List of closes on the Royal Mile
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Old Town of Edinburgh The Old Town ( sco, Auld Toun) is the name popularly given to the oldest part of Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh. The area has preserved much of its medieval street plan and many Scottish Reformation, Reformation-era buildings. Together w ...
,
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
, consisted originally of the main street, now known as the
Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W. M. Gilbert's ''Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century'' (1901), des ...
, 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 , a Scots term for alleyway, although it may be individually named close, entry, court, or
wynd In Scotland and Northern England, a wynd () is a narrow lane between houses. The word derives from Old Norse ''venda'' ("to turn"), implying a turning off a main street, without implying that it is curved. In fact, most wynds are straight. In m ...
. 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 . 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. 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

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

The Lawnmarket is the section between Johnstone Terrace and
George IV Bridge George IV Bridge is an elevated street in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is home to a number of the city's important public buildings. History A bridge connecting the Royal Mile to the south was first suggested as early as 1817, but was first p ...
/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 William Brodie (28 September 1741 – 1 October 1788), often known by his title of Deacon Brodie, was a Scottish cabinet-maker, deacon of a trades guild, and Edinburgh city councillor, who maintained a secret life as a housebreaker, partly for ...
(dog-leg leading onto Fisher's Close) *Buchanan's Close (dog-leg leading onto Fisher's Close) North *Mylne's Court, built by Robert Mylne *James Court (signed as West Entry, Mid Entry, East Entry) * Lady Stair's Close *Wardrop's Close


High Street

The High Street runs from St Giles Street to St Mary's Street, the location of the
Netherbow There have been several town walls around Edinburgh, Scotland, since the 12th century. Some form of wall probably existed from the foundation of the royal burgh in around 1125, though the first building is recorded in the mid-15th century, whe ...
Port, and the limit of the pre-19th century burgh of Edinburgh. South *Barrie's Close (dog-leg connecting Parliament Sq. to Old Fishmarket Close) *Old Fishmarket Close (public connection to the
Cowgate The Cowgate (Scots language, Scots: The Cougait) is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about southeast of Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street is part of the lower level of Edinburgh's Old Town, Edinburgh, ...
/open to vehicles) *Borthwick's Close (leading to Tron Square) *Old Assembly Close, location of the original
assembly rooms In Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, assembly rooms were gathering places for members of the higher social classes open to members of both sexes. At that time most entertaining was done at home and there were ...
*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 Andrew Durie (died 1558), bishop of Galloway and abbot of Melrose, was the son of John Durie of Durie in Fife, and brother to George Durie, abbot of Dunfermline and archdeacon of St. Andrews. Biography Early career and abbacy of Melrose Bot ...
, 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 Marquess of Tweeddale (sometimes spelled ''Tweedale'') is a title of the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1694 for the 2nd Earl of Tweeddale. Lord Tweeddale holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Tweeddale (created 1646), Earl of Gifford (1694), ...
. Home to several publishing houses over the centuries including Oliver & Boyd, The List, Moubray House Publishing and
Canongate Books Canongate Books (trading as Canongate) is an independent publishing firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is named after the Canongate area of the city. It is most recognised for publishing the Booker Prizewinner ''Life of Pi''. Canongate was n ...
*World's End Close (last close before reaching the former site of the town wall) North *Byer's Close (private/ dead end) *
Advocates Close Advocates Close is a narrow and steep alley in Edinburgh of medieval origin, redeveloped in the early 21st century. With a multiplicity of steps it is not accessible to disabled persons. The close leads from Market Street at the foot of Cockburn ...
(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 (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

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. 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) 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 A knot garden is a garden of formal design in a square frame, consisting of a variety of aromatic plants and culinary herbs including germander, marjoram, thyme, southernwood, lemon balm, hyssop, costmary, acanthus, mallow, chamomile, rosemary ...
) *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 White Horse Close, or "Whitehorse Close", is an enclosed courtyard off the Canongate at the foot of the Royal Mile at the eastern end of the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. History It was formerly known as "Ord's Close", after Laurence Ord, ...
(site of a coaching inn; extensively restored)


References

{{Streets and Squares in Edinburgh, state=collapsed Closes Closes on the Royal Mile Closes