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Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh
Unknown, 1962, Photograph
Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh
Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh
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Related
Location
Category
Library Item
Item no
2835
Title
Mary King's Close, High Street, Edinburgh
Description
A man stands in a covered walkway surrounded by rubble and rubbish, and reaches to touch the thick metal bars that stand in front of a doorway. Drainpipes line the walls, while a railing attached to the wall, follows the slope and the pathway downhill.
Artist / maker
Unknown
Date
1962
Size
21.2 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
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Doors and doorways
Architecture
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Architectural features
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Gates
Architecture
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Architectural features
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Passageways
Architecture
>
Architectural features
>
Railings
Architecture
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Architectural features
>
Windows
People
>
Adults
>
Men
Places
>
Scotland
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Edinburgh
Places
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United Kingdom
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Scotland
Transport
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Infrastructure
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Walkways
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The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries The image library for the collections of Edinburgh Libraries and Museums and Galleries