Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

11150

Title

Greyfriars Kirkyard with the roof of the Edinburgh Central Public Library in the background

Description

An image of the monuments of Greyfriars Kirkyard on a sunny Edinburgh day. Tall gravestones and monuments fill the foreground and are surrounded by leafy trees. In the background is the top of the Central Library.

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2007

Size

25.4 x 19 cm

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Central Public Library is, strictly speaking, located on the Cowgate. It rises up four floors from this level to its main entrance on George IV Bridge. It was designed by George Washington Browne, and built in 1887-90. It was built with money donated by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Central Library acts as the community library for the centre of the city. It also has several subject dedicated sections: the Fine Art Library; Music Library; Scottish Library; Central Reference and the Edinburgh Room.

Greyfriars Kirkyard, or Graveyard, is the burial ground of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh. It houses the graves of many notable historical figures including the poet Allan Ramsay, the geologist James Hutton and the architect William Adam. In 1679 several hundred Covenanters were imprisoned in the Kirkyard awaiting trial.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Plants > Trees > Trees

Religion > Religious facilities > Graveyards

Sport and leisure > Culture > Libraries

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