Engraving from Old & New Edinburgh - published 1890

Trinity College Church

Trinity College Church  -  at its original site in Low Calton

Engraving from 'Old & New Edinburgh' - Trinity College Church

©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

 

Trinity College Church

1780

This engraving of Trinity College Church is after a drawing by Clerk of Eldin in 1780.   The building on the right is part of Trinity College Hospital.  Here is another view of the church.

Trinity College Church was demolished to enable the railway to be built.   It was partially reconstructed many years later, off Jeffrey Street.

 

Question

The church stood in the valley to the south-west of Calton Hill. 

What are the buildings in the background on this engraving?

 

Comments

Thank you to Fred G Anderson who wrote suggesting that the building in the backgrounds might be Trinity Hospital:

Fred wrote:

Low Calton

"Having had a good look at some maps published at the time that the church still existed, it looks as if the church  may have been near the junction of St. Ninian's Row and the north end of Leith Wynd.

I think this is supported by the stone in the wall on the far side of the engraving of St. Ninian's Row which reads 'Low Calton'.  In some maps that is shown as a continuation of St. Ninian's Row and is in the same location as the present Calton Road.

The following is taken from 'Edinburgh 1329-1929' (Oliver and Boyd, 1929) which was published to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the granting of the City's Charter by Robert the Bruce:

Trinity Hospital

"It should be stated at the outset that while there does not now exist any building with the title of 'Trinity Hospital', there have been in times past two buildings which were so named.

One of these was founded by Queen Mary of Guilders during the lifetime of her husband King James II, apparently about the year 1460, and stood at the foot of Leith Wynd on the east side thereof.

The other was erected after the Reformation by the Magistrates and Council, and was a separate building located on the west side of Leith Wynd.

Both were in close proximity to the church known as the Trinity College, and for a time the two buildings co-existed, the one facing the other across the narrow roadway of Leith Wynd."

Trinity Hospital on the north side of the Chapel certainly did back on to St. Ninian's Row. Perhaps it would be best for you to form your own opinion.  It will depend on the angle from the viewpoint."

Fred G Anderson, Edinburgh  July 30 + August 2, 2006

Fred added:

High Calton

I think the street named 'High Calton' would be the present street where Hill and Adamson had their studio.

Family connections with Hill & Adamson

"My wife's great, great grandfather, Robert Bryson, sat for Hill and Adamson and his portrait is one of those in the catalogue published by the National Galleries of Scotland.

I was interested to see the preliminary study for the famous Disruption painting. At the time of the Disruption, my great grandfather was assistant minister to the Rev. Patrick McFarlane, who is portrayed in the act of signing the "Deed of Demission" in Hill's ultimate painting."

Fred G Anderson, Edinburgh  July 30 + August 2, 2006

 

 

 

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