James Simpson (Scottish architect)

[1] In his role as Town Architect he devised the Leith Improvement Plan around 1870 but this was not executed until 1885 to 1888.

One of the most dramatic elements was the levelling of Leith Links, leaving only two upstands: Giants Brae (a military fortification); and Lady Somerset's Brae (a large sand dune erroneously identified as a military work in the 1888 plan).

Whilst this improved communications it swept away 700 medieval buildings and changed the historic street pattern beyond recognition.

[3] The only major building surviving this clearance was The Vaults, dating from pre-1555 and then owned by the wine merchants J & G Thomson.

[5] His masterpiece, the huge Chancelot Flour Mill was visible across most of northern Edinburgh (and from his own house).