Part of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Continued

Category

Library Item

Item no

3059

Title

Part of the Old Town, Edinburgh, continued

Description

The Old Town area of Edinburgh with St Giles Cathedral visible over the tops of tenement buildings. Horse-drawn carts and people travel along a road beside a large depression in the ground.

Artist / maker

Shepherd, Thomas Hosmer

Engraver

Lacey, S.

Date

1829

Size

11.2 x 17.4 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

'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

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

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