Water Gate

Category

Library Item

Item no

1048

Title

Water Gate

Description

A horse and cart passes under the arch of the Water Gate in Edinburgh. A house stands next to the arch with smoke rising out of its chimneys. A man is beside an entrance to the house and through the Water Gate a well can be seen.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1818

Size

23 x 18 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The Watergate was an arched gateway into the Canongate. Standing immediately to the north of Abbey Strand infront of Holyroodhouse it was the principle entrance to the Canongate from the east. It was not a fortified gate, but provided a degree of security and was used for the collection of customs. Its name stems either from the Tummel Burn which crossed the road at this point, or from a large pond nearby used for watering horses. The gate was blown down in the 1820's, and the replacement did not survive beyond the mid 1900's.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Canongate

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

(55°57′10″N, 3°10′24″W)

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