Waverley Station from Princes Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

2379

Title

Waverley Station from Princes Street

Description

A view of Waverley Station from Princes street, Edinburgh. Also in view are part of Princes Street Gardens, North Bridge and Waverley Bridge. The spire of the Tron Kirk rises above the skyline. Horse-drawn carriages are on a cobblestone road. The railway booking office has carriages parked outside.

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: "Waverley Station from Princes Street. To the left of the Waverley Stat Booking Office is the station of the Edinburgh Perth and Dundee Railway. From this terminus the trains ran to Granton through the Scotland Street Tunnel."

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

Edinburgh Waverley is the second largest mainline railway station in the UK. There were originally three stations on the site, serving three separate railway companies including the Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway whose trains ran through a tunnel underneath Princes Street and New Town to another Station at Scotland Street. In 1866 North British Railway absorbed the other two companies and proceeded to amalgamate the three existing stations. Construction of this single station, much of which remains, was completed in 1874.

Princes Street is one of the main thoroughfares and shopping areas in Edinburgh. It was created as part of James Craig's New Town development and named in honour of George III's sons. With the exception of St John's Church there is no building on the southern side of Princes Street, allowing spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle and Old Town.

Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens were established on the site of the Nor' Loch which was drained during the 18th century. The park was originally for the exclusive use of the residents of Princes Street, but was opened to the public in 1876. The gardens contain various statues of notable figures, as well as the Ross Fountain and Bandstand and the famous Floral Clock.

The word cobble has been used here to help with searching, an alternative term is sett. Sett stones describe both the type of stone and the method in which they are used.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Railway stations

Transport > Land > Horse and carriages

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