One of the most popular historic tourist sites in historic Edinburgh is Mary King's Close, off the Royal Mile. The Close was just a warren of narrow streets with tall houses houses, dating back to medieval times as does much of the city.
In 1645, during an outbreak of the Black Plague, in an effort to limit the spread of the disease, the Close was placed under quarantine, and its inhabitants were sealed in their houses. Those with plague likely died of it. Those who weren't sick either got sick, or died anyway, of starvation. That is one version of history. Another is that families weren't bricked in, rather quarantined and given food and drink. Horrible either way.
In the mid 1700's, some of the houses were leveled, and others used as foundation for the new mercantile center, the Royal Exchange. Many of the houses remained intact beneath the foundation, and when workmen knocked a hole in the floor of the Exchange and found a staircase, these historic chambers were discovered.
Today, they offer tourists a glimpse into the past as well as some pretty haunting ghost stories.
[Image 1 from Offbeat Travel. Image 2 from Travelworld International Magazine.]
Comments