Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 24 on 05/01/2006.

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A glimpse of scott's Edinburgh

Part six of our journey through Scott’s Scotland. Written and photographed by John Hannavy

When Henry Fox Talbot published Sun Pictures in Scotland in 1845 – the first picture book dedicated to the life and works of Sir Walter Scott – he concentrated almost exclusively on Scott’s beloved border country and the Trossachs settings of several of his most popular works.

Despite the importance of Scotland’s capital city, only two images of Edinburgh were included – and one of those was the partly completed Scott Monument.

And yet, Scott retained addresses in the city for much, much longer than he lived at Abbotsford. He was born in College Wynd in the Old Town, a street long since demolished – the approximate location of his birthplace is marked with a plaque in Chambers Street – and with only a short childhood break due to ill-health, the city was his home for at least part of each year for most of his life, as well as the setting for several of his major works.

His knowledge of the city was a key element in several of his books, where intimate experience of the old city ensured his stories were anchored in real locations.

He practised law for more than 40 years – initially having been articled in his father’s chambers – which perhaps explains the number of legal figures in his novels.

Admitted as a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1792, and serving as Depute Sheriff of Selkirkshire from 1799, he developed a detailed knowledge of Scotland’s multi-layered legal system.

As I have said before, one of his strengths was in writing about things, people and places .....

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By John Hannavy

Section : Scottish Landscapes

Page number : 18