Edinburgh Castle

Category

Library Item

Item no

1807

Title

Edinburgh Castle

Description

A view of Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street Gardens. Walls, some of them crenellated, and watchtowers surround the Castle. In Princes Street Gardens below a large decorative fountain dominates the view. At the top of the fountain a sculpted figure holds aloft an object, below are four seated figures.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1918

Size

13.5 x 8.4 cm

Type

Photograph; Postcard

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.

Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens were established on the site of the Nor'Loch which was drained during the 18th century. The park was originally for the exclusive use of the residents of Princes Street, but was opened to the public in 1876. The gardens contain various statues of notable figures, as well as the Ross Fountain and Bandstand and the famous Floral Clock.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Fountains

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh