Old Guard House of Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

1040

Title

Old Guard House of Edinburgh

Description

Workmen are walking with ladders to and from the Old Guard House, Edinburgh, depicted as a low building with smoking chimneys. Two soldiers stand talking while a horse and cart drives past. Behind the cart, against the wall of the building there is a tall wooden horse with people standing nearby.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1827

Size

18 x 18 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The Old Guard House on the High Street, Edinburgh, home of the Edinburgh Town Guard. The Guard House was on the north side of the High street, opposite the Tron Kirk and was demolished in 1785 when the Town Guard moved to the Tolbooth. Skene could not therefore have drawn this from life. The wooden horse in the painting was used as a punishment for drunk and disorderly people - they had to sit on the horse for a lengthy period with muskets tied to their feet.

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Related subjects

Government > Local > Police stations

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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