The square was laid out by the builder James Brown, and comprised modest, typically Georgian, terraced houses. Away from the overcrowded Old Town, George Square became popular with lawyers and nobles. Well-known residents included Sir Walter Scott, the judge Lord Braxfield, and the politician Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville. The square was named after James Brown's elder brother, George Brown. In June 1792 the square was the starting point of the infamous Dundas Riots, aimed at the house of the Lord advocate, Robert Dundas of Arniston, who lived on the square. The most notable 19th century resident of the square was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, later author of the Sherlock Holmes novels, who lived at No. 23 from 1876 to 1880 while studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. in George Square. Redevelopment of the square began in the late 19th century when numbers 4 to 7 were redeveloped as George Watson's Ladies College. In the 1920s the college expanded to absorb 8 to 10. These minor interventions were mild in comparison with the changes of the 1960s: the whole south side was demolished, together with half the east side, to provide new facilities for Edinburgh University. Combined with the redevelopments on Potterow to the north-east and acquisition of the McEwan Hall, this made George Square the new focal hub of the whole university.
Gardens
The central gardens are privately owned and are not a public park as such. However they are usually available to public use, though only the southern access is usually open. The central gardens contain a memorial to Winifred Rushforth entitled "The Dreamer". The garden also contains several "Baillie lamps" which were formerly placed in front of the Edinburgh Baillies and latterly placed in front of councillor's houses.
The University of Edinburgh began drawing up plans to redevelop the square in the 1950s. Architects Basil Spence and Robert Matthew were closely involved in the plans. Opposition to demolition of the Georgian Square was led by the Cockburn Association, and the Georgian Group of Edinburgh which was established by Colin McWilliam and others to resist the proposals. In the end, the western side of the square was retained. On the northern side, the 19th century George Watson's Ladies College was retained alongside the modern Hugh Robson Building. Georgian terraces were retained along half of the east side, while the southern side was entirely redeveloped. The David Hume Tower stands at the south-east corner, adjacent to the main lecture theatre and the business school. The Main Library occupies most of the southern side of the square.
Edinburgh Fringe
During August each year, the square becomes an important hub for events at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Many of the university buildings, notably George Square Theatre and the lecture theatres in the David Hume Tower complex are converted to use as venues by venue operator Assembly. The gardens are filled with bars and pop-up venues, including, in recent years while nearby Bristo Square is being renovated, the well-known Underbelly purple cow venue.
