High School Wynd, Canongate

Category

Library Item

Item no

19134

Title

High School Wynd, Canongate

Description

High School Wynd, looking south from the foot of Blackfriar's Wynd with Cardinal Beaton's house on the left.

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1850

Size

25.1 x 17.5 cm

Type

Pencil work

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

High School Wynd is a short street linking Infirmary Street with the Cowgate. Edinburgh High School was built on what is now called Infirmary Street in 1578. The School moved to Regent Road in 1829, and stayed in those grand premises until moving to Barnton in 1969.

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

Business > Service industry > Shops

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > High Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Drainpipes

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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