Edinburgh Castle

Category

Library Item

Item no

14917

Title

Edinburgh Castle

Description

Men unload planks of wood from a horse and cart at the side of a house. A group of people stand at the top of a steep vennel. In the background is Edinburgh Castle.

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 contains the following description:
"The first name, which it bore, was Castell Mynyd Agned, that is, the Fortress of the Hill of Agnes: it was then called Castrum Puellarum, because, as some say, the Pictish kings kept and educated their daughters in it: Dr Stoddart in his 'Remarks' says it was called the Maiden's Castle, probably from being dedicated to the Virgin Mary by the piety of some ancient monarch. Its present name is however, with some degree of probability, derived from Edwin, a Saxon Prince of Northumberland, who, in order to defend this part of his kingdom from the warlike and ferocious Picts and Scots, erected a fortress here about 626, which was called Edwin's-burgh or Edwin's castle."

Edinburgh Castle is perhaps the City's most famous landmark. It stands on Castle Rock the remaining core of an extinct volcano, and has dominated the Edinburgh skyline for over 800 years, although during its long history the building has undergone many changes.

The oldest part of the present day Castle is St Margaret's Chapel, built in the early 12th century. The Half Moon Battery for artillery, a distinctive feature of the castle today was built in 1574.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

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