George IV Bridge

George IV Bridge represents an elevated street, some 300m (1000 feet) in length, which crosses the Cowgate, and links Chambers Street and the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. The bridge was built between 1829 and 1832 as a consequence of the Improvement Act of 1827, by architect Thomas Hamilton (1784 - 1858), to provide more effective access to the Old Town from the expanding south side of the city. Its construction required the demolition of two of the Old Town's traditional streets; namely the Old Bank Close and Liberton's Wynd. Only two of the arches supporting the bridge are visible in the Cowgate and Merchant Street, but the others provide vaults and cellars for the tall buildings which rise from ground level to well above the street level of the bridge.

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