West Smith's Close

Category

Library Item

Item no

1735

Title

West Smith's Close

Description

A wooden balcony stands above the entranceway at the corner to old stonebuilt houses. The balcony is blocked off at the bottom with wooden planks. A piece of cloth hangs over this. A brush or broom is in front of the material. A separate handrail lies above. Openings lead off from the balcony. The lower part of a ladder sits above one of these entrances. On the lower part of the close there are lintels above the doorways. A wooden support pole lies at an angle in the main entrance.

Artist / maker

Drummond, James

Date

1879

Size

26.6 x 17.5 cm

Type

Pencil work; 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

Architecture > Architectural features > Balconies

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh