General View of the Old Town from Princes Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

11123

Title

General view of the old town from Princes Street

Description

A view from Princes Street, Edinburgh towards the Old Town.The Castle sits above the drained Nor' Loch and the tall tenements of the Old Town stretch out behind. To the left is North Bridge, with Arthur's Seat just visible.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1820

Size

13.1 x 52.2 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

'Old Town' is the general name given to the original mediaeval centre of Edinburgh. It consists principally of the Royal Mile and the streets and closes leading from it, including those previously part of the separate burgh of Canongate. It also includes the Cowgate and the Grassmarket. The restricted size of the Old Town necessitated the construction of multi-storey 'lands' from the 1500's onwards, many of which still exist today. Eventually chronic overcrowding led to expansion of the city northwards past the Nor' Loch and southwards beyond the Flodden Wall. The Old Town area has now been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Construction of the Mound was begun in the 1760's by the tailor George Boyd to give him better access to his clients in Edinburgh's New Town from his Old Town shop. Large amounts of waste material from the development of New Town was added to 'Geordie Boyd's Mud Brig' creating a substantial link road. Further more formal development of the Mound begun in 1825 following the foundation of the Royal Institution at its foot.

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Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets

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