Edinburgh Castle

Category

Library Item

Item no

503

Title

Edinburgh Castle from Greyfriar's Churchyard, 6th July 1825

Description

Three people sit on a tomb amongst the other gravestones in Greyfriar's Churchyard in Edinburgh. A wall over which the roofs of houses can be seen borders the burial ground. Rising above all of this are the battlements and buildings of Edinburgh Castle on the rocky ground nearby.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1825

Size

37 x 27 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edinburgh Castle stands on a volcanic plug. It has been used as a fortification since the Iron Age. The oldest part of the present day castle is St Margaret's Chapel which dates from 1093. The Castle holds the Honours of Scotland and more recently has welcomed back the Stone of Scone otherwise known as the Stone of Destiny.

Greyfriars Kirkyard is the burial ground of Greyfriars Kirk, which takes its name from the Franciscan monastery founded here in 1447. It houses the graves of many notable historical figures including the poet Allan Ramsay, the geologist James Hutton and the architect William Adam. The Martyr's Monument stands as a memorial to the Covenanters executed in the nearby Grassmarket.

Greyfriars Kirk is built on the site of the 13th century Grey Friars Monastery. The kirk was the first post Reformation church to be built in Edinburgh in 1620. The National Covenant was signed in Greyfriars in 1638.

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

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Gravestones

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Churchyards

Religion > Religious facilities > Graveyards

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