A few years ago I went with Dundee Uni to Edinburgh to study the "public spaces" of Edinburgh and what the statues of these public spaces can tell us about "power structures" and the "projection of power".
Nearly all the statues are of males, (Royals and Greyfriars Bobby excepted).
No pre Union of 1707 figures are to be found.
Most statues commemorate Military Men or famous battles.
Even in death the class structures of society prevails, ruling class, middle class and working class. The monuments to death and war reflect class divisions, Officers, NCOs and Men. There is a hierarchy even in death.
There is only one monument anywhere in Edinburgh to Women. A very small plaque on the gable end on the last hoose as ye walk up the Royal Mile. The gable end faces the Castle esplanade. It's to the poor souls who were burnt as witches there. The only monument to women.
The streets of the New Town are named after the new Dutch/German royal dynasty. Banks and offices mostly fly the Union Jack.
This was how the British Monarchy stamped its authority on the public spaces of Edinburgh.
Women have been completely airbrushed from Scottish History.
They are not statues they are projections of power and authority.
We should keep them though for historical reasons but should be very selective about who gets a statue in future.
