Calton Hill

Category

Library Item

Item no

14700

Title

Edimbourg. Vu du Calton Hill. [Edinburgh. Seen from Calton Hill]

Description

People make their way down from Calton Hill, some carrying washing they have been drying on the slopes of the hill. In the distance is Calton Gaol, the North Bridge connecting the Old and New Towns and the buildings of the Old Town including the spire of St Giles Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle.

Artist / maker

Pernot, Francois A.

Engraver

Lauters, P.

Date

1827

Size

17.5 x 24 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

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 Waverley 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.

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.

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Related subjects

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Furnishings > Equipment > Laundry

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Graveyards

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