Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

11033

Title

Edinburgh

Description

An image of the drained Nor' Loch basin overlooked by the stately Bank of Scotland headquarters. The arches of the North Bridge can be seen spanning the valley.

Artist / maker

Carr, John

Date

1809

Size

26.1 x 44.8 cm

Type

Aquatint

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Originally created for defensive reasons the Nor' Loch was used as a midden for Edinburgh's Old Town. It became both unpleasant and unhealthy for the city's residents, and was drained in the 18th century. Princes Street Gardens now stand in its place.

The Bank of Scotland headquarters is situated at the top of the Mound. It was designed by Robert Reid and Richard Crichton and built between 1802 and 1806. It was substantially enlarged in the 1860's.

The original North Bridge was completed in 1772 to provide access from Edinburgh's Old Town to the planned New Town development in the north of the city. It was widened in the 1870's to accommodate increased traffic, and was finally rebuilt between 1894-7 alongside the development at Waverley. Mid way along the bridge there is a memorial to men of the King's Own Scottish Borderers killed in the Boer War. Its even gradient was designed to make it suitable for tramcars

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Related subjects

Business > Service industry > Banks

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

(55°57′2″N, 3°11′52″W)