Advocate's Close, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

2491

Title

Advocate's Close, Edinburgh

Description

Women are working in Advocates' Close, Edinburgh. One woman has a baby and another is beside a bucket. A lamp is outside the doorway of a tenement building.

Artist / maker

Lockhart, W. E.

Engraver

Brunet-Debaines, Alfred-Louis

Date

1878

Size

14.5 x 24 cm

Type

Etching

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Advocate's Close runs steeply downhill from the High Street in Edinburgh, opposite St Giles Kirk, to Cockburn Street. It takes its name from Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, Lord Advocate of Scotland between 1692-1709, and 1711-1713, who was resident here. It had also been home to his father Sir James Stewart of Coltness, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Advocate's Close lost its lower section in the construction of Cockburn Street, and its west side was demolished in the 1880's. Despite this it remains one of the prettiest closes in Edinburgh's Old Town.

The 'closes' of Edinburgh's Old Town are narrow passages branching off at right angles from the main streets. They provide access to the tenement buildings, and often to small shared courtyards. Many closes also act as shortcuts between Old Town's main streets.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

People > Adults > Women

People > Children > Babies

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Street lights

(55°57′0″N, 3°11′28″W)

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