Old Fishmarket Close, High Street, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

11981

Title

Old Fishmarket Close, High Street, Edinburgh

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2007

Size

26.4 x 19.7 cm

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Fishmarket Close, now Old Fishmarket Close, is a short street connecting the High Street with the Cowgate.

Home also to the City Hangman or 'Doomster', the last being a John High who died in 1817.

George Heriot, benefactor and founder of the Hospital and School which bear his name, lived here in 1586.

Daniel Defoe is also rumoured to have worked here as a secret agent to the English Government at the Treaty of Union in 1707.

The head of the close was for many years a station for a primitive fire engine dragged out by rope in the event of emergency.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Windows

Communication > Written > Signs

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Closes

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Pavements

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