Drawn from the South Side of the High Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

7318

Title

Drawn from the south side of the High Street about 13 paces west from the centre of the Old Assembly Close

Description

A view looking through a gap in a section of old stone houses and tenements in Edinburgh's Old Town. In the centre stand the ruined walls of tenements which have been destroyed by fire.

Artist / maker

Somerville, Daniel

Date

1825

Size

23.1 x 28.1 cm

Type

Wash drawing

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Item is dated 21st September 1825.

This drawing is annotated to show the east and west sides of Old Assembly Close (to the left), the gutters between the east back of Borthwick's Close and the west back of the Assembly Close (bottom left) and the west side of Borthwick's Close (bottom right). A further annotation notes that 'Borthwick's Close was arched from no. 1. to 2.'. These numbers can be seen in the bottom right of the drawing.

The Great Fire of 1824 broke out in Old Assembly Close. It burnt for four days, destroying two tenements and the Tron Kirk. It killed 11 residents and two firemen from the recently formed Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment. Four hundred people were left homeless.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Events > Disturbances > Fires

Homes > Derelict buildings and excavation sites > Ruins

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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