Cowgate - Cowan's Close - Capital Collections

Category

Library Item

Item no

19092

Title

Cowgate - Cowan's Close

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1854

Size

25.3 x 17.4 cm

Type

Pencil work

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Cowgate - Cowan's Close was situated on south side a little east of George IV Bridge.

The Cowgate runs from its junction with St Mary's Street (formerly St Mary's Wynd) and the Pleasance to the Grassmarket. Cattle were driven along this route when entering Edinburgh from grazing land outside the city. The Cowgate Port was a gateway through the Flodden Wall situated at the street's east end.

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 > Stairways

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Furnishings > Equipment > Washing lines

People > Adults > Women

Places > Edinburgh areas > Cowgate

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Drainpipes

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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