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Archiver > SCT-EDINBURGH > 2004-09 > 1095671236


From: Forrest Anderson <>
Subject: Re: [EDB] Places: Marryholes, Shoemaker's Close, Haliburton's Close
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2004 10:07:16 +0100
References: <200409180000.i8I00cLo006520@lists5.rootsweb.com> <414BB271.1080807@utoronto.ca>
In-Reply-To: <414BB271.1080807@utoronto.ca>


On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 23:58:41 -0400, Graeme Boocock
<> wrote:

>Many thanks to all who helped me with my query regarding Old Caldon
>(should have calTon) burying ground.
>
>I am now going through the will of my G5 grandfather, Alexander Ferrie,
>solicitor. He appears to have accumulated quite a bit of property. I'm
>interested to know where the following places are located. I will
>include the relevant excerpts from the will.
>
>1. 'Marryholes': "...the House and Garden lying in Marryholes near
>Edinburgh purchase and acquired by me from the Trustees for the
>Creditors of John Craig, Brewer..."

I can't suggest anything for this one - do you have a date?

>2. 'Shoemaker's Close': "...also certain houses lying in the
>Shoemakers Close of Canongate purchased by me from William Anderson
>merchant in Edinburgh Trustee for the Creditors of the above William
>McGall Junior..."

Shoemaker's Close was located on the north side of the Canongate, between
New Street and the Canongate Church.

Go to the 1849-53 set of Ordnance Survey town maps at
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/townplans/edinburgh1056_1_se.html
then hover over and click on Sheet 30, which is at the top left. Zoom in
to the bottom centre of the mapsheet, where you'll see the Magdalene
Asylum set back from the road on the north side of the Canongate. Go west
of that, past the coal shed, and you'll see Shoemaker's Close. Note that
Shoemaker's Hall, built 1667, is located on the Canongate.

>3. 'Pleasance of Edinburgh': "...also all and whole the three lands on
>Tenements of houses lying in the Pleasance of Edinburgh purchase by the
>deceased William Laing merchant in Edinburgh from William McGall son of
>William McGall Weaver in Canongate..."

The Pleasance is a long street, still in existence, although redeveloped
in parts. It runs south from the junction of the Cowgate and St Mary's
Street.

Go to the 1849-53 set of Ordnance Survey town maps at
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/townplans/edinburgh1056_1_se.html
then hover over and click on Sheet 36. There is a curvy road, slightly
left of centre, which runs approximately north-south - this is the
Pleasance. Zoom in to the map as required, however it's not clear from
the description you have which part of the Pleasance is of interest.

>4. 'Haliburton's Close': "...also all and whole the houses and Stables
>lying in Haliburton's Close head of the Canongate purchase by the said
>deceased William Laing from John White..."

This appears to have been a subsidiary close just to the east of
Dickson's Close, on the south side of the High Street and east of the
Tron. It is said to have been named after James Halyburton, an advocate,
who built himself a house there in 1500-1510.

Go to the 1849-53 set of Ordnance Survey town maps at
http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/townplans/edinburgh1056_1_se.html
then hover over and click on Sheet 36. Zoom in on the top left of that
mapsheet, and look carefully at the south side of the High Street east of
Niddry Street. Between Dickson's Close and Cant's Close, with an entrance
in the middle of the Tron Coffee House, is an un-named close, which seems
to be Haliburton's.

>Am I right in thinking that a "close", in this sense, is a "narrow lane
>or alley"?

Sounds good to me!

Forrest


--
Forrest Anderson - British Military Genealogical Researcher.
E-mail:
Website: www.military-researcher.com

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