What does close mean in Edinburgh?
What does close mean in Edinburgh?
Generically such an alleyway is termed a close /ˈkloʊs/, a Scots term for alleyway, although it may be individually named close, entry, court, or wynd. A close is private property, hence gated and closed to the public, whereas a wynd is an open thoroughfare, usually wide enough for a horse and cart.
What is at the foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh?
The Royal Mile is at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle at its head and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at its foot. Its name comes from its tradition as a processional route for kings and queens for the last 500 years.
Why is it called Mary King’s Close?
Mary King’s Close is a historic close located under buildings on the Royal Mile, in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It took its name from one Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the Close in the 17th century.
What is a Wynd in Scotland?
Definition of wynd chiefly Scotland. : a very narrow street.
What are alleys called in Edinburgh?
close
Most alleys are known by the Scottish term “close.” Some are no more than dimly lighted tunnels where passers-by brush shoulders between walls of ancient cobbles or roughly hewn bricks.
Is the Royal Mile actually a mile long?
It connects Edinburgh Castle (to the west) with the Palace of Holyroodhouse (to the east). Peculiarly, its length which measures 1.81 km is approximately one Scots mile long, which is longer than an English mile but hasn’t been used since the eighteenth century.
Where does the Royal Mile start and end?
Follow the walk by clicking on the map pins or downloading the guides below
| Location: | Edinburgh, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Start point: | Outside Edinburgh Castle, The Esplanade EH1 2NG |
| Finish point: | Scottish Parliament Building, EH99 1SP |
| Keep an eye out for: | The Heart of Midlothian and the World’s End! |
When was Mary Kings Close built over?
Then in 2003, Mary King’s Close was opened up as a visitor attraction once archaeologists and historians had analysed all the evidence they could find to uncover what life had been like for underground Edinburgh’s 17th-century residents.
Did Edinburgh used to be in Midlothian?
Midlothian emerged as a county in the Middle Ages under larger boundaries than the modern council area, including Edinburgh itself – and also known as Edinburghshire until 1921.
What is under the Royal Mile?
Buried deep below ground, this network of narrow alleyways and abandoned houses has been lying beneath the Royal Mile since the 17th century. It’s the source of many a ghostly tale – but who really lived there and how did the street come to be buried underground?
