Advocate's Close, High Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

9533

Title

Advocate's Close, High Street

Description

A narrow close in Edinburgh's Old Town with tall tenement buildings on either side. Light can be seen at the end of the close where the alleyway meets the main street. Streetlamps are attached to the walls of the building, and many doors and windows open onto the close.

Artist / maker

Burns, Archibald

Date

1868

Size

10.8 x 8.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by Gavin MacDougall, Director of Luath Press -
"An image that captures the atmosphere of Edinburgh's Old Town, you can almost hear someone shouting gardeloo!" Gavin MacDougall.

Advocate's Close runs steeply downhill from the High Street in Edinburgh, opposite St Giles Kirk, to Cockburn Street. It takes its name from Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, Lord Advocate of Scotland between 1692-1709, and 1711-1713, who was resident here. It had also been home to his father Sir James Stewart of Coltness, Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Advocate's Close lost its lower section in the construction of Cockburn Street, and its west side was demolished in the 1880's. Despite this it remains one of the prettiest closes in Edinburgh's Old Town.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

(55°57′0″N, 3°11′28″W)