Old North Bridge and Calton Hill

Category

Library Item

Item no

3519

Title

Old North Bridge and Calton Hill

Description

A view of the North Bridge probably taken from the Mound, Edinburgh. Under the stone arches of the bridge lies a railyard and in the background is Calton Hill crowned with the Nelson Monument. The Calton Gaol runs around the base of Calton Hill.

Artist / maker

Keith, Thomas

Date

1856

Size

25.2 x 28 cm

Type

Paper negative

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

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

Architecture > Monuments > Obelisks

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Rail yards

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

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