Edinburgh Castle from the Mound

Category

Library Item

Item no

1820

Title

Edinburgh Castle from the Mound

Description

Edinburgh Castle sits on a rocky outcrop surrounded by walls, some of which are crenellated. Watchtowers and gun loops can also be seen around the battlements. The ground in front of the Castle slopes downwards towards Princes Street Gardens where a path cuts through the grass and surrounding trees. In the distance a large building can be seen behind which two large spires are visible.

Artist / maker

Malcolm, George

Date

1930

Size

20.5 x 25.4 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.

Construction of the Mound was begun in the 1760's by the tailor George Boyd to give him better access to his clients in Edinburgh's New Town from his Old Town shop. Large amounts of waste material from the development of New Town was added to 'Geordie Boyd's Mud Brig' creating a substantial link road. Further more formal development of the Mound begun in 1825 following the foundation of the Royal Institution at its foot.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Princes Street Gardens

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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