Excuse the incomplete title - there are only so many character allowed in a Forum subject title. It should really read:

McCaig's Tower and Edinburgh's grand classical avenue. Where are these landmarks?

I'm one of the people who really objects strongly to use of the term McCaig's folly when what's really being referred to is his tower.

Unlike a folly, it always had a purpose from day one, albeit the satisfaction of his own vanity, but it also (but for his death) would have provided a batch of local employment during a period when times were tough. But McCaig's sister put paid to that idea, and collected the money for herself - apparently with the help of a judge who was not... impartial in the settling of her claim on her brother's will.

The notion of the 'grand classical avenue' in Edinburgh is something newer for me, and not surprisingly was something Robert Adam came up with.

However, it seems it was also not unusual for that well-known gentleman to come up with fabulously costly plans - and that would seem to have laid this otherwise glorious plan to rest.

Read and learn more here (this is part of a Radio 4 series - Unbuilt Britain) :

The landmark buildings that never were