North Bridge, Calton Hill

Category

Library Item

Item no

6652

Title

North Bridge, Calton Hill from Head of Earthen Mound

Description

Nelson's Monument on top of Calton Hill is clearly visible above Calton Prison and North Bridge in Edinburgh. Houses and other buildings are above and below bridge level. People walk along a road visible to the front of the view.

Artist / maker

Ewbank, John Wilson

Engraver

Lizars, W. H.

Date

1825

Size

20.6 x 26.6 cm

Type

Engraving

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Construction of the Mound was begun in the 1760's by the tailor George Boyd to give him better access to his clients in Edinburgh's New Town from his Old Town shop. Large amounts of waste material from the development of New Town was added to 'Geordie Boyd's Mud Brig' creating a substantial link road. Further more formal development of the Mound begun in 1825 following the foundation of the Royal Institution at its foot.

The original North Bridge was completed in 1772 to provide access from Edinburgh's Old Town to the planned New Town development in the north of the city. It was widened in the 1870's to accommodate increased traffic, and was finally rebuilt between 1894-7 alongside the development at Waverley. Mid way along the bridge there is a memorial to men of the King's Own Scottish Borderers killed in the Boer War. Its even gradient was designed to make it suitable for tramcars.

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

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