Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

1908

Title

Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street

Description

Edinburgh Castle sits on a rocky outcrop. Below the Castle are the trees of Princes Street Gardens. In the distance the spire of the Tolbooth Church rises above the Old Town. To the fore is Princes Street, people are walking along the pavement. A car is parked opposite a police box. Further along the road is a large celtic cross and the Church is St Cuthbert's with its double cupolas rising above the partially visible graveyard below them.

Artist / maker

Wyllie, H. D.

Date

1955

Size

11.2 x 16 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.

Princes Street is one of the main thoroughfares and shopping areas in Edinburgh. It was created as part of James Craig's New Town development and named in honour of George III's sons. With the exception of St John's Church there is no building on the southern side of Princes Street, allowing spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh