Writers Court

Category

Library Item

Item no

8038

Title

Writers Court

Description

Two barefoot children, a boy and a girl are seen playing on the cobbled street in a dark close, or alleyway, off Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Tall tenements and old houses surround the courtyard where they play.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1965

Size

26.5 x 22.5 cm

Type

Reproduction

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

'Old Town' is the general name given to the original mediaeval centre of Edinburgh. It consists principally of the Royal Mile and the streets and closes leading from it, including those previously part of the separate burgh of Canongate. It also includes the Cowgate and the Grassmarket. The restricted size of the Old Town necessitated the construction of multi-storey 'lands' from the 1500's onwards, many of which still exist today. Eventually chronic overcrowding led to expansion of the city northwards past the Nor' Loch and southwards beyond the Flodden Wall. The Old Town area has now been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

People > Children > Children playing

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Alleys