Blackfriars Wynd, Cowgate

Category

Library Item

Item no

19082

Title

Blackfriars Wynd, Cowgate

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1851

Size

25.2 x 17.5

Type

Pencil work; Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Residence of Cardinal Beaton. Corner of Blackfriars Wynd. Now demolished.

Blackfriar's Wynd led from the High Street down to the Dominican priory which stood on the south side of the Cowgate, east of Robertson's Close. This narrow Wynd has since been widened and is called Blackfriar's Street.

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 > Flagpoles

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Cowgate

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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