Symson the printer's house, Cowgate

Category

Library Item

Item no

5

Title

Symson the printer's house, Cowgate

Description

Symson the printer's house on the Cowgate, Edinburgh. The street has many shops with housing above them. The shops include a fish store, furniture and clothing store. Street traders are outside shops. An archway leads to Peter's Pend where a woman talks to a child. Washing can be seen hanging out of a window.

Artist / maker

Smith, Jane Stewart

Date

1868

Size

23.9 x 35 cm

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by Malcolm Fraser, Architect - "The traditionalist lobby will sometimes try to tell us that all old buildings have 'vertically orientated openings in masonry walls'. Mediaeval, timber-framed buildings give the lie to this; but, sadly, if we were to propose a building today as lively, and true to its construction, as Symson's Land, we would risk being greeted with howls of derision." Malcolm Fraser.

Symson the printer's house was situated on the Cowgate in Edinburgh. The building probably dated from the 16th century, and was removed in the 19th century. It was the premises of Andrew, or Andro Symson, a former Church of Scotland minister who came to Edinburgh and established a printing house here in the late 17th century.

The Cowgate runs from its junction with St Mary's Street (formerly St Mary's Wynd) and the Pleasance to the Grassmarket. Cattle were driven along this route when entering Edinburgh from grazing land outside the city. The Cowgate Port was a gateway through the Flodden Wall situated at the street's east end.

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Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Roofs

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Business > Service industry > Shops

People > Adults > Men

People > Adults > Women

People > Commercial activities > Street traders

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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