Calton Hill taken from the old Physic Gardens

Category

Library Item

Item no

2374

Title

Calton Hill taken from the old Physic Gardens

Description

A view of Calton Hill in Edinburgh. Calton Gaol, the Dugald Stewart Monument, the Observatory, Nelson's Monument and the National Monument can also be seen. An obelisk stands beside the prison. In the lower ground are railway wagons in a yard. There are also warehouses and other buildings as well as housing. A horse-drawn cart is in the yard.

Artist / maker

Tunny, James Good

Date

1854

Size

19.9 x 25.2 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Annotation on page reads: "Calton Hill taken from the old Physic Gardens. The range of houses now demolished stretching from the Regent Arch to the North Back of the Canongate was known as the Low Calton."

J. G. Tunny, Member of the Photographic Society of Scotland. This work exhibited in the first annual exhibition, 1856. Edinburgh.

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

Calton Gaol was designed by Archibald Elliot as an alternative to Edinburgh's historic Tolbooth. It was located immediately to the south of Regent Road, overlooking Waverly Station. A Bridewell, or house of correction, designed by Robert Adam already stood on the site. The prison was opened in 1817, and closed in 1925 when the limited size of the premises necessitated a move to Saughton, the location of the present day prison. It was demolished, save the Governor's House which still stands, to make way for the Government Buildings of St Andrew's House.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Architecture > Monuments > Obelisks

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Railway

Transport > Land > Rolling stock

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