Mary King's Close, Royal Mile

Mixed media and pastels on archival paper, high-quality print.
 
Closes were named after the most prominent citizen or the most commonly found businesses to in the close. Mary King was a prominent businesswoman in the 1630s. At that time she was a widow and a mother of four, who traded in fabrics and sewed for a living.
 
The close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange in the 18th century, and later closed to the public.
 
There are many tales of haunting and murders in this Close. It was actually part of an eight layer labyrinth with different classes of inhabitants sharing the buildings. The rich would have lived in the grand 'high houses'.
 
*Please note these are prints; for originals, please contact us at sho@birdsnestbrand.co.uk.