Edinburgh Castle from the Esplanade

Category

Library Item

Item no

677

Title

Edinburgh Castle from the Esplanade

Description

The sun is setting behind Edinburgh Castle with its crenellated walls, watchtowers, garderobes and gun loops. In front of the arched entrance way is a wooden fence which has lamps at one side. A stone wall on the opposite side heads downhill. In the foreground two children are fighting. Other people are in the picture including a group of soldiers.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1817

Size

17 x 25 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle stands on a volcanic plug. It has been used as a fortification since the Iron Age. The oldest part of the present day castle is St Margaret's Chapel which dates from 1093. The Castle holds the Honours of Scotland and more recently has welcomed back the Stone of Scone otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny.

The Castle Esplanade is an area of open ground between Edinburgh Castle and Castlehill. The area is used for the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Find out more about visiting Edinburgh Castle at Historic Environment Scotland.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

People > Children > Children playing

People > Military activities > Soldiers

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

(55°56′58″N, 3°11′57″W)

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