Old Town from Princes Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

3034

Title

Old Town from Princes Street

Description

In the view are Edinburgh landmarks that include Princes Street Gardens, Waverley Station and Bridge and the Old Town where the top of St Giles Cathedral can be seen. Buildings such as hotels and newspaper offices are visible as are the glass topped sheds and platforms for trains.

Artist / maker

Wilson, George Washington

Date

1881

Size

17 x 25 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The original Waverley Bridge, a stone arch structure, was replaced during the extensive remodelling of the station in the late 1860's and early 1870's. This second bridge was in turn replaced by the current bridge which was completed in 1896. The vegetable market displaced by the construction of the second bridge was replaced by an indoor site designed by Robert Morham. This was demolished in 1974 and replaced by Waverley shopping centre, later called Princes Mall.

'Old Town' is the general name given to the original mediaeval centre of Edinburgh. It consists principally of the Royal Mile and the streets and closes leading from it, including those previously part of the separate burgh of Canongate. It also includes the Cowgate and the Grassmarket. The restricted size of the Old Town necessitated the construction of multi-storey 'lands' from the 1500's onwards, many of which still exist today. Eventually chronic overcrowding led to expansion of the city northwards past the Nor' Loch and southwards beyond the Flodden Wall. The Old Town area has now been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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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 > Road bridges

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