Entrance to Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh

Category

Library Item

Item no

2830

Title

Entrance to Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh

Description

A gated door stands open, showing an entrance with stairs leading up into a dark hallway. The inside of the door lacks a proper door handle and instead has a knotted rope.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1962

Size

21.1 x 16.4 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Mary King's Close was built over during the construction of City Chambers, then the Royal Exchange, in the 1750's. It was not entirely sealed off until the end of the 19th Century. The close, along with others that were built over, now operates as a visitor attraction.

The 'closes' of Edinburgh's Old Town are narrow passages branching off at right angles from the main streets. They provide access to the tenement buildings, and often to small shared courtyards. Many closes also act as shortcuts between Old Town's main streets.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Doors and doorways

Architecture > Architectural features > Gates

Architecture > Architectural features > Stairways

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Places > United Kingdom > Scotland