Edinburgh Castle

Category

Library Item

Item no

14945

Title

Edinburgh Castle, Argyle House and Johnston Terrace, aerial view

Description

Edinburgh Castle bordered by Johnston Terrace and Princes Street Gardens divides the Old and New Towns.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1982

Size

20.3 x 24.9 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle is perhaps the city's most famous landmark. It stands on top of the remaining core of an extinct volcano. Excavations suggest the site was inhabited by Bronze Age man as early as 900 BC, and was fortified by Iron Age man roughly 2000 years ago. The oldest part of the present day Castle is St Margaret's Chapel, built in the early 12th century. The Castle holds the Honours of Scotland and more recently has welcomed back the Stone of Scone otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny.

Johnston Terrace forms part of Thomas Hamilton's plan for a new western approach to Edinburgh. The plan was authorised by parliament in 1827 and Johnston Terrace, then referred to as the New West Approach, was opened in the mid 1830's. Its name was changed in 1850 in honour of Sir William Johnston, Lord Provost of Edinburgh 1848-51.

Edinburgh's New Town, which lies to the north of the Old Town, was designed by James Craig. Craig was the winner of a design competition held in 1766 which invited contestants to submit plans for the city's northward expansion. This expansion had become necessary due to terrible overcrowding in the Old Town. Based on a regular geometric scheme around the three streets of Princes Street, George Street and Queen Street the New Town continued to be developed until 1830. It has now been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Copyright Historic Environment Scotland, Aerofilms collection

Find out more information at Historic Environment Scotland.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh