Edinburgh: Old Town, Fleshmarket Close 1800s

This illustration vividly captures the atmosphere of Edinburgh’s infamous Fleshmarket Close around the year 1860. Known for its steep, narrow stairs and the butchers who plied their trade there, the Close was a vein of life running through the Old Town.

The Scene: Unlike typical romanticized views of the city, this piece highlights the reality of the era. You’ll see the towering, worn sandstone tenements characteristic of the Royal Mile, towering over the working-class inhabitants below. The scene is alive with detail: from the butcher displaying his wares on a crate to the poor inhabitants of the city gathered in conversation, dressed in period-authentic, ragged attire.