Neither King nor Kaiser

A few hundred yards to the south of Edinburgh Castle lies the Cowgate district of Edinburgh. Today it is a mixed area of modern flats, older buildings, bars and a smattering of restaurants. 150 years ago the area was very different indeed. Doctor Stark, a medical Officer, visited the area in 1847 and described it in the following terms ‘The inhabitants of the Cowgate consist of labourers, porters, carters, scavengers and paupers...