Edinburgh from Princes Street

Category

Library Item

Item no

723

Title

Edinburgh from Princes Street

Description

Horsedrawn coaches travel along Princes Street, Edinburgh. The road is busy with crowds of people, some of whom stare through metal railings at the recently drained Nor' Loch below. To the left is the North Bridge, lined with buildings and in the background the Old Town with the spire of St Giles Cathedral.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1823

Size

18 x 40 cm.

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

This image has been chosen for the Edinburgh - Past and Present Exhibition by Malcolm Fraser, Architect - "when my folks told me, as a wee boy, that we were going 'into town', the picture that came to mind was not of noisy streets and buildings, but of the Gardens at the heart of our city, set serene between the two great, contrasting city plans of the Old and New Towns. This print shows a moment of transformation, from the cesspit of the Nor Loch to the green heart we have today - a moment perfectly represented by Skene's sun breaking through the clouds." Malcolm Fraser.

Originally created for defensive reasons the Nor' Loch was used as a midden for Edinburgh's Old Town. It became both unpleasant and unhealthy for the city's residents, and was drained in the 18th century. Princes Street Gardens now stand in its place.

Princes Street is one of the main thoroughfares in Edinburgh. It is notable in that there are no buildings on its southern side.

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Related images

Related subjects

Landscape > Land > Hills

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Religion > Religious facilities > Cathedrals

Transport > Infrastructure > Stone bridges

Transport > Land > Carriages

(55°57′4″N, 3°12′4″W)

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