View from Central Public Library

Category

Library Item

Item no

3061

Title

View from Central Public Library

Description

The view from Central Public Library takes in Edinburgh Castle and the surrounding landmarks. Victoria Terrace can be seen and below it the buildings follow the line of Victoria Street. Above then rises the spire of the Tolbooth St John's Church. Rooftops fill the foreground.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1953

Size

19.7 x 25.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Central Public Library is, strictly speaking, located on the Cowgate. It rises up four floors from this level to its main entrance on George IV Bridge. It was designed by George Washington Browne, and built in 1887-90. It was built with money donated by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Central Library acts as the community library for the centre of the city. It also has several subject dedicated sections: the Fine Art Library; Music Library; Scottish Library; Central Reference and the Edinburgh Room.

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.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Protestant churches