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Canongate KirkHeritagePhoto Wikimedia Commons

Canongate Kirk

United Kingdom

9 story sections

Alternatively, visit the Canongate Kirkyard cemetery, which dates back to the 17th century. Rest assured, there is no staged gimmickry, monster masks or made-up stories on this tour.

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Canongate Kirk and Kirkyard

    Welcome to the historic precinct of Canongate, a magnificent thoroughfare that constitutes the lower section of Edinburgh's world-renowned Royal Mile. As we stand upon these uneven, time-worn cobblestones, it is absolutely…

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  2. 2The Dutch Gable Facade and the Bronze Poet

    Before we cross the threshold into the sanctuary, let us take a moment to carefully analyze the exterior architecture of Canongate Kirk and the fascinating sculptural presence that guards its approach. Standing on the pavement,…

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  3. 3The Royal Sanctuary and the Poet's Observation

    Stepping inside the Canongate Kirk, the immediate sensation is one of profound, enveloping quiet, a stark and welcome contrast to the ceaseless, energetic din of the Royal Mile outside. The interior of the Kirk is remarkably…

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  4. 4Entering the Kirkyard of the Great and Good

    Exiting the bright sanctuary of the Kirk, we now transition into the profoundly atmospheric grounds of the Canongate Kirkyard. The shift in sensory experience is immediate and striking. …

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  5. 5The Resting Place of Adam Smith

    We now arrive at a monument of immense global significance. As we stand before this imposing, weathered stone structure, we are in the presence of the final resting place of Adam Smith, arguably one of the most consequential…

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  6. 6The Tragic Grave of Robert Fergusson

    Continuing our journey through the shadows of the Kirkyard, we arrive at a monument that tells one of the most heartbreakingly tragic stories in the annals of Scottish literature. This is the resting place of Robert Fergusson,…

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  7. 7The Resting Place of Agnes Maclehose (Clarinda)

    Let us shift our focus to a quieter, more intimate corner of the Kirkyard to examine a story of intense, thwarted romance that forever altered the landscape of Scottish poetry. Before us lies the modest grave of Agnes Maclehose. …

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  8. 8The Vault of David Rizzio

    For our final specific stop within the Kirkyard, we must delve significantly further back in time, leaving the polished intellectualism of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment for the brutal, bloody, and politically treacherous…

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  9. 9Closing

    As we conclude our extensive analytical journey and slowly make our way back toward the imposing wrought-iron gates of the Kirkyard, it is vital to pause and synthesize the extraordinary density of history we have just traversed.…

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What is Canongate Kirk?

Canongate Kirk is a place in United Kingdom with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationUnited Kingdom
TypeHeritage
Story sections9
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates55.9517, -3.1793
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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