Edinburgh from Calton Hill

Category

Library Item

Item no

1672

Title

Edinburgh from Calton Hill

Description

A view of Princes Street and the Old Town from Calton Hill, Edinburgh. In the foreground is Calton Goal with its imposing turrets and towers. Waterloo Place runs to the right of it and merges with Princes Street, drawing the eye to the West End and the spire of the Scott Monument. Behind the jail are the arches of the North Bridge. Edinburgh Castle presides over the buildings of the Old Town.

Artist / maker

Inglis, Alexander Adam

Date

1892

Size

12 x 16.4 cm

Type

Glass negative

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by Kirsty Balfour, International Swimmer - "I will never get tired of climbing one of the hills in Edinburgh and admiring the skyline. This image includes many of my favourite buildings - Edinburgh Castle, Scott Monument, St. Giles' Cathedral, Greyfrier' Kirk, the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Art Gallery" Kirsty Balfour.

Calton Gaol was designed by Archibald Elliot as an alternative to Edinburgh's historic Tolbooth. It was located immediately to the south of Regent Road, overlooking Waverly Station. A Bridewell, or house of correction, designed by Robert Adam already stood on the site. The prison was opened in 1817, and closed in 1925 when the limited size of the premises necessitated a move to Saughton, the location of the present day prison. It was demolished, save the Governor's House which still stands, to make way for the Government Buildings of St Andrew's House.

Princes Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Edinburgh. It is notable in that there are no buildings on its southern side. Princes Street gardens now occupy the space on the southern side. The gardens were created on the site of the Nor' Loch after it was drained in the Eighteenth Century.

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 images

Related subjects

Crime and punishment > Crime and punishment facilities > Prisons

Homes > Residential buildings > Castles and palaces

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Roads

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

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