Generically such an alleyway is termed a close /ˈkloʊs/, a Scots term for alleyway, although it may be individually named close, entry, court, or wynd. 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.
Why there are closes in Edinburgh?
Back in medieval times, Royal Mile was lined with individual plots of land with paths to gain access to the land behind. As each plot became built up over time, these paths or closes developed into narrow lanes connecting courtyards and streets behind the Royal Mile.
What is an alley called in Scotland?
close
Most alleys are known by the Scottish term “close.”
Why is it called Mary King’s Close?
Mary King’s Close is a historic close located under buildings on the Royal Mile, in the historic Old Town area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It took its name from one Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the Close in the 17th century.
How many closes does the Royal Mile have?
Along the length of the Royal Mile were, at one time, 248 of these separately named ‘closes’, ‘wynds’ and ‘courts’, the narrow streets where Edinburgh’s residents were crammed into tight lanes and towering tenements.
What does a close mean in Scotland?
Generically such an alleyway is termed a close /ˈkloʊs/, a Scots term for alleyway, although it may be individually named close, entry, court, or wynd. 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.
Descend into a section of Edinburgh’s legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed, this part of the vaults is known as Damnation Alley.
What are toilets called in Scotland?
Cludgie. Another rather vulgar term for toilet is ‘cludgie’. It refers to an outside toilet and is predominantly used in Scotland.
What do they call an umbrella in Scotland?
Droon
Scottish Word: Droon.
What is a porch called in Scotland?
portici plur.) A portico or colonnade.
Why is Edinburgh so dark?
The city is also affectionately named by the Scottish as “Auld Reekie” (Reekie meaning “Smoky”), referring to the pollution from coal and wood fires that left dark smoky trails from chimneys through the Edinburgh skies.
What’s the difference between Edinburgh Old Town and New Town?
The city centre of Edinburgh is made up of two distinct areas, the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is the ancient part of the city, dating back to Medieval times, and the New Town, which is not so new anymore, was built during the Georgian era.
Is Mary King’s Close worth it?
If there’s one tour in Edinburgh I’d recommend above all others, it would be the Real Mary King’s Close Tour. This tour has a little of everything – history, architecture, culture, and even a ghost story.
Is the Royal Mile exactly a mile?
It connects Edinburgh Castle (to the west) with the Palace of Holyroodhouse (to the east). Peculiarly, its length which measures 1.81 km is approximately one Scots mile long, which is longer than an English mile but hasn’t been used since the eighteenth century.
How long does it take to do the Royal Mile?
The Royal Mile is almost exactly one mile (just over 1.6km) long. It takes roughly 25 minutes to walk from one end of it to the other.
Why do they call it the Royal Mile?
The Royal Mile is at the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle at its head and the Palace of Holyroodhouse at its foot. Its name comes from its tradition as a processional route for kings and queens for the last 500 years.
Why is a close called a close?
The word “a close” is old, and as a noun it is pronounced like the adjective, not like the verb. The verb is pronounced “kloozz”, while the noun and adjective are pronounced “klooss”. It actually stems from “near to” (close to each other) and not from close (as in shut).
What is the Scottish word for wife?
Scottish Word: Erse.
Why do Scottish people call a sandwich a piece?
Jeelie piece: bread and jam; the most common kind of piece in Scotland, often provided as a snack between meals. By extension, a piece came to mean the sandwich lunch carried to work by the working man.
Why is Little France in Edinburgh so called?
It acquired its name from members of the entourage brought to Scotland from France by Mary, Queen of Scots, who took up residence at nearby Craigmillar Castle.
What are locals from Edinburgh called?
The correct term is Dunediner and refers to the old name of the town, Dunedin, although Edinburgher does seem to be used alot (mainly by Glaswegians).