Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time: Volume 1
Cambridge Library Collection - Art and Architecture Series

Born in Edinburgh, Daniel Wilson (1816?92) initially pursued an artistic career and spent time in Turner's studio. However, in 1846 he became a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and devoted the rest of his life to archaeology, anthropology and university administration. He was active in the Society's attempts to save historic buildings in Edinburgh, and the city's built environment was the subject of this two-volume 1848 work, which is illustrated with engravings after his own drawings. In Volume 1, Wilson begins by tracing the city's history from earliest times. The latter part of the volume covers local antiquities and traditions, with each chapter looking at a different area of the Old Town. The historical detail, with references, is immense, and Wilson's enthusiasm for his city is evident throughout. His second major work, the landmark Prehistoric Annals of Scotland (second edition, 1863), is also reissued in this series.

Preface; Part I. Historical Associations: 1. Earliest traditions; 2. From the accession of the Stuarts to the death of James III; 3. From the accession of James IV to the battle of Flodden; 4. From the battle of Flodden to the death of James V; 5. From the death of James V to the abdication of Queen Mary; 6. From the accession of James VI to the restoration of Charles II; 7. Historical incidents after the restoration; Part II. Local Antiquities and Traditions: 1. The castle; 2. King's Stables, Castle Barns, and Castlehill; 3. The Lawnmarket; 4. The Tollbooth, Luckenbooths, and Parliament Close.