ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

In 1124 King David I introduced a new system of local government into Scotland by creating royal burghs as part of his efforts to reform the nation’s economic and political structures.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ was one of his first royal burghs, along with 

• Berwick
• Dunfermline
• Roxburgh
• Stirling.

While there is no surviving founding ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ charter, an 1127 Dunfermline Abbey royal charter refers to ‘my burgh of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’. In 1128, Canongate Burgh was created for Holyrood Abbey. 

After the Reformation, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ spent considerable effort acquiring the former abbey’s lands over the following 200 years. It acquired Canongate then created a new burgh for South Leith in 1636. The burghs of Broughton, Calton and Portsburgh were also acquired and run by ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½. This complex system of governance was abolished in 1856 when all burghs under the management of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ were merged into a single burgh.

In 1833, Portobello and Leith were made independent parliamentary burghs under the Burgh Reform Act. They ran their own affairs until amalgamated into an expanded ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ in 1896 and 1920, respectively. 1975 saw the last expansion of the city’s boundaries, including Queensferry, which had been made a royal burgh in 1636.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ has selected 2024 to mark the start of the 900th anniversary of our city, and to tell the story of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s journey through the centuries from the 12th century City of David right up to the 21st century, the City of Diversity.

A memorable and fitting celebration

Working with partners and community groups across the city, we are curating a of

• events
• talks
• tours
• tales.

Partner, civic groups and community organisations 

We are working with different groups and organisations in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ to deliver a varied programme of events and activities such as:

• Historic Environment Scotland 
• Incorporations of Trade of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• Museum on the Mound
• Royal Company of Merchants of the City of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½
• St Giles Cathedral
• ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Local Heritage Network.

The programme launched in July 2024 but events and activities will continue to emerge through 2024 into 2025. We are working with our in-house destination marketing team to present what will be an intriguing event programme which you will find on our Forever ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ website. Sign up for our  to get regular updates. We will continue to develop the programme until August 2025 so you can still get involved.

Some activities already lined up are:

• ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ 900 schools programme
• at the City Art Centre
• Exhibition on David I’s transformation of 12th Century Scotland at the Central Library
• : an ever-evolving experimental sound installation created from the diverse voices of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s communities.
• walking tours of the city’s financial history.

We would also love you if you would on Our Town Stories website where we curate ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½'s heritage through photos, maps and items from our unique Central Library collection.