Advocate's Close

Category

Library Item

Item no

6866

Title

Advocate's Close, High Street, Edinburgh

Description

The narrow walkway between the tenement buildings of Advocates' Close. A lamp is over the doorway of one of the buildings.

Artist / maker

Burns, Archibald

Date

1870

Size

20.2 x 12.7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The accompanying text in the volume reads:
"28. Advocates Close - demolished in 1884.
Advocates close derives its name from Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, who returned from exile on the landing of the Prince of Grange, and took an active part in the Revolution. Sir James filled the office of Lord Advocate from 1692 until his death in 1713, one year excepted. The house in which he lived and died is at the foot of the close on the west side, immediately before descending a flight of steps that somewhat lessen the abruptness of the steep descent. In 1769 Sir James Stewart, grandson of the Lord Advocate sold the house to David Dalrymple, who when raised to the bench assumed the title of Lord Westhall and continued to reside in the old mansion til his death (in 1784). This ancient alley may be taken as a very good example of a fashionable close in the palmy days of Queen Anne.
The lowest house on the east side directly opposite that of the Lord Advocate, was the residence of the celebrated John Scougal, painter of the portrait of George Heriot, which now hangs in the council room of the hospital. Scougal was a cousin of Bishop Patrick Scougal, and died in 1730. (Wilsons Memorials 2. 9)"

Although Alexander Inglis' monogram appears at the bottom of this photograph, it appears that he is not the artist. The photograph appears in Archibald Burns' 'Picturesque bits of Old Edinburgh' (1868). Inglis' monogram possibly indicates his ownership of the negative.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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