The Regent Bridge

Category

Library Item

Item no

18666

Title

The Regent Bridge

Description

The Regent Bridge is a large archway between two buildings which crosses over the street below. A horse drawn cart makes its way along the street. A man is sat on a seat on the road talking to a woman.

Artist / maker

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer

Date

1829

Size

9.9 x 6.7 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.

Regent Bridge was designed by the architect Archibald Elliot, and built between 1816 and 1819 to improve access to central Edinburgh from the London Road approach. Robert Stevenson was the engineer for the project. The Bridge spans a ravine between Calton Hill and Princes Street. The road which it carries was named Waterloo Place to commemorate the great battle of 1815.

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Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Horses

Architecture > Architectural features > Arches

Architecture > Architectural features > Balustrades

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

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