Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

772

Title

Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Description

A busy market scene in the Grassmarket, looking up the rock to Edinburgh castle. People with animals and loaded horses and carts bustle around in the foreground in front of a row of buildings.

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 Grassmarket is a central area situated below Edinburgh Castle. A weekly market was held there from 1477 until 1911. The area continues to be a popular area for socialising. The Grassmarket was also the site of many public executions

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Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Cattle

Animals > Mammals > Sheep

Business > Service industry > Shops

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

(55°56′59″N, 3°11′56″W)

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