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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 |
1. |
Jane Jones nee
Richardson
Cambridgeshire, England
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- Old Fleshmarket
Close
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2. |
James Rafferty
Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland
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- Old Fleshmarket
Close
- Fleshmarket Close
- Anchor Close
- Warriston Close
- Advocate's Close
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Recollections
1.
Jane Jones (nee
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 (nee 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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