Higher Geography: Urban Core Penicuik HS Geography Dept

Site Site refers to the actual land on which the original settlement was built

Site Settlements grow in different places for a variety of reasons. These usually revolve around Defence or the availability of water and other natural resources. The main site factors are identified below: Wet Point: These settlements were built at a source of water in an otherwise dry area. For example, in lowland Britain, many settlements were built at springs Dry Point: In especially wet areas, settlements were built on slightly raised land to avoid flooding or the unhealthy marshland Defensive Site: In order to protect themselves from attack, settlements were built within a river meander or the top of a steep hill, giving protection to those living there

Site Route Centre: A settlement located at the meeting point of several roads/railways; the meeting point of two or more river valleys Bridging Point: Where a river was shallow enough to be crossed (a ford) or narrow enough to easily build a bridge

Situation Situation: describes where a settlement is located in relation to other surrounding features such as other settlements, rivers and communications.

Site and Situation of Edinburgh Pre-urban nucleus was location on the crag (where castle is built) and tail (along which the Royal Mile has evolved). 2 deep troughs to the North and South Defensive site

Advantages of Edinburgh’s Site Defensive Site on the crag (130m) Protection on three sides of the crag by steep cliffs for defence Crag and Tail provided a natural route between the Castle and the Palace at Holyrood Two deep hollows either side of the tail improved defence The volcanic bedrock provided solid foundations for building

Edinburgh's Situation Important trade routes from east to west forced through this gap meaning Edinburgh controlled trade in this region Flat lowlands to the North of the Royal Mile allowed the city to easily expand with the building of the New Town Close to the Port of Leith. This was an important port trading with the rest of Europe, especially France Gap site between the Pentland Hills to the south and the Firth of Forth to the north. Close to fertile farmland in East Lothian, essential for a regular food supply

Past Papers Questions 2005 For a city you have studied, explain the ways in which its site and situation contributed to its growth. (8) Give this a go… you have 8 minutes

Edinburgh Princes Street Function Function is the activities a town or city performs. These will change over time and a larger cities will often have many functions Edinburgh Princes Street What functions do you think Edinburgh has??

Edinburgh’s Function Commercial, legal and religious centre Capital city, centre of Government International financial centre Educational & cultural centre Commercial / retail centre International tourist & conference centre Industrial centre (although declining)

Urban Models 1: Burgess Assumed the city was built on flat land and grew equally in all directions Model developed around the idea that land prices are highest in the centre, where most jobs are found Poorer people live near the Centre due to them having less access to transport

Urban Models 1: Burgess Criticisms Zones of the City are never clearly cut Cities are rarely, if ever, built on flat land Not enough importance was attached to transport (Model designed in 1925 before mass car ownership) No out of town shopping centres in 1924 Designed around the city of Chicago in the USA, making it difficult to apply to the UK

Urban Models 2: Hoyt Wealthy people choose best sites and live far from Industry Transport Links are essential for Manufacturing Similar land users are attracted to the same parts of the city due to the comparative land prices

Urban Models 2: Hoyt Criticisms Again assumed cities are built on flat land and grow equally in all directions Model based on housing and neglected other areas, such as Industry Low cost housing was in fact generally found near main roads, on the edge of the city The model assumes no planning laws or restrictions (Green Belts) apply

Urban Models 3: Multiple Nuclei Created to highlight the complexity of modern cities Cities grow from more than 1 centre Each Nuclei acts as a growth point Each Nuclei will merge with another aas the city grows

Urban Zones 1: The CBD

Urban Zone 1: The CBD Most expensive land prices in the City. This leads to the creation of tall buildings Most accessible part of the city. All the main roads meet here and the main train and bus stations are found here Little or no housing as the land is too expensive Centre of high order shops and services (Cathedrals and Hotels)

Urban Zone 1: The CBD Some of the oldest, and newest, buildings are found here High competition for land No open space Main centres of entertainment (Theatres and Restaurants)

Urban Zone 1: The CBD Administrative Centres Cultural centres (Museums and Art Galleries) Tourist Centres

Urban Zone 2: The Inner City When first built this area was found on the edge of the city Now there is little open space and therefore no room to expand Narrow streets, not designed for large amounts of traffic Terraced or Tenement (Scotland) housing, for workers at the factories

Urban Zone 2: The Inner City Increasingly run down and derelict as factories have closed and workers have moved away Lots of churches and usually the home of local football teams (Football is traditionally a working class sport) Grid Iron Street Pattern

Urban Zone 3: Modern Housing Estates Curved street pattern and lots of cul-de-sacs (Dead end streets) More open space, room for gardens and parks Detached houses with gardens Main roads go around the area Space for schools, colleges and hospitals Lower land prices

Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry

Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry Low Density Buildings Room to expand Space for Car Parking Cheaper land values at the edge of the city Housing nearby for workers to live in

Urban Zone 4: Modern Industry Easy access to main road links to easily transport goods by lorry Train stations so workers can access the area easily Landscaping and green areas in an attempt to make the area attractive to work in