Morocco Land, 1963

Category

Library Item

Item no

21473

Title

Morocco Land, 1963

Description

A man walks past the arcaded front of a new section of housing in the Canongate in Edinburgh. The three storey building has a covered walkway at ground level and joins onto much older tenement buildings.

Artist / maker

Drummond Young

Date

1963

Size

16.2 x 21.0 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

In the 1930s, examination was made of the properties in the Canongate by officials from Edinburgh Corporation and many were assessed as being no longer fit for habitation. By 1937, the buildings were derelict and plans were made to preserve them, but by 1940 work had not begun on reconstruction. In March 1947, it was necessary to demolish part of Morocco Land when the empty tenement began to collapse and in 1952 the architect, Robert Hurd outlined his plans for the redevelopment of the second section of the Canongate to include Morocco Land. By 1958 Morocco Land had been rebuilt with shops on the ground floor and modern flats above, with the figure of the Moor reinstated in its rightful place on the wall. An unusual wooden house-front was incorporated into the façade of the building.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Arches

Business > Service industry > Shops

Furnishings > Ornamentation > Light fixtures

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Canongate

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh