Castle from Greyfriars Churchyard

Category

Library Item

Item no

3525

Title

Castle from Greyfriars Churchyard

Description

Edinburgh Castle as seen from Greyfriars Churchyard. In the graveyard are headstones some with stone carvings. Ivy covers a wall that runs through the cemetery.

Artist / maker

Keith, Thomas

Date

1856

Size

25 x 27.8 cm

Type

Paper negative

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Greyfriars Kirkyard, or Graveyard, is the burial ground of Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh. It houses the graves of many notable historical figures including the poet Allan Ramsay, the geologist James Hutton and the architect William Adam. In 1679 several hundred Covenanters were imprisoned in the Kirkyard awaiting trial.

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

Architecture > Monuments > Gravestones

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Graveyards

(55°56′49″N, 3°11′33″W)

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