College Wynd, Cowgate

Category

Library Item

Item no

19080

Title

College Wynd, Cowgate

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1850

Size

26.1 x 18.2 cm

Type

Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

College Wynd in Edinburgh's Old Town was originally known as the Wynd of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Field. It led up from the Cowgate to Kirk o' Field, where Edinburgh University's Old College now stands. The wynd was the birthplace of Sir Walter Scott. Most of the wynd was destroyed during city improvements in the late 19th century.

William Channing's drawings and paintings from the bound volume of his 'Sketches in Edinburgh', give an artist's impression of tenement life in the mid 19th century. His drawings are glimpses into the past down the narrow Closes and alleyways of the Old Town. We see higgledy-piggledy houses and tenements towering skywards, laundry hanging from windows across the walkways and local characters talking in the streets.

Channing's delightful sketches are particularly valued for their representation of the architectural elements and details of buildings and closes now much changed or long since disappeared.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Furnishings > Equipment > Washing lines

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Cowgate

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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