Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

5870

Title

Grassmarket - south side, west end, showing foot of Vennel

Description

A stairway cuts between two buildings, one being a hostel the other shops with flats on the upper level. A man is browsing by the window of the chemist, the next shop is a butchers. The stairway forms the thoroughfare known as the Vennel which is in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh.
This is a photograph by a member of the Edinburgh Photographic Society.

Artist / maker

Hamilton, J. R.

Date

1914

Size

11.8 x 9 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The Grassmarket is an open area situated below Edinburgh Castle at the west end of the Cowgate. It was, for many centuries, an important venue for commercial and social activity in the Old Town. A weekly market was held here from the 15th to the early 20th century. It was also the site of many public executions. The Grassmarket continues to be a popular area for socialising, with a large number of pubs and restaurants.

The Vennel is a narrow street in Edinburgh leading from West Port near the Grassmarket to Heriot Place near George Heriot's School. 'Vennel' is a Scots word meaning 'steep lane'.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Stairways

Business > Service industry > Shops

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Walkways

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