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White statue of an older man holding a child by his side

Thomas Guthrie


The Thomas Guthrie statue stands in Princes Street Gardens. It pays tribute to a man who strove to offer a better life to the Old Town’s ‘ragged’ children.


Guthrie (1803-1873) was a leader of the Free Church of Scotland and a philanthropist. He was moved by witnessing children begging and stealing amidst the poverty of Edinburgh’s Old Town and set up the Ragged School Movement in response. Ragged Schools took in children for long days of lessons, bible study, skills development and regular meals. The first Ragged School opened on Castle Hill in Edinburgh but the movement spread nationally.


Guthrie’s movement led to a reduction of children on the streets, better employment, and far fewer children in prison.


The Guthrie statue was unveiled in 1910 and features Guthrie sheltering a young Ragged School child.