The University, South Bridge Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

8983

Title

The University, South Bridge Street

Description

A horse and carriage waits by the entrance to Edinburgh University. Pedestrians are making their way along the pavements of South Bridge, which is lined with street lamps. A man with a handcart is talking to a woman carrying a sack as a dog walks by. In the distance the steeple of the Tron Kirk rises above the other buildings.

Artist / maker

Swarbreck, Samuel Dunkinfield

Date

1837

Size

41.4 x 29.7 cm

Type

Lithograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The construction of Old College, according to Robert Adam's designs, began in 1789. Adams' death and the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars led to the project being halted in 1792. It was recommenced in 1817 by William Playfair, and work was largely completed by the mid 1830's. It was not until 1887 that the final finishing touch, a large dome similar to that in Adam's original design, was put to the building by Robert Rowand Anderson. This dome was topped with a bronze statue the following year. The building is still used by the University of Edinburgh.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Spires

Education > Educational facilities > Universities and colleges

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carriages

(55°56′50″N, 3°11′10″W)

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