The real Mary King’s Close is one of Edinburgh’s most famous closes.The real Mary King’s Close used to be a place where people from different walks of life worked and lived. Today, it is an underground site that has become quite a popular tourist attraction.The real Mary King’s Close is located beneath the Royal Mile in Edinburgh on High Street. During the creation of the Royal Exchange, which was turned into the City Chambers of Edinburgh, the close was destroyed slightly on one side, and on the other side, it was bricked up.Moreover, the close was only bricked up when the people who lived there completely abandoned the place. One of the last families to leave this close was the Chesney family.The close was rediscovered when one of the workmen working on the street above accidentally punched through the wall into the winding street. Since then, after a bit of restoration and renovation, the close has been opened for visitors to come and check out one of the hidden closes in Edinburgh.This close is equally popular among foreign tourists and local visitors. The guided tours are offered all year round, with special events organized during certain festivals.Mary King’s Close HistoryThere is a rich history behind the streets of Mary King’s Close. The place is not only a tourist and local attraction; it is also a gateway to the history and culture of the time when people actually used to live there.In the 17th century, Mary King’s Close was a place located in the Old Town, Edinburgh. This close was situated right in the center of the town and was close to the city’s vibrant streets.Mary King was the fabric merchant who started her business after her husband’s death and after whom Mary King’s Close was named. The close got its name in 1630 from Mary King, a woman who lived there. After her husband died, Mary King set up her own business. She was a fabric merchant, and there are two properties in the close that have her name on them.Mary King’s Close was a place with underground streets and narrow alleyways. The close was overcrowded as people from several walks of life came to stay there. There was also a lack of a proper sewage system.Every household in the close used to have a bucket that would be filled with feces, urine, or any other waste, and at a specific time of day, the bucket would be emptied into the street below. Upon a closer look, it is seen that the sewage on the sides of the roads runs toward the Nor’ Loch. At present time, Nor’ Loch is the place where the Princes Street Gardens are located.The real Mary King’s Close was not always an underground place situated below the Royal Mile. It became underground when the close was bricked up, or, in other words, destroyed partially in order to create the foundation for the Royal Exchange, which is Edinburgh’s City Chambers currently. This made the close a part of the underground Edinburgh city.Why is Mary King’s Close a top attraction?Edinburgh is quite a popular city in Scotland. This fame of the city arises from a large number of historical spots and buildings present there. Some of these historical spots include Edinburgh Castle, several hidden closes, and various other fascinating places.Mary King’s Close is one such historical place in Edinburgh. Situated under the Royal Mile, this close attracts a lot of tourists. It is one of the top attractions in Edinburgh because it offers visitors a glimpse into the past culture and social lifestyle of the common people who used to inhabit the city.Furthermore, the dressed-up tour guide adds to the whole tour and makes it seem more realistic. There are also costume plays arranged during the tour for special events. This venue is an excellent choice for people who like macabre tales.The streets, shops, and houses all portray the kind of life people used to live during that time in history. Visitors can visit the inside of the houses and shops too. Each different street tells you about a varied aspect of life in the close. Mary King’s Close is also considered a top attraction, partly due to the fascinating stories told about the place.Rumors About Mary King’s CloseLike every other historical place, the real Mary King’s Close is also associated with many ghost stories. How much of these rumors are real has not yet been confirmed.One of the most popular ghost stories is about the ghost of a girl named Annie. She was a 10-year-old young girl who used to live in the close and who died due to the plague. The people who believe in the ghost of Annie state that they have felt a strange presence and changes in temperature in Annie’s room. Many Mary King’s Close visitors even leave sweets, dolls, and toys for her there.There are more scary rumors about Mary King’s Close, and they partly contribute to the popularity of the close as a tourist spot. There are also rumors related to alleged murders that took place in the close.However, concrete evidence of this has not been found. Due to the scary rumors, this close has been featured in many TV shows pertaining to the paranormal world and activity. Some of them were recorded in Annie’s room too.Another rumor unrelated to the ghosts is about how the close was sealed off along with the plague victims when the plague hit Edinburgh. This rumor is not true, and in fact, the city had treated the people living in the close during that time very well. They had been provided with food and coal, and many were helped as they migrated to other places.The households where people could not get out of their homes had been marked with a white flag to indicate that there were plague victims living there. The plague doctors would then visit the house and treat the plague victim(s).Dr. George Rae, who was a plague doctor in Edinburgh, also appeared at the close while wearing a terrifying outfit consisting of a thick cloak to avoid the flies biting him and a scary bird mask that was filled with herbs that had a sweet smell to cover the germs and the stench. These details are also made into some stories.A plague doctor used to cut out sores and cauterize the wounds using a hot pocket. Although it was quite painful, it worked well in getting rid of the disease.How many people died in Mary King’s Close?The city of Edinburgh was hit by the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, during the 17th century. The plague was spread by fleas, rats, and other insects.It had started in England and had since spread to Scotland as well as other parts of Europe.The Mary King’s Close, which was already unhygienic, was a disaster when the plague spread. The plague caused pus-filled boils to appear, along with swollen glands and vomiting.According to the rumor (which has been proven to not be true), around 600 people were sealed off inside Mary King’s Close while they were quarantined. However, the actual number of people who died in the area due to the plague or otherwise is unknown.
The real Mary King’s Close is one of Edinburgh’s most famous closes.
