Cowgatehead, Grassmarket and part of Candlemaker Row

Category

Library Item

Item no

2381

Title

Cowgatehead, Grassmarket and part of Candlemaker Row

Description

The Grassmarket and Cowgatehead from Candlemaker Row. Part of Edinburgh Castle is visible. Horse-drawn carts, some with sacks, travel along the cobblestone road. A barrel sits in a shop doorway. Washing dries from tenement windows.

Artist / maker

Tunny, James Good

Date

1854

Size

19.9 x 25.2 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

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

The Cowgate runs from its junction with St Mary's Street (formerly St Mary's Wynd) and the Pleasance to the Grassmarket. Cattle were driven along this route when entering Edinburgh from grazing land outside the city. The Cowgate Port was a gateway through the Flodden Wall situated at the street's east end.

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.

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

Business > Service industry > Shops

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

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