The Unique Collection
An accurate portrayal of Scotland’s Major Cities in Landscape, views of Edinburgh and Glasgow at present


City of Edinburgh from Princes Street looking South

This is perhaps one of the best known views of the City dominated by the 200 ft. high Sir Walter Scott Monument completed in 1846.
In the background, a span of the North Bridge can be seen, built in 1763 to link the Old Town in the South with the New Town to the North. In front of this stands the Waverly Bridge forming yet another link between the old and the new.

Continuing further up, the crown steeple of St. Giles in the High Street can be seen on the skyline.

To the left of centre stands the Bank of Scotland which received its charter in 1695. This building was completed in 1806.

Centrally positioned, at the top of the Mound, is the Gothic building of the Church of Scotland, overlooking Princes Street Gardens. The gardens were formed out of the Old Nor Loch, an ancient man made moat protecting the north side of the Castle, eventually drained in the late 18th century.

The National Gallery of Scotland completed in 1854 stands in the middle of the gardens with the Royal Scottish Academy built in 1826 situated nearer Princes Street.

Edinburgh Castle, with origins dating back to the 12th century completes this view of Edinburgh.
City of Edinburgh the Old Grassmarket West End (beneath the Castle)

The Grassmarket is situated under the steep cliff surrounding Edinburgh Castle and is one of the cities most well known landmarks, with it’s two hundred and twelve metre long quadrangle.

This was the industrial hub of the old town, a smelly, bustling place of workers surrounded by noisy inns and livestock.

Resident here were the Kings Stables, the meat market, the candlemakers, horse market, and carters quarters. From the Beehive Inn carts left weekly to Dalkeith and West Linton.

The first Black Bull pub was recorded here, in the early 19th Century.

The Beehive Inn was reconstructed in the mid nineteenth century and the original Williamson’s tobacco and snuff manufacturer was incorporated into the building.

At number 32 The White Horse Inn, a plaque honours Robert Burn’s stay during his last visit to Edinburgh in 1791.
City of Edinburgh the Old Grassmarket East End (beneath the Castle)

This was the industrial hub of the old town, a smelly, bustling place of workers surrounded by noisy inns and livestock.

Here at the East End corner, the Grassmarket connects with the steep West Bow which was the principle entrance to the old town from the West.

The gallows were situated near this corner and many criminals were publicly executed here.

The pub in the centre “ The Last Drop” takes its name, not from the canny Scot trying to obtain the last mouthful, but more to the tragic events which took place in the vicinity.

Likewise Maggie Dicksons Pub is named after a harrowing incident which took place at the gallows in 1724.

Maggie Dickson was hanged, and her friends transported the coffin by cart to her home town of Musselburgh. The vibration of the cart on the journey revived her, and when the mourners reached their destination Maggie was sitting up in her coffin.

At the end of the 19th century the gallows were removed, but the adjacent Bow well built in 1681 still stands there.

Next to Maggie Dickson’s Pub is a reminder of the Grassmarket’s past in the form of the Mission Hall, now closed, the publican always fared better than the preacher in the Grassmarket.

City of Edinburgh the Royal Mile, Canongate at the Tolbooth

The Royal Mile is an appropriate description of this street which has been directly linked with the Royalty & Nobility of Scotland.

The “Mile” is correct, as the distance from the Drawbridge of the Castle to the doorway of the Palace of Holyrood House is slightly over a mile.

16th Century Maps show Edinburgh was protected on three sides by the City Wall.

Canongate at the Lower half of the Royal Mile, was then a separate Eastern Burgh. Access was gained through the Netherbow Gate, or Port as it is called in Scotland. The street was named after the Canons of Holyrood who took this Gate when walking from the Castle to their Abbey at Holyrood.

The Tolbooth was the Ancient Seat of Civic Government, situated in the heart of the Burgh of Canongate. The first floor Council Chambers were reached by the external staircase, with the robust prison conveniently situated underneath.

This 16th Century Tolbooth has altered very little since its construction in 1592. A traditional feature of Scots Tolbooths were commanding Turreted Steeples coupled with dressed Stone Façade, indicating wealth and power.

The building adjacent to the Tolbooth was rebuilt in 1957 replacing the old tenements which were known as Bibleland and Shoemakers land.

This street is now a vibrant community comparable to how it was in the eighteenth century, comprising of many shops, businesses and homes for people with a broad range of occupations and interests.
City of Edinburgh the West Bow and Lower Victoria Street

The West Bow was Edinburgh’s Ancient entrance from the West which originally extended from the Lawnmarket near the Castle down to the Grassmarket where the town gallows stood.

This steep section survived the road improvements of 1827, resulting in its present day alignment with Victoria Street.

It housed the Nobles and Aristocrats of the City gradually changing to a noisy bustling area of coppersmiths, tinsmiths and metal beaters.

Fortunately the present five storey buildings have retained their original features.

At number 91-3 Crocketland built in 1705, with its unaltered red ochre harl, straight stone panels and curved gable is a particularily fine example.

Victoria Street is possibly one of the most charming and colourful streets of Edinburgh, with its unique terrace situated above.

It is a comparatively new street built in the late 1820’s to link the Grassmarket at the lower end with George 1V Bridge at the top.

The shops in this area were once described by James Ballantine as dealing in the necessaries of life, homely merchandise, curios and knicknacks with which they were generally crammed to the door.

No better example of Ballantine’s description is to be found at Robert Cresser’s brush shop at number 40, established in 1873.
City of Edinburgh Candlemaker Row at Greyfriars

The Row takes its name from the Candlemakers who were compelled to settle here in 1654 after various fires at their town centre workshops.

Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar, a 19th century building is named after the faithful dog which followed the funeral of his master John Gray in 1858 to Greyfriars Churchyard and lingered near the spot until his death in 1872.

John Gray , a local Police Constable lived at the lower end of Candlemaker Row at the Cowgate. He regularily took this route with his constant companion Bobby to have his supper at number 6 Greyfriars Place.

In the foreground stands the Statue of Bobby erected by Baroness Burdett-Coutes in 1872, dedicated to the fourteen year vigil of the Skye Terrier over his master’s grave.

Adjacent to the pub is Candlemakers’ Hall built in 1722 which at this time was outside the City boundry and considered a safe location for this hazardous occupation

The entire block was restored in 1929. This included the two tenements Henry’s Land and Binny of Nisbet’s Land which had been purchased by the Incorporation of Candlemakers in 1733.

City of Edinburgh the Royal Mile, High Street at John Knox House

John Knox House – This 16th Century House actually belonged to James Mossman, a Goldsmith to Mary Queen of Scots, although Knox did live, and probably died there.

On the lower western façade, Mossman’s coat of arms, a motto, and the initials of Mossman and his wife are still clearly visible.

Adjoining, to the west stands Moubrey House another 16th Century building with a smaller curved forestair and jauntily angled timber attic.

To the east of Knox’s House, on the former site of the Moray Knox church stands the Netherbow Centre which houses The Scottish Story Telling Centre, the Netherbow Theatre and the John Knox House Museum.

The adjacent Victorian tenement block built in 1873 is complimented by the colourful, arched shopfronts underneath.

In front of this building , running across the High Street stood the impressive Netherbow Gate, which was part of the Cities walled defences of the 16th century, it was eventually demolished in 1714.
City of Edinburgh the Royal Mile, Canongate at Huntly House

16th Century Maps show Edinburgh was protected on three sides by the City Wall.

Canongate, at the lower half of the Royal Mile, was then a separate Eastern Burgh. Access was gained through the Netherbow Gate, or Port as it is called in Scotland.

The Burgh was named after the Canons of Hoyrood who took this Gate when walking from the Castle to their Abbey at Holyrood.

Huntly House is a fine example of a restored 16th Century Mansion, taking it’s name from it’s connection with the Marquess of Huntly.

Apart from it’s timber framed triple gables, an interesting feature of the building’s façade are the panels with Latin inscriptions directly above the moulded cornice.

This text led to Huntly House being known as the “speaking house” which is particularly apt as it is now a Museum telling the story of Edinburgh’s past.

A few doors up from Huntly House stands Sugarhouse Close named after an old Sugar Refinery which operated there until 1820. It now houses the quality control of one of Scotlands largest breweries.

At the end of this section stands Cadenheads whisky shop, Scotland’s oldest independent bottler. Since Victorian times William Cadenhead has bottled the single pure product from individually selected casks using local distilleries.
City of Glasgow from the River Clyde looking North

The Bridges spanning the Clyde in this view, are starting upriver from the east –

Albert Bridge – Rebuilt in 1871, leading to Glasgow Cross
A much earlier version of the Bridge was known as the old “ Jile Bridge“

St. Enoch Station Bridge – Rebuilt in 1899, it carried trains to St. Enoch Station. The Station was built in1870 and was demolished to accommodate the tiered, glass shopping mall, in the background to the west of the bridge.

Between the mall and the bridge is the Old Merchant Hall Tower. Built in 1659, this is one of the oldest structures remaining in the City.

Further down river stands The Victoria Bridge rebuilt and opened in 1854, now the oldest of the main City Bridges.

The first pedestrian Suspension Bridge, situated further west was opened in 1853. Initially a charge of one halfpenny was levied for using it.

The next bridge is the Glasgow Bridge rebuilt and opened in 1899, replacing an earlier Telford Bridge of 1836.

Nearby is the Broomielaw, the first Quay in Glasgow, originally built by Walter Gibson in 1688.

In their earlier years, Glasgow owned shipping companies were responsible for taking a significant number of Emigrant Scots to their destinations throughout the World.
City of Glasgow George Square looking South.

George Square was the city’s hotel centre in the early 19th Century, gradually changing to accommodate the fine Victorian Buildings that are present to-day.

The City Chambers were completed in 1890, the result of an award winning design by William Young.

The splendour of the main western façade is continued into the interior, with it’s intricate granite staircase of figured marble and alibaster, colourful mosaics with rooms panelled in mahogany and its large banqueting hall hung with paintings by many of the City’s prominent artists.

On the corner next to the Chambers is a section of “The Merchant City“, an older area, now being regenerated and conserved.

Adjacent, stands the former general post office opened in 1876 and designed by Robert Mathieson. The structure was extended on either side in 1918 to accommodate the sorting office. The Italian façade was continued on to the extended areas. The building was refurbished internally and now provides quality homes for inner city living.

In the centre of the Square stands the Scott Monument erected in 1837.

In the background of the monument stands three office blocks dating from 1870 to 1924.

On the corner to the west side of the Square is the Bank of Scotland Building completed in 1870 by J.T. Rochead.

Further along this block is the Merchants’ House by J. Burnet and opened in 1874. Upper storeys were added in 1909 by the younger J.J. Burnet.