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Edinburgh Recollections Old Town Closes Beside St Giles Cathedral Linking High Street and Cowgate, Old Town, Edinburgh |
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Recollections |
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1. |
Jane Jones née
Richardson |
- Old Fleshmarket Close |
2. |
James Rafferty |
- Old Fleshmarket Close - Fleshmarket Close - Anchor Close - Warriston Close - Advocate's Close |
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Recollections 1. Jane Jones (née Richardson) Cambridgeshire, England |
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Thank you to Jane Jones who read about Fleshmarket Close having been known as 'The Plowt', then sent me this message about another of Edinburgh's closes, Old Fishmarket Close - the close beside St Giles' Church that led from the High Street to Cowgate. Jane wrote: |
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Old Fishmarket Close 'Poaly Oaly Close' "I just thought I'd throw in another spanner to gum up the works about local place names. When I lived in the Cowgate in the 1960s, we children and many adults called Old Fishmarket Close, (pronounce as it is spelt) Poaly Oaly Close. I'm positive this is not the right spelling, but it is as near as I can get to how it sounded. Does anyone out there know how this name came about? I've often wondered if it was anything to do with the Police Station (Polis Station) at the top of the close." Jane Jones (née Richardson), Cambridgeshire, England: August 15, 2008 |
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Answer? If you can provide an answer for Jane, please email me, then I'll pass it on to her. Thank you. - Peter Stubbs: August 15, 2008 |
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Recollections 2. James A Rafferty Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
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Thank you to James A Rafferty who wrote about the names by which some of the other Old Town closes were known to children in the past. James wrote |
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Old Fishmarket Close "Jane Jones is spot on with her recollection of Old Fishmarket Close. Having been brought up in the High Street, we also knew this close as 'Poalis Office Close'." |
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"In fact, a lot of closes were known to us by other names. Fleshmarket Close The bottom part of Fleshmarket Close was 'Pet Shop Steps' because of Banks' pet shop that other contributors have mentioned. Anchor Close The bottom part of Anchor Close was 'Duncans Close' because of the sale room that was down there on the right hand side. I seem to recall they sold birds, budgies and canaries, and a lot of bikes. Warriston close Warriston Close was know as 'The Hundreds' because of the number of steps, not really hundreds but it seemed like it when you were young. Advocate's Close Advocate's Close was 'The Printers Close' because the back door to the Evening Dispatch print room was down there. They kept the back door open and you could see them changing the metal plates on the presses." |
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James A Rafferty, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland: August 15, 2008 |
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More names for Edinburgh Closes |
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