Old Photograph Of Grassmarket And Edinburgh Castle

Old photograph of the Grassmarket And Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland. The Grassmarket is located directly south-east of Edinburgh Castle with the castle dominating views northwards from the space. The Grassmarket was, from 1477 to 1911, one of Edinburgh's main markets 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.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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