RSCDS Book 1 No. 6 The Flowers of Edinburgh
RSCDS Book 1
No. 6 "The Flowers of Edinburgh"
Date of Publication:
Published in "The Ballroom, 1827."Origins/Composer:
Collected locally
Ref. RSCDS
Stories:
In the old days the city of Edinburgh was less famous for its greenery than for the smoke and bad stench pervading the Old Town, which gave rise to its nickname, »Auld Reekie« (Old Smoky). The tenements of the Old Town did not feature the indoor sewage disposal technology that we are accustomed to today, and it was by no means uncommon for the good citizens of Edinburgh to greet the early morning by emptying the content of their chamber pots out of a 5th-story window with the cheery cry of »Gardyloo« (from the French gardez, l'eau, or »Watch out, some water«) to warn hapless passers-by. Hence, one interpretation of the title of this dance views it as a kind of super-euphemism for these »blooms« of crudity and tastelessness. More delicate and tender sources prefer to relate the title to the young ladies of the city.
SCD Data Base
According to a self-deprecating secondary report in "A Native's Guide to Edinburgh" By Tom Mc Rae,[1] "The stench from the loch permeated the old City and probably gave rise to the traditional tune "The Flowers of Edinburgh."
Wikipaedia
THE NOR'LOCH
In 1460 King James III ordered that the ground between the Old Town and Princes Street be flooded in an effort to strengthen the Castle's northern defences.
A dam was built at the east end, where North Bridge now stands. Natural spring water flowing from the original St. Margaret's Well at the foot of the castle was used to flood what once was a forested valley.
Initially it was a picturesque and relaxing haven for the residents of Edinburgh who would boat in the summer and skate in the winter. It must have been a beautiful sight reflecting the magificent castle.
Over the years however it became a convenient dump for all sorts of waste including human excrement in the days before proper sanitation and over the years it became a stinking cess-pool.
When obnoxious fumes and gasses began to seriously affect the health of the local residents. Methane gas would be concentrated up the narrow closes, many of which led to the banks of the Nor' Loch, and cause them to have hallucinations.
the decision was taken to drain the Loch in 1759 around the same time of the building of the New Town to the north.
In 1460 King James III ordered that the ground between the Old Town and Princes Street be flooded in an effort to strengthen the Castle's northern defences.
A dam was built at the east end, where North Bridge now stands. Natural spring water flowing from the original St. Margaret's Well at the foot of the castle was used to flood what once was a forested valley.
Initially it was a picturesque and relaxing haven for the residents of Edinburgh who would boat in the summer and skate in the winter. It must have been a beautiful sight reflecting the magificent castle.
Over the years however it became a convenient dump for all sorts of waste including human excrement in the days before proper sanitation and over the years it became a stinking cess-pool.
When obnoxious fumes and gasses began to seriously affect the health of the local residents. Methane gas would be concentrated up the narrow closes, many of which led to the banks of the Nor' Loch, and cause them to have hallucinations.
the decision was taken to drain the Loch in 1759 around the same time of the building of the New Town to the north.
The valley is now Princes Street Gardens
The rubble from the building of the New Town was used to create what is now 'The Mound' On which sit the Scottish Royal Academy and The National Art Gallery.
The rubble from the building of the New Town was used to create what is now 'The Mound' On which sit the Scottish Royal Academy and The National Art Gallery.
http://www.royal-mile.com/history/nor-loch.html
Images: Wikipedia.org
The story that I heard was that when the judges paraded down the Royal Mile from the castle to Holyrood Palace they carried a bunch of flowers at their nose because the general populace watching, reeked!
Ruary Laidlaw
Scottish Judges - Google Images
Instructions:
FLOWERS OF EDINBURGH (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 1
1- 8 1L followed by partner casts below 3s, 1L crosses and dances up behind Men as 1M dances up centre to 1st places on opposite side and 1s set
9-16 1M followed by partner repeat above Fig and set in own places
17-24 1s lead down the middle and back
25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette. 213
9-16 1M followed by partner repeat above Fig and set in own places
17-24 1s lead down the middle and back
25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette. 213
(MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/flowers-of-edinburgh.html
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