Calton Hill from North Bridge

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

18446

Title

Calton Hill from North Bridge and part of Shakespeare Square

Artist / maker

Begbie, Thomas

Date

1857

Size

16.6 x 14.8 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

City Art Centre

Copyright

The Cavaye Collection of Thomas Begbie Prints ; The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

Original caption: The Calton showing the Nelson Column, the National memorial and the Old Jail which was often taken for the Castle. Old houses now removed are seen in the foreground.
Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.
Calton Gaol was designed by Archibald Elliot as an alternative to Edinburgh's historic Tolbooth. It was located immediately to the south of Regent Road, overlooking Waverley Station. A Bridewell, or house of correction, designed by Robert Adam already stood on the site. The prison was opened in 1817, and closed in 1925 when the limited size of the premises necessitated a move to Saughton, the location of the present day prison. It was demolished, save the Governor's House which still stands, to make way for the Government Buildings of St Andrew's House.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Architectural features > Turrets

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh