Brodie's Close, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

2482

Title

Brodie's Close, Edinburgh

Description

The tiled roof of a building in Brodie's Court has snow on it. Around this building are tenements with chimneys visible.

Artist / maker

Chrystal, Francis M.

Date

1912

Size

20.6 x 15.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Despite living in the New Town, Stevenson was well acquainted with the shabby charm of Edinburgh's Old Town. The author was known to frequent some of the less respectable establishments in this area, especially during his bohemian university days. This image reflects the tenements, dark closes and narrow wynds characteristic of the Old Town at this time.

The 'closes' of Edinburgh's Old Town are narrow passages branching off at right angles from the main streets. They provide access to the tenement buildings, and often to small shared courtyards. Many closes also act as shortcuts between Old Town's main streets.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Chimneys

Homes > Residential buildings > Tenements

Natural phenomena > Weather > Snow

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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