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List of closes on the Royal Mile

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The Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, consisted originally of the main street, now known as the Royal Mile, and the small alleyways and courtyards that led off it to the north and south. These were usually named after a memorable occupant of one of the apartments reached by the common entrance, or a trade plied by one or more residents. 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 [citation needed]. Most slope steeply down from the Royal Mile creating the impression of a herring-bone pattern formed by the main street and side streets when viewed on a map. Many have steps and long flights of stairs.

Part of a model showing the layout of closes off the Royal Mile
Anchor Close

Because of the need for security within its town walls against English attacks in past wars, Edinburgh experienced a pronounced density in housing. Closes tend to be narrow with tall buildings on both sides, giving them a canyon-like appearance and atmosphere.

The Royal Mile comprises five linear, conjoined streets: Castle Hill; Lawnmarket; High Street; Canongate and Abbey Strand. Closes are listed below from west to east, divided between the south and north sides of the street.

This list names closes currently in existence. Since the Council encourages recreation of closes in new developments the list is not static. New buildings traditionally incorporate the name of the close that historically existed on the same site.

Castlehill

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Semple's Close off Castlehill

Castlehill forms the western end of the Royal Mile, running from the Castle Esplanade to the junction of Johnston Terrace.

South

  • Castle Wynd (in two sections, North and South). This connects Castlehill with the Grassmarket via Johnston Terrace. With buildings on only one side, it is not typical of most closes.
  • Old Distillery Close (private / dead end)
  • Boswell's Court (named after an uncle of Dr. Johnson's biographer, James Boswell) (private / dead end)

North

  • Skinner's Close (sign only/ no route remains)
  • Semple's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Jollie's Close (sealed/ private dead end)

Lawnmarket

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Fisher's Close off the Lawnmarket

The Lawnmarket is the section between Johnstone Terrace and George IV Bridge/Bank Street.

South

  • Riddle's Court (dead end)
  • Fisher's Close (public connection to Victoria Terrace)
  • Brodie's Close, named after the family home of Deacon Brodie (dog-leg leading onto Fisher's Close)
  • Buchanan's Close (dog-leg leading onto Fisher's Close)

North

High Street

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The High Street runs from St Giles Street to St Mary's Street, the location of the Netherbow Port, and the limit of the pre-19th century burgh of Edinburgh.

 
Borthwick's Close off the High Street
 
The surface of Marlin's Wynd, one of the suppressed closes of the Royal Mile. It was concealed when built over and rediscovered after excavation in 1974
 
Head of Advocates Close in the High Street
 
Anchor Close in twilight.

South

  • Barrie's Close (dog-leg connecting Parliament Sq. to Old Fishmarket Close)
  • Old Fishmarket Close (public connection to the Cowgate/open to vehicles)
  • Borthwick's Close (leading to Tron Square)
  • Old Assembly Close, location of the original assembly rooms
  • Covenant Close (dead end)
  • Burnet's Close (dead end)
  • Bell's Wynd (leading to Tron Square)
  • New Assembly Close, location of the later assembly rooms
  • Stevenlaw's Close (connecting to Cowgate)
  • Marlin's Wynd (partially preserved and on view under the Tron Kirk), named after the Merlioun family
  • Dickson's Close (sign only, erected 1990)
  • Cant's Close (sign only, erected 1990)
  • Melrose Close (sign only, erected 1990), named for Andrew Durie, Abbot of Melrose Abbey.
  • Toddrick's Wynd (sealed/private)
  • South Gray's Close (connecting to Cowgate/ vehicle access from Cowgate)
  • Hyndford's Close (links to South Gray's Close)
  • Fountain Close (links to South Gray's Close)
  • Tweeddale Court, named after the Marquess of Tweeddale. Home to several publishing houses over the centuries including Oliver & Boyd, The List, Moubray House Publishing and Canongate Books
  • World's End Close (last close before reaching the former site of the town wall)
 
Trunk's Close off the High Street

North

  • Byer's Close (private/ dead end)
  • Advocates Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Roxburgh Close (upper section accessible/ lower section private and blocked)
  • Writer's Close leading to Warriston Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Mary King's Close
  • Craig's Close (accessed only from Cockburn Street, connecting to Market Street).
  • Anchor Close (connecting to Cockburn street)
  • Geddes Entry (private/ dead end)
  • North Foulis Close (private/ dead end)
  • Old Stamp Office Close (private/ dead end)
  • Lyon's Close[1] (private/ dead end)
  • Jackson's Close (connecting to Cockburn Street)
  • Fleshmarket Close (connecting to Market Street via Cockburn Street)
  • Carrubber's Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Bishop's Close (sealed/private dead-end)
  • North Gray's Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Morrison's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Bailie Fyfe's Close (dead end)
  • Paisley Close (dead end)
  • Chalmers' Close (connecting to Jeffrey Street)
  • Monteith's Close (private/ dead end)(sign on ground only)
  • Trunk's Close (accessible but private/ dead end)
  • Baron Maule's Close (private, leads to private garden)

Canongate

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The Canongate is the section from St Mary's Street to the foot of the Royal Mile, and connects to Abbey Strand at Holyrood, which ran through the former Burgh of Canongate.

 
Bakehouse Close off the Canongate

South

  • Gullan's Close (connecting to Holyrood Road)
  • Gibb's Close (sign only/ serves solely as access to a shop)
  • Pirrie's Close (connecting to Chessel's Court)
  • Old Playhouse Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Sugarhouse Close
  • Bakehouse Close
  • Wilson's Court
  • Cooper's Close
  • Crichton's Close
  • Bull's Close (connecting to Holyrood Road)
  • Reid's Close (currently no sign/ connects to Holyrood Road))
  • Vallence's Entry (no sign/ private dead end)
 
White Horse Close off the Canongate, named after the inn from which the Edinburgh-London stagecoach departed. The spacious courtyard allowed the coach to turn.

North

  • Midcommon Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Bowling Green Close (leading to Gladstone's Court)
  • Big Jack's Close (pedestrian access to Sibbald Walk)
  • Old Tolbooth Wynd (vehicle access from Calton Road)
  • Dunbar's Close (leading to a knot garden)
  • Panmure Close (partly sealed over newly built extension)
  • Brown's Court (dead end)
  • Lochend Close (vehicular access from Calton Road)
  • Gladstone's Court (private/ dead end)
  • Reid's Court (the old Canongate manse)
  • Campbell's Close (cranked connection to Calton Road)
  • Brown's Close (dead end)
  • Forsyth's Close (sealed/ private dead end)
  • Galloway's Entry (dead end)
  • White Horse Close (site of a coaching inn; extensively restored)

References

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  1. ^ Sanderson, Elizabeth C. (23 September 2004), Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B. (eds.), "Ramsay, Katherine (1720s–1808), milliner and shopkeeper", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/65566, retrieved 17 December 2022
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