Capital punishment

Beautiful sunny day in Auld Reekie - just the job for a good walk round the city. The tourists are flocking in for the start of Festival time, not to mention the fly-posters, flyer hander-outers, and of course the stars of stage and screen.

I took a fair few photos, but I selected this one because of the location: this is the exact spot where the public executions used to be carried out. Right there where the toddler is sitting in its buggy.

This is Edinburgh's Grassmarket area, and it dates back to the 15th century. One of the infamous 'bodysnatchers' (Burke) met his death at the end of a noose here, witnessed by a crowd of thousands. Hare turned 'Queen's Evidence' and avoided the death penalty.

The Bodysnatchers story