It was very interesting to see with my own eyes what a Georgian house would have looked like. The house influenced how people lived (all about appearances!) and vice versa. It's a very grand terrace house of 4 floors, with the bedroom on the ground floor at the back, directly above the kitchen, which would have ensured it was warm! The lady of the house sometimes received her female guests there and it was very luxurious with exquisite embroidery and drapes. Having the bedroom on the ground floor made room for the largest entertaining area to be on the floor above, stretching the width of the building at the front without having to make space for the front door/hallway. This huge room, with it's large and expensive windows, enabled balls and dinner parties to be held to make the right social connections, securing a good suitor for daughters, good business/army/navy positions for sons, etc. Keeping up appearances was such an important part of Georgian life that the Lamont clan chief who owned the house accumulated huge debts.
We were very lucky to be staying at another Georgian square nearby, Ainslie Place, which allowed us access to the communal gardens at the back. I thought "oh, how community-minded!" but later learned that it was for the house owners to promenade, therefore ensuring they were SEEN by their neighbours. They are beautifully maintained gardens, still only open to residents but the common people can look up at them from the fence of the public footpath that runs along the Water of Leith, by St Bernard's Well. https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/brief-history-st-bernards-well-588548
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| The Howsons as Georgians |
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| Writing like a Georgian |
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| Ainslie Place hallway |
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| Ainslie Place gardens |
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| St Bernard's Well |
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