The New Prison and Duguld Stewart's Monument

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

11351

Title

The new prison and Duguld Stewart's Monument, Calton Hill

Description

A double image of Calton Gaol, Edinburgh with the Duguld Stewart Monument in the background. The photograph is an early stereo pair and image on the right is slightly darker in tone. The gaol is a stone built building consisting of round and square towers. It has a large arched doorway in front. A cobbled road runs in front of the prison. A circular stone monument made up of columns can be seen on the hill behind.

Artist / maker

Begbie, Thomas

Date

1887

Size

8.3 x 17.1 cm

Type

Glass negative

Location

City Art Centre

Copyright

The Cavaye Collection of Thomas Begbie Prints ; The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

This is a glass negative from the Thomas Begbie Cavaye Collection which is held by City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries.

Calton Gaol was designed by Archibald Elliot as an alternative to Edinburgh's historic Tolbooth. It was located immediately to the south of Regent Road, overlooking Waverly Station. A Bridewell, or house of correction, designed by Robert Adam already stood on the site. The prison was opened in 1817, and closed in 1925 when the limited size of the premises necessitated a move to Saughton, the location of the present day prison. It was demolished, save the Governor's House which still stands, to make way for the Government Buildings of St Andrew's House.

Duguld Stewart's Monument is located on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. It was erected in 1831 in memory of the Scottish philosopher who died in 1828. As with the National Monument, William H. Playfair drew inspiration for this memorial from Athens, modelling his design on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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