Edinburgh Castle from the Cowgate

Category

Library Item

Item no

1873

Title

Edinburgh Castle from the Cowgate

Description

Edinburgh Castle sits on a rocky outcrop. The half-moon battery has gun loops in its walls. The Castle is surrounded by defensive walls some of which are crenellated. Watchtowers are positioned along the battlements, including the Esplanade. At the bottom of the sloped ground below the Castle is the Grassmarket. There is a car and lorry parked on the street. People are walking along the pavement and the road, some are sitting on steps. Some of the roofs have spires. The large tower, crenellated walls and spire of Magdalen Chapel are to the fore of the picture. A partially derelict building on the corner of the Grassmarket and Cowgate sits amongst the other housing and buildings.

Artist / maker

Malcolm, George

Date

1930

Size

15.5 x 20.8 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

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.

The Cowgate runs from its junction with St Mary's Street (formerly St Mary's Wynd) and the Pleasance to the Grassmarket. It was the route by which cattle were driven into town from outside Edinburgh. The Cowgate Port was a gateway through the Flodden wall (City Wall).

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Edinburgh Castle

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Option	Price
Digital FileElectronic file 72 dpi JPEG	£6.10(inc. VAT 20%)
Digital FileElectronic File 300 dpi TIFF	£31.00(inc. VAT 20%)
You can view and use digital images for personal and educational use. For more information, read our policy on image use. If you wish to use our images for commercial use, please contact us.