Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

14891

Title

Edinburgh

Description

Horses and carriages travel over the North Bridge which spans the Waverley Valley and joins Princes Street to the Old Town. The tip of the spire at St Giles, Edinburgh Castle and the tenement buildings of the Old Town can be seen. Below are the buildings of lower Calton. Cattle graze close to an enclosure.

Artist / maker

Nattes, John Claude

Engraver

Fittler, James

Date

1804

Size

18.5 x 24.5 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The accompanying text in the volume begins as follows:
"Within the limits, to which we are confined, it is impossible to give any thing like a minute description of the city of Edinburgh, the 'Queen of the North' [...]
This View, which was taken in July 1799, from the Calton Hill, comprises the North Bridge, through the arches of which is seen the slaughter-house; the ruins of an old Abbey below, in the foreground, with the crown like tower of St Giles farther distant to the left; the castle towards the centre, and the West Church in the distant horizon "

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.

The Low Calton area of Edinburgh was situated in the ravine between Princes Street and Calton Hill, now spanned by Regent Bridge. 'Low Calton' referred specifically to the western half of the road passing through the ravine, this side being part of Edinburgh whilst the eastern side was in the Barony of Calton. This part of the city is now largely non-residential, and is occupied by the east section of Calton Road.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Road bridges

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.