I would think that people were more afraid of common or garden rogues and thugs than the militia..... Here's a good read about a couple of those, although I wouldn't have wanted to live in this Close! http://members.fortunecity.com/gillonj/burkeandhare/ - moira Eleanor Robertson wrote: >In those days there was always fighting have you never heard of the Battle >of Bannockburn > >-----Original Message----- >From: Liz Parkinson [mailto:parkinsonliz@hotmail.com] >Sent: 21 March 2005 15:47 >To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: RE: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh > >excuse my ignorance of Scottish hoistory - what invasion > >Liz > > > >>From: "Eleanor Robertson" <eleanor.robertson@blueyonder.co.uk> >>Reply-To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >>To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >>Subject: RE: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >>Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2005 15:15:59 -0000 >> >>Think of the Royal Mile as the spine of a fish. >>Building was done on either side and down the closes. >>People only lived in the High Street so they needed as many houses as >>possible that is why the houses were built so high. >>Once you get to the Canongate things change as that was out side the city >>walls. They then built houses with more space between them, but this was >>not >>popular at the time as people were afraid to live out side the gates for >>fear of the invasion mainly. >>Hope you understand this. >>Regards >>Eleanor >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: gordon crooks [mailto:glcrooks@bcpl.net] >>Sent: 21 March 2005 15:04 >>To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >>Subject: Re: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >> >>Eleanor: I had figured that much out, but what really interests me is why >>they were made in the first place, some appear to be architeckial gems and >>what prompted them to be build behind existing buildings or to have >>buildings built in front of them. >> >> Gordon >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Eleanor Robertson" <eleanor.robertson@blueyonder.co.uk> >>To: <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> >>Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 10:56 AM >>Subject: RE: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >> >> >> >> >>>Close means a closed ending there is only one way out it is the same way >>>as >>>you came in. >>>Hope this helps >>>Regards >>>Eleanor >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: gordon crooks [mailto:glcrooks@bcpl.net] >>>Sent: 21 March 2005 12:21 >>>To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >>>Subject: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >>> >>>Can anyone explain the reason for building "Close's" in the first >>> >>> >>place, >> >> >>>shortage of flat land or what? >>> >>> Gordon >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > > > > >