Advocate's Close, Canongate

Category

Library Item

Item no

19163

Title

Advocate's Close, Canongate

Description

This view looking up towards the High Street was finally demolished in 1884.

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1854

Size

26.2 x 18.2 cm

Type

Pen work; Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Advocate's Close runs steeply downhill from the High Street in Edinburgh, opposite St Giles Kirk, to Cockburn Street. It takes its name from Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, Lord Advocate of Scotland between 1692-1709, and 1711-1713, who was resident here. It had also been home to his father Sir James Stewart of Coltness, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Advocate's Close lost its lower section in the construction of Cockburn Street, and its west side was demolished in the 1880's. Despite this it remains one of the prettiest closes in Edinburgh's Old Town.

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 > Arches

Architecture > Architectural features > Beams

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Walls

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Canongate

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Alleys

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled paths

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