Edinburgh Grassmarket:
 Edinburgh Grassmarket: At it's western end, Cowgate opens out into a much wider, partly cobbled, area called the Grassmarket. The Grassmarket was used as the city's cattle market from 1477 to 1911 and was the main approach from the West to the Old Town of Edinburgh. Presently the Grassmarket is well known for it's idiosyncatic shops, cafe's and, with a collection of pubs along it's length, the Grassmarket has become one of the most popular drinking spots in Edinburgh. The photograph to the left & below shows the grassmarket with the cafe's and restaurants alfresco tables and chairs.
The Grassmarket was also the scene of public hangings and the site of the gallows is now marked by a plaque. Over the centuries it was also the scene of many riots and other disturbances. In 1736 Captain Porteus (of Sir Walter Scott's classic "Heart of the Midlothian") was hanged by a mob. Captain Porteus's troops had fired on a mob trying to free two smugglers about to be hung, killing nine people. When Porteus was granted a legal stay from execution for his deeds, a crowd broke into the Tolbooth (prison) and dragged him out to the Mercat Cross, where they hanged him. According to a contemporary account Porteus was " inflamed with wine and jealousy". The affair has become known as the Porteus Riots and the scene appears in a painting by the historical painter David Wilkes.
 Today the Grassmarket is a delightful area rich in the unexpected: luxurious leather luggage, Scottish silver and goldsmiths, an old-fashioned brush shop, antique prints, stylish raincoats, polished Scottish stones, old books, objects from almost every corner of the world and even fossils off the shelf. You will also find stalls with antiques, clothes, books & rugs. Beside the exclusive antique shops with the beautifully polished furniture you
will find Scotland's kite, juggling, yoyo and circus shop. You will even find Aztec tiles, furniture from south America, jewellery from Nepal lie
cheek by jowl with postcards, pottery and traditional Scottish gifts: and even
more clothes and exotic sweaters.
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