Parliament Square in the rain

Category

Library Item

Item no

3307

Title

Parliament Square in the rain

Description

Rain drops form large puddles in Parliament Square, Edinburgh. Water pools around the stone base of the statue of King Charles II astride a horse. To its right stands St Giles Cathedral and to its rear the columns and arches of Parliament House.

Artist / maker

Malcolm, George

Date

1930

Size

24.6 x 19.6 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

A statue of Charles II on horseback stands in Parliament Square. It was erected in 1685.

Parliament Square in Edinburgh is situated immediately to the north of the former Parliament House, now home to the Court of Justiciary and the Court of Session. It was formed along with Parliament House around 1640 on the kirkyard of St Giles. This burial ground, which largely fell out of use in the mid sixteenth century, is the resting place of the prominent religious reformer John Knox. The appearance of the buildings surrounding the square was substantially altered in the 19th century by the addition of frontages designed by Robert Reid.

Parliament House stands immediately to the south of St Giles Kirk. It was constructed between 1632-40, at Charles I's instruction, to house the Scottish Parliament. It continued in this role, with the interruption of Cromwell's interregnum, until the Act of Union in 1707. It now houses the Court of Session. The original frontage of the building is concealed behind an early 19th Century façade designed by Robert Reid. Inside the building the original Parliament Hall is notable for its oak hammerbeam roof and a large stained glass window.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Natural phenomena > Weather > Rain

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

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