Castle from George IV Bridge

Category

Library Item

Item no

3531

Title

Castle from George IV Bridge, showing tower of Magdalen Chapel and Assembly Hall

Description

Edinburgh Castle is seen above the rooftops of the Old Town. In the foreground is the square tower and spire of the Magdalen Chapel on the Cowgate. In the background is the gothic spire of the Tolbooth St. John's Church.

Artist / maker

Keith, Thomas

Date

1856

Size

25 x 28 cm

Type

Paper negative

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

George IV Bridge was designed by Thomas Hamilton. It was constructed in 1829-34 to improve access to Edinburgh's Old Town from the rapidly developing Southside. This elevated street runs from the junction of Candlemaker Row and Chambers Street to the Lawnmarket, passing over the Cowgate and Merchant Street. The National Library of Scotland and the Central Public Library stand almost directly opposite each other roughly half way along the street. A memorial statue to Greyfriars' Bobby stands at the south end of the bridge at the junction with Candlemaker Row.

The Magdalen Chapel is situated on the Cowgate in Edinburgh. It was built in 1544 with a bequest made by Michael MacQueen. After the death of MacQueen's wife the chapel passed to the Incorporation of Hammermen, a guild of metalworkers, who decorated the space with their work. It has the only surviving pre-Reformation stained glass in Scotland left 'in situ'. It is now the headquarters of the Scottish Reformation Society.

The Tolbooth Church, otherwise known as Victoria Hall or St John's Highland Tolbooth Kirk, was built in 1842-44 as both a parish church and a meeting place for the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. The General Assembly ceased to use the building when they relocated to 'Assembly Hall' on the Mound in 1929. The Church's congregation left the building in 1979, amalgamating with the congregation of Greyfriars Kirk. The Church fell into disuse but was revived in 1999 as 'The Hub', an information centre, ticket office, and venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Spires

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Homes > Residential buildings > Towers

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Protestant churches

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