Mike: Actually you don't live too far from what could be called a close. In Quebec in the old city and near the central square is a little street with houses behind each other. I took photos of that some years back.. Gordon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Morris" <morrisind@rogers.com> To: <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 3:10 PM Subject: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >I just want to say, thank you, I found this subject about what is a Close > etc was very interesting. I have seen the map, the area has an interesting > layout, not quite like a fishes bones and yet very Close (forgive the pun) > I > would have loved to have seen the hustle and bustle that went on in these > places 150 years ago. > > I assume Cannon gate wound its way down a hill with these 'Close's' > running > off on each side of Cannon gate. > > Cheers > Mike Morris > Toronto Canada > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Liz Parkinson" <parkinsonliz@hotmail.com> > To: <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 12:56 PM > Subject: RE: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh > > >> yes I have heard of the Battle of Bannockburn, I just thought perhaps > there >> was particular thing going on. I know there was trouble in Tudor/Stuart >> times, but not too knowledgeable generally on Scottish history >> >> 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 17:43:52 -0000 >> > >> >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 >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >> >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. >> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.4 - Release Date: 3/18/05 >> >> > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.7.4 - Release Date: 3/18/05 > > >

Hi Gordon, I think its almost a 9 hour drive from Toronto to Quebec city. <grin> However, I do remember some of these quaint back streets the last time I visited Quebec City. Kind regards Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "gordon crooks" <glcrooks@bcpl.net> To: <MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 2:21 PM Subject: Re: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh > Mike: Actually you don't live too far from what could be called a close. In > Quebec in the old city and near the central square is a little street with > houses behind each other. <snip> -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.8.0 - Release Date: 3/21/05