The Heart of Midlothian, High Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

2837

Title

The Heart of Midlothian, looking up the Lawnmarket

Description

A boy standing beside a lamp post, looks at the Heart of Midlothian in the cobblestone path. A horse-drawn vehicle is partially visible behind a statue nearby. On the High Street shops have canopies over their windows and a horse-drawn tram passes people walking by.

Artist / maker

Patrick, John

Date

1883

Size

15.3 x 20.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The Heart of Midlothian, situated next to the west door of St Giles Cathedral, marks the spot where the Tolbooth stood until its demolition in 1817. The Tollbooth was Edinburgh's administrative centre and prison, and was also the site of many executions. Dislike for this institution was shown by spitting on its step, a habit which persists today at the cobbled heart.

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.

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Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets

Transport > Land > Horse-drawn trams

(55°56′58″N, 3°11′29″W)

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