 2020 20:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Producer Andrew Abbott
Director Andrew Abbott
Executive Producer Iain Scollay

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