Cowgate

Category

Library Item

Item no

6169

Title

Cowgate

Artist / maker

Geikie, Walter

Date

1830

Size

15 x 17.6 cm

Type

Pencil work

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

From volume:
Showing the spire of Magdalen Chapel

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 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.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets