Burt's Close, Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

19183

Title

Burt's Close, Grassmarket

Artist / maker

Channing, William

Date

1850

Size

27.0 x 20.7 cm

Type

Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Burt's Close was situated in the south side of the Grassmarket near the corner of Candlemaker row. It was demolished by the Improvement Act of 1866.

The Grassmarket is an open area situated below Edinburgh Castle at the west end of the Cowgate. It was, for many centuries, an important venue for commercial and social activity in the Old Town. A weekly market was held here from the 15th to the early 20th century. It was also the site of many public executions. The Grassmarket continues to be a popular area for socialising, with a large number of pubs and restaurants.

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

Places > Edinburgh areas > Grassmarket

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Alleys

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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