Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Category

Library Item

Item no

1877

Title

Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket

Description

Edinburgh Castle sits on a rocky outcrop. The half-moon battery has gun loops in its walls. The Castle is surrounded by defensive walls some of which are crenellated. Watchtowers are positioned along the battlements, including the Esplanade. At the bottom of the sloped ground below the Castle is the Grassmarket. On the cobbled road there are horse-drawn carts and handcarts. There are very few people in the scene. Bordering the road is a pavement which has street lighting along it, also on the pavement are barrels. There are shops with shop front window displays, inns, a tobacco and snuff manufacturer, a warehouse and other establishments. One if the shops has bridles hanging outside while the tobacco and snuff merchant has a carved head above the sign. The bust is wearing a hat.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1880

Size

12 x 18 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.

The word cobble has been used here to help with searching, an alternative term is sett. Sett stones describe both the type of stone and the method in which they are used.

Find out more about visiting Edinburgh Castle at Historic Environment Scotland.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Land > Horse and carts

Option	Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG	£6.10(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF	£31.00(inc. VAT 20%)
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our policy on image use. If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please contact us.