Gayfield Square, Edinburgh, north side

Category

Library Item

Item no

4390

Title

Gayfield Square, Edinburgh, north side

Description

View of the north and west sides of Gayfield Square, Edinburgh. The Georgian houses surround a central wooded park on the right. A horse and cart is standing at the side of the cobbled road.

This is a photograph by a member of the Edinburgh Photographic Society.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1912

Size

10.2 x 15 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Gayfield Street and Gayfield Square are located close to the south end of Leith Walk in Edinburgh. They were created shortly after 1783 after the feuing of some of the land attached to Gayfield House (built 1764). The Georgian houses of the square are built round a central park.

Leith Walk in Edinburgh is a notably wide street running from the west side of Calton Hill down to Great Junction Street in Leith. It follows the line of a raised pedestrian walkway which ran along the top of an earthen rampart constructed to defend the city against Cromwell's army in 1650. In 1776 this walkway and the road immediately to its west were combined as a single, modern road. This road, along with North Bridge and Leith Street, provided greatly improved access to Leith from Edinburgh.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Flats

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Broughton

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

Transport > Infrastructure > Street lights

Transport > Land > Horse and carriages

Transport > Land > Horse and carts