St. Andrews. The West Port 1843 - 1847

This is “St. Andrews. The West Port,” a calotype photograph created by David Hill and Robert Adamson sometime between 1843 and 1848. This image of the West Port in St. Andrews, Scotland, comes from the early days of photography, a time of great social and technological change. Hill and Adamson captured a specific moment in time. They were among the first to use photography as a means of social documentation, particularly in Scotland. What makes this image so evocative is its ability to capture the weight of history, etched in stone, while also hinting at the lives and stories that have passed through this gate. Consider the implications of representing a historical structure like the West Port. Was it an attempt to preserve a vanishing past? Or was it a reflection on the present and future of Scottish identity? This image is a reminder of photography's power to shape our perceptions of history and cultural heritage.