Honoured by Edinburgh

Beneficiaries of the Freedom of Edinburgh since 1459
A fascinating history of conferring the Freedom of Edinburgh, and the influential individuals and organisations honoured by the civic authorities of the city over more than 500 years.

For more than 500 years Edinburgh’s civic authorities have awarded the Freedom of the City to prominent and influential individuals with a connection to Edinburgh or to those who have deserved recognition from the city, granting them an honorary Burgess ticket and admitting them as a Burgess and Guild Brother of the City. The choice of individuals honoured has remained solely in the jurisdiction of Edinburgh’s ruling council, and the choices often reflected how those in power wished to influence the way the city was perceived by the outside world. Political and social changes over the centuries frequently are mirrored in the choice of individuals honoured, from the Queen’s barber in 1451 to Harry Lauder in 1927. Reasons for the honour have been varied, from leadership in war to bringing rhubarb seeds to Scotland. Some awards have been hotly contested while others have been cheered by massed crowds. Presentations have elicited stirring speeches while others have gone awry.

In Honoured by Edinburgh author Barclay Price picks out the most interesting recipients through the centuries, most of whose reputations still resonate with us today, but there is space for some whose names deserve to be rediscovered, including two nineteenth-century anti-slavery campaigners. This book will appeal to all those interested in the changing and at times turbulent history of Scotland’s capital city.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.