Old Town from East Princes Street Gardens

Category

Library Item

Item no

3069

Title

Old Town from East Princes Street Gardens

Description

An atmospheric view of Princes Street gardens. The sun streams through the clouds and silhouettes the Old Town against the sky. A man sits on a bench beneath a tree reading a newspaper and two people walk along the path. A carved stone balustrade lines the path.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1967

Size

16.2 x 20.4 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by John Leighton, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland - "The best way to arrive in Edinburgh is by train. There can be no more dramatic entrance to a city than to climb out of the gloom of Waverley Station to be confronted by the incredible silhouette of Edinburgh's skyline. Here the black and white photograph evokes the contract between old and new, between the organic and the manmade, creating a cinematic effect of mystery in the full glare of sunshine" John Leighton.

Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens were established on the site of the Nor' Loch which was drained during the 18th century. The park was originally for the exclusive use of the residents of Princes Street, but was opened to the public in 1876. The gardens contain various statues of notable figures, as well as the Ross Fountain and Bandstand and the famous Floral Clock.

'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.

Copyright the Scotsman Publications Ltd

Exhibitions with this item

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Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Balustrades

Furnishings > Furniture > Benches

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Trails and paths