World Heritage Day: Celebrating 150 Years of Civic Guardianship in Edinburgh

 

“No person who can think and feel can look upon the monuments of our ancestors without a mingled reverence for the past and responsibility for the future.”
— Lord Henry Cockburn

Today is World Heritage Day, a time when communities across the globe reflect on the places, landscapes and stories that define our shared human experience. In Edinburgh, World Heritage Day holds special meaning. Our city—inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995 for its unique blend of medieval and Georgian urban planning—is steeped in history. Yet the protection of this heritage hasn’t come about by chance. It has required care, vigilance and, at times, courageous opposition to the forces of erosion, development and neglect.

This year, World Heritage Day falls during a moment of particular reflection for the Cockburn Association, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Since 1875, the Association has been at the heart of civic life in Edinburgh, speaking up for the city’s architecture, green spaces, and the rights of its citizens to shape their environment. As we mark this global celebration of heritage, it is fitting to reflect on the Cockburn’s enduring role in preserving what makes Edinburgh one of the most distinctive urban environments in the world.

A City Worth Caring For

Lord Henry Cockburn, after whom the Association is named, was one of the earliest public figures to warn against the casual destruction of Edinburgh’s historic fabric. A lawyer, judge and essayist, Cockburn was deeply committed to the city’s wellbeing. In his Memorials of His Time (1856), he lamented the loss of old buildings and public spaces, writing that:
“Every stone of old Edinburgh speaks of the past; and it is a cruel thing to allow this voice to be silenced without protest.”

It was this ethos—heritage not as nostalgia, but as civic responsibility—that inspired a group of likeminded citizens in the 1870s to form what became the Cockburn Association. Their goal was simple: to champion the principle of conservation in an era of rapid change.

At the time, much of Edinburgh’s historic core was under threat. Urban clearance projects were sweeping through the Old Town. Green Belt land was vulnerable to speculative development. Even landmark structures, such as St Giles’ Cathedral and the Canongate Tolbooth, were at one point in danger of unsympathetic alteration or demolition.

The Association’s founders believed that civic pride and good planning should go hand in hand. They fought early battles to protect the character of the Old Town and preserve panoramic views from Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat—campaigns that would go on to define the modern notion of urban heritage protection.

150 Years of Speaking Up

Over the last century and a half, the Cockburn Association has evolved into one of Scotland’s most respected civic organisations. Its remit spans planning and architecture, natural landscape protection, and public access to cultural heritage.

It has helped shape major debates on the city’s future—from the 1960s campaign to save George Square from redevelopment, to more recent opposition to the privatisation of public parks and excessive short-term letting. Through policy responses, media engagement and community events, the Association remains a watchdog for heritage and public interest in a city under constant pressure to modernise.

In keeping with Lord Cockburn’s legacy, the Association has always paired passionate advocacy with principled realism. It recognises that cities must evolve—but that change must not come at the cost of character, liveability, or shared cultural memory.

World Heritage Day reminds us that heritage is not just about grand buildings or UNESCO plaques. It’s about neighbourhoods, everyday places, and the emotional bonds that tie people to their environment. The Cockburn Association’s commitment to this broader view of heritage has made it a leader in community engagement and urban stewardship.

A Living City, A Shared Future

The theme for World Heritage Day 2024 is “Discover and Experience Shared Heritage”. It encourages people not just to admire heritage from a distance, but to participate in its care and interpretation. This is central to the Cockburn Association’s approach.

In recent years, the Association has hosted public forums, walking tours, school outreach, and exhibitions that invite residents to share their stories and shape planning outcomes. Its ongoing work on issues such as student housing, climate resilience, green space protection and civic space management shows that heritage is not something to be frozen in time—it must live and breathe with the city.

As we celebrate the Association’s 150th anniversary, it is clear that its founding principles remain relevant today. The challenges may be different—overtourism, climate change, digital disruption—but the core question remains: who is the city for, and how do we ensure it remains welcoming, inclusive, and beautiful for future generations?

Why This Matters Now

Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage status brings international prestige, but also responsibility. We must continually assess how development proposals align with the values of authenticity, sustainability and social justice.

The Cockburn Association’s strength lies in its independence and depth of expertise. It is not anti-development, but pro-good design, pro-public consultation, and pro-common sense. As recent campaigns have shown—from defending the Meadows from over-commercialisation to challenging inappropriate high-rise proposals—it remains a trusted voice in difficult conversations.

Lord Cockburn once warned against “the quiet extinction of beauty through indifference.” That warning still rings true. Cities change not just through big plans but through a thousand small decisions. World Heritage Day is a chance to pause and ask whether those decisions serve the public good.

Join the Conversation

To mark World Heritage Day and the Cockburn Association’s 150th year, we’re inviting members, residents and friends of Edinburgh to reflect on what the city means to them. What places matter most? What stories should we tell? And how can we ensure that Edinburgh’s future remains rooted in care, community and civic pride?

If you’re not yet a member of the Cockburn Association, now is a great time to join. Your support helps us continue the work begun in 1875—to protect the buildings, views and green spaces that define Edinburgh’s identity.

“Cities are like books. They contain knowledge, and character, and soul. Our duty is not just to read them, but to care for them.”
— Lord Henry Cockburn

 

Image: Graeme Gainey