Head of West Bow, 1868. Photograph by Archibald Burns (1831–1880).
Medium: albumen print Publication: Archibald Burns, Picturesque “Bits” from Old Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas, Edinburgh, 1868, pg 10 Helmut Gernsheim, Incunabula of British Photographic Literature, 1839-1875, Scolar Press, London, 1984, pg 62 Other Collections: Princeton Graphic Arts Collection, National Galleries of Scotland Notes: Archibald Burns was a photographer active in Edinburgh between 1858 and his death in the 1880. He provided photographs for the tourist trade and to illustrate books. The text in Picturesque "Bits" from Old Edinburgh (1st ed. 1868) emphasizes the architectural history of Scotland and the importance of photography in preserving the knowledge of fading vernacular styles and ends with a questions regarding the future of Scottish architecture. In 1871 he was appointed by the Edinburgh Improvement Trust to document an over-crowded slum area of the city after the buildings had been demolished in February 1871. (source: Luminous Lint). This view looks down the down the Royal Mile towards Holyrood. The photograph has been taken from the foot of Castle Hill, part of the Royal Mile, beside Tolbooth St John's Church. St Giles Church can be seen in the background, on the left of the picture. West Bow was once the main route to Edinburgh Castle from the south. It was a steel slope leading up the hill from the Grassmarket to Edinburgh Castle. With the building of George IV Bridge and Victoria Street, there was no longer any need to negotiate the steep upper section of West Bow. (source: EdinPhoto).
Size: 2650px × 3628px
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Photo credit: © Archive Farms. Inc / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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