Scope and Contents

"Jack" seems to have been a slater. This unprepossessing Close has associations with General Thomas Dalyell of the Binns, Prince Edwart Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) and David Hume, the philosopher. Note the Calton Jail in the background. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the corresponding glass plate negatives was written by R. Dykes.

Scope and Contents

Probably also Little Jack's Close. The details (marks on bricks, etc.) exactly match those shown on print no Coll-1167/B/27/5/9. Unfortunately the writing on the sign board is illegible in both photographs. A print of the corresponding glass plate negative was exhibited in the "Squalor and Romance" section of Geddes' replacement "Cities and Town Planning Exhibition".

Scope and Contents

Adjacent to Little Jack's Close. "Jack's Land", a block of flats, lay between the "Jack" Closes. Items Coll-1167/B/27/9-11 show an area on the north side of the Canongate. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the corresponding glass plate negatives was written by R. Dykes. A print of the corresponding glass plate negative was exhibited in the "Squalor and Romance" section of Geddes' replacement "Cities and Town Planning Exhibition".

Scope and Contents

Sugar House Close. Stables and brewery, called "Commercial Brewery" on Ordnance Survey map of 1908. South side of the Canongate. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the corresponding glass plate negatives was written by R. Dykes.

Scope and Contents Adam Smith, author of 'Wealth of Nations' lived here from 1778 until his death in 1790. His house is out of sight to the east. The house beyond the washing, Cadell House, was also still standing 1989. North side of the Canongate. A women holding a child stands in the shadow, laundry is strung across the alleyway from the first floors. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the corresponding glass plate negatives was written by Alasdair Geddes. A print of the corresponding...

Scope and Contents Looking south towards Salisbury Crags. The warehouse of Holyrood Brewery is on the right side of the picture. This building appears to be in existence (1989) at the Holyrood Road end of the Close. Part of brewery site about to be redeveloped (1991). Site for the Scottish Parliament building 1998. See Coll-1167/B/27/4/1, entitled "Old Fishmarket Close, High Street" which may have been confused with the photograph of this site. A print from the corresponding glass plate negative was included...

Scope and Contents Reid's Court, from street showing Entrance Gate, north side of Canongate. Notice the well-dressed children on the left, and contrast and compare them with the others in this and subsequent images. This photograph has been taken from the street, and not from the south east corner of the court. It appears to precede the next print, Coll-1167/B/27/5/15. See also the inscription on Coll-1167/B/27/12/5. There has been some confusion, as that inscription probably refers to this image but at some...

Scope and Contents

Reid's Court from within the courtyard. Note that the original of the image was given no number. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the corresponding glass plate negatives was written by Alasdair Geddes.

Scope and Contents Reid's Court from within the court looking north and north-east. A group of children stand at the end of the shadow cast by a building. Previous cataloguers (1990s) have tried to arrange the pictures so that they form a logical sequence, but the order in which they were photographed is almost impossible to establish. As this image shows the east side of Reid's Court, it could have been taken from the south west, but it is uncertain. Handwritten title on the original envelope containing the...

Scope and Contents Reid's Court from within the court. This picture could not have been taken from the south east corner of the court because the photograph has been taken looking towards the east side of the court. A group of children stand at the doorway.Note that, although five original envelopes with the inscription "Reid's Court" have survived, including that for print Coll-1167/B/27/12/5, there are only four correseponding negatives showing this location. Handwritten title on the original envelope...