Whitehorse Close north side

Category

Library Item

Item no

3766

Title

Whitehorse Close north side

Description

Two women chat over the stairs in Whitehorse Close, Edinburgh. Washing dries on a line between buildings.

Artist / maker

Keith, Thomas

Date

1856

Type

Paper negative

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

White Horse Close is located just off the Canongate close to Holyroodhouse. There is no evidence of the White Horse Inn ever having served as an Inn, although it does seem to have been built for this purpose. The Close may derive its name from having been the site of the palace stables. It may even be a specific reference to one of Mary Queen of Scot's horses. The date of the building's construction is unclear, as at least two different dates have been displayed on the window-head at various times.

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

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Places > Edinburgh areas > Canongate

Places > Edinburgh areas > Old Town

Places > Edinburgh areas > Royal Mile

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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