Grassmarket
Encyclopedia
The Grassmarket is an historic market square
in the Old Town
of Edinburgh
, Scotland
.
In relation to the rest of the city the area is a hollow, well below surrounding ground levels.
with the castle dominating views northwards from the space. It adjoins the Cowgate
to the east, the West Bow (leading to Victoria Street) to the north-east, King's Stables Road to the north-west and the West Port
to the west. Leading off the Grassmarket on its south-west corner is The Vennel, on the east side of which can still be seen some of the best remaining parts of the Flodden and Telfer city walls.
It forms part of the main east-west vehicle arteries through the city centre.
The Grassmarket was, from 1477 to 1911, one of Edinburgh's main market
s for horse and cattle. It was also a setting for public executions.
A popular story in Edinburgh is that of Maggie Dickson, a fishwife from Musselburgh
who was hanged in the Grassmarket in 1728 for murdering her own baby. After the hanging, her body was taken back to Musselburgh in a coffin. However, on the way there she awoke. Under Scots Law she had served her punishment. Only later were the words "until dead" added to the sentence of hanging. It was also to some extent seen as divine intervention
, and so she was allowed to go free. In later life (and legend) she was thereafter referred to as Half-Hangit Maggie. There is now a pub named after Maggie situated on the Grassmarket.
For most of its history the Grassmarket was one of the poorer areas of the city. This was reflected in a number of hostels (including the Salvation Army
) for the homeless which existed here until the 1980s. From the 1980s property prices started to rise sharply.
The area is, and always has been, dominated by a series of public houses. In recent years many have become more family-friendly, and include dining areas. The council has recently further encouraged this to spill onto the pavements, giving a more European atmosphere to the space.
. Many students live in the Grassmarket, though its openness (due to the large market space) and proximity to the centre of town now tend to increase house prices.
Most buildings are Victorian but some, such as the White Hart Inn and its encompassing tenement are early 18th century. Several modern buildings disrupt the unity of the otherwise old streetscape.
The "shadow" of a gibbet was added in dark paving on the former gallows site (next to the Covenanters' monument).
The line of the Flodden Wall was also delineated at the west end of the Grassmarket, linking from The Vennel to the newly created Granny's Green Steps.
Market square
The market square is a feature of many European and colonial towns. It is an open area where market stalls are traditionally set out for trading, commonly on one particular day of the week known as market day....
in the Old Town
Old Town, Edinburgh
The Old Town of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the medieval part of the city. Together with the 18th-century New Town, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings....
of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
In relation to the rest of the city the area is a hollow, well below surrounding ground levels.
Location
The Grassmarket is located directly south-east of Edinburgh CastleEdinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
with the castle dominating views northwards from the space. It adjoins the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
to the east, the West Bow (leading to Victoria Street) to the north-east, King's Stables Road to the north-west and the West Port
West Port, Edinburgh
West Port is a street in Edinburgh's Old Town, Scotland, located just south of Edinburgh Castle. It runs from Main Point down to the south west corner of the Grassmarket...
to the west. Leading off the Grassmarket on its south-west corner is The Vennel, on the east side of which can still be seen some of the best remaining parts of the Flodden and Telfer city walls.
It forms part of the main east-west vehicle arteries through the city centre.
History
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
s for horse and cattle. It was also a setting for public executions.
A popular story in Edinburgh is that of Maggie Dickson, a fishwife from Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
who was hanged in the Grassmarket in 1728 for murdering her own baby. After the hanging, her body was taken back to Musselburgh in a coffin. However, on the way there she awoke. Under Scots Law she had served her punishment. Only later were the words "until dead" added to the sentence of hanging. It was also to some extent seen as divine intervention
Divine Intervention
Divine intervention is a term for a miracle caused by God's/a god's active involvement in the human world.Divine Intervention may also refer to:*"Divine Intervention", a 1991 song on Matthew Sweet's album Girlfriend....
, and so she was allowed to go free. In later life (and legend) she was thereafter referred to as Half-Hangit Maggie. There is now a pub named after Maggie situated on the Grassmarket.
For most of its history the Grassmarket was one of the poorer areas of the city. This was reflected in a number of hostels (including the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
) for the homeless which existed here until the 1980s. From the 1980s property prices started to rise sharply.
The area is, and always has been, dominated by a series of public houses. In recent years many have become more family-friendly, and include dining areas. The council has recently further encouraged this to spill onto the pavements, giving a more European atmosphere to the space.
Architecture
The old market area is surrounded by pubs, clubs, local retail shops, and two large Apex HotelsApex Hotels
Apex Hotels Ltd is an operator of four star hotels, owned by former accountant Norman Springford and his family.Based in Edinburgh, the company operates seven hotels in the United Kingdom.-Hotel Locations:...
. Many students live in the Grassmarket, though its openness (due to the large market space) and proximity to the centre of town now tend to increase house prices.
Most buildings are Victorian but some, such as the White Hart Inn and its encompassing tenement are early 18th century. Several modern buildings disrupt the unity of the otherwise old streetscape.
Modern developments
The Grassmarket was re-developed in a 2008 project (carried out 2009/2010) costing £5 million. Measures aiming to make the area more pedestrian-friendly included the extension of pavement cafe areas and the creation an "events zone".The "shadow" of a gibbet was added in dark paving on the former gallows site (next to the Covenanters' monument).
The line of the Flodden Wall was also delineated at the west end of the Grassmarket, linking from The Vennel to the newly created Granny's Green Steps.