Floodlit Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

1961

Title

Flood lighting of Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Description

Edinburgh Castle is floodlit against the night sky. The half-moon battery can be seen to the right. The dark silhouettes of some of the Grassmarket buildings can be seen in the foreground.

Artist / maker

Valentine, James

Date

1931

Size

8.7 x 13.9 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle is perhaps the city's most famous landmark. It stands on top of the remaining core of an extinct volcano. Excavations suggest the site was inhabited by Bronze Age man as early as 900 BC, and was fortified by Iron Age man roughly 2000 years ago. The oldest part of the present day Castle is St Margaret's Chapel, built in the early 12th century. 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. It has been the site of many public executions. A weekly market was held there from 1477 until 1911. The Grassmarket continues to be a popular area for socialising.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh