Some years ago I wrote a story for my family detailing the history of Libberton's Wynd within the High Street of Edinburgh. Perhaps this extract will help to explain the meaning and the description of the term 'Close' "At this point I feel that I should clarify if that is necessary the difference between a Wynd and the other Scottish housing term “The Close”. The main difference is that a Wynd led from one street to another and was open at bot h ends in this case from the High Street to the Cowgate the Cowgate being a very fashionable area of Edinburgh at this time. A Close the name coming from the ‘French’ “Clos” meaning a narrow enclosed space was usually a private entrance to houses only open at one end with a gate which could and usually was locked at night. In 1776 ‘E. Topham’, in his book “Letters from Edinburgh”, observed that along with other matters; “From the High Street you pass down by means of different alleyways, or as they call them here Wynds and Closes, to the different parts of the Old Town. There are many of them, and so very steep, that it requires great attention to the feet to prevent falling. But so well accustomed are the Scots to that position of the body required in descending these declevities that I have seen a Scots girl run down them with great swiftness in pattens.” In 1790, the Town Council of the day ordered all Wynds and Closes to be properly named. By means of proper signs and directions, this made Libberton’s Wynd number 260 High Street, and number 74 Cowgate. In 1849 the superintendent of streets renewed all the nameplates on the Wynds and Closes in the High Street and the Cowgate." Hope this Helps Bill Libberton

it does indeed - when we were up there a few weeks ago I noticed some streets had two names Liz >From: WSLIBB@aol.com >Reply-To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >To: MIDLOTHIAN-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [MLN] The Close's of Edinburgh >Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 15:07:47 EST > >Some years ago I wrote a story for my family detailing the history of >Libberton's Wynd within the High Street of Edinburgh. > >Perhaps this extract will help to explain the meaning and the description >of >the term 'Close' > >"At this point I feel that I should clarify if that is necessary the >difference between a Wynd and the other Scottish housing term “The >Close”. The main >difference is that a Wynd led from one street to another and was open at >bot >h ends in this case from the High Street to the Cowgate the Cowgate being >a >very fashionable area of Edinburgh at this time. A Close the name coming >from >the ‘French’ “Clos” meaning a narrow enclosed space was usually a >private >entrance to houses only open at one end with a gate which could and >usually >was locked at night. > >In 1776 ‘E. Topham’, in his book “Letters from Edinburgh”, >observed that >along with other matters; > >“From the High Street you pass down by means of different alleyways, or >as >they call them here Wynds and Closes, to the different parts of the Old >Town. >There are many of them, and so very steep, that it requires great >attention >to the feet to prevent falling. But so well accustomed are the Scots to >that >position of the body required in descending these declevities that I have >seen >a Scots girl run down them with great swiftness in pattens.” > >In 1790, the Town Council of the day ordered all Wynds and Closes to be >properly named. By means of proper signs and directions, this made >Libberton’s >Wynd number 260 High Street, and number 74 Cowgate. In 1849 the >superintendent >of streets renewed all the nameplates on the Wynds and Closes in the High >Street and the Cowgate." > >Hope this Helps > >Bill Libberton > > >