St Giles' Church, County Hall and Lawn Market

Category

Library Item

Item no

18646

Title

St Giles' Church, County Hall and Lawn Market, High Street, Edinburgh

Description

A busy market is taking place on the Lawnmarket in front of St Giles' Kirk. St Giles' has large stained glass windows and a tall steeple. The spire of the Tron Kirk can be seen further down the streeet. In the Lawnmarket stalls have been set up on tables on the road selling cloth. The scene is crowded with people inspecting the wares at market and walking along the road.

Artist / maker

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer

Engraver

Tombleson, W

Date

1829

Size

10.5 x 16.0 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image comes from 'Modern Athens', a book of engravings based on drawings by Thomas Shepherd published in 1829. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries Edinburgh was growing rapidly. The popular neoclassical architectural style of the time was inspired by the ancient Greeks and Romans, and Edinburgh was nicknamed 'Athens of the North'. Shepherd's engravings celebrate the beauty of Edinburgh and show many notable buildings and streets both within the city, and further afield.

St Giles Kirk, often called St Giles Cathedral, is situated on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. A church has stood on the site since around 1120-1140, but little remains of the 12th century structure. St Giles played an important part in the Scottish Protestant Reformation with John Knox serving as its minister from 1560 until his death in 1572. The building has experienced significant additions, alterations and restorations during its history. The Thistle Chapel, a private chapel for the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, was added between 1909-11.

Lawnmarket is the section of Edinburgh's Royal Mile running from its junction with Johnston Terrace to where it meets George IV Bridge. Regular markets were held in this area until the late 18th century.

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Animals > Mammals > Dogs

Business > Service industry > Markets

Business > Service industry > Shops

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Headdresses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Dresses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Jacket

Clothing and dress > Garments > Trousers

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

Religion > Religious facilities > Protestant churches

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