Views in Edinburgh and its vicinity; . vocation with honour to himself, and comfort to others, in one of these protrudifig abodes 3 little imagining how liable the thread of his existence was to be snapped asunder by every wind that blew. It happened on a windy day, that the personage referred to was standing on the pavement of the West Bow, and a friend accosting liim, expressed his wonder that he should WEST BOW, have built his house on such an airy foundation, or at allevents should reside in it in its then perilous condition. Theamazed tailor turning up his ghastly countenance, for the fir
Views in Edinburgh and its vicinity; . vocation with honour to himself, and comfort to others, in one of these protrudifig abodes 3 little imagining how liable the thread of his existence was to be snapped asunder by every wind that blew. It happened on a windy day, that the personage referred to was standing on the pavement of the West Bow, and a friend accosting liim, expressed his wonder that he should WEST BOW, have built his house on such an airy foundation, or at allevents should reside in it in its then perilous condition. Theamazed tailor turning up his ghastly countenance, for the firsttime espied his hitherto unexplored habitation, and beingseized with all the panic of twenty-eight years at one time,betook himself to a safe and more substantial residence. It was through the West Bow, that the wretched Porteouswas dragged to the Crass Market, in the year 1736, where thasentence of death which had been remitted by royal authority,vpas executed upon him by an infuriated mob, with all thedeliberation of a lawful WHITE HORSE CLOSE. This close or yard is now called Davidsons land, after thename of the present proprietor ; it is on the north side ofcanongate, a little to the west of the old girth cross, or cross ofthe sanctuary, where was executed the unfortunate duke ofMontrose. According to the tradition of the neighbourhood,this close once formed the stable yard of queen Mary, and theprincipal part of its buildings have subsequently been occupiedas an inn. Many alterations, however, must have taken placehere since the times alluded to, and it is very probable, thatthe buildings seen in the annexed view, were erected in theyear 1(?83, as upon the large window above the steps, seen inthe centre of the print, that date is inscribed. This Close affordsa curious specimen of the ancient architecture of principal building shews a regularity of design, vvhichindicates that it was erected for no common purpose ; thewhole close is now let out in a va
Size: 1455px × 1717px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookidviewsin, bookpublisheretcetc, bookyear1820
