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in the 18th century. Five arches on the Calton Road side of the building (previously known as the North Back of the
Canongate) indicate the former existence of an undercroft which contained the inn's stables, smithy and coach houses. These were accessed from the rear of the building at a considerably
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in June 1639. Their departure was blocked by a mob which feared the meeting might lead to a betrayal of the principles of the
National Covenant. Montrose alone slipped through to join the King, to whom he gradually transferred allegiance. Over a decade later, in 1650, he passed the head of the close
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and his sister, both active members of the
Edinburgh Social Union. The Union had previously (1897) reorganised the management of Chessels Court to the west, and set about the same for Whitehouse Close using contemporary social ideals. However, the area was still considered a "slum" in 1906 and not
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gave the date as 1683, which is more in keeping with the late 17th-century architectural style of the buildings. The dilapidated close was bought by Dr. John
Barbour and his sister in 1889, and the inn, with its distinctive forestairs, and the surrounding courtyard buildings were converted into
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It was formerly known as "Ord's Close", after
Laurence Ord, the putative builder of the 17th-century inn at its northern end. Because of several conversions to its buildings in the past, the close has been described as "so blatantly fake that it can be acquitted of any intention to deceive".
191:. It is more likely, however, that the name derives from the "White Horse Inn" which occupied the northern end of the courtyard from at least the 17th century. It has also been suggested that the name may have come from a later 18th century inn sign displaying the
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The inn should not be confused with another inn of the same name (later known as "Boyd's inn" after one of its owners) which existed in St. Mary's Wynd (now St. Mary's Street) near the head of the
Canongate between 1635 and 1868. This was where
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until the comprehensive rebuilding of the
Canongate in the 1950s and 60s was the courtyard properly restored. This was done as Council housing but under the rights to buy introduced in the 1970s all are now privately owned.
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The building bears the date 1632, but this is believed to have been carved when it was restored in the 1930s, the tablet being altered from displaying the more implausible date of 1532. In his
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The building with a turnpike stair immediately on the right when entering the close was the residence of two
Bishops of Edinburgh from the time when the church of
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fifteen dwellings for the working class. They were last restored by Frank Mears & Partners between 1961 and 1964.
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again, entering
Edinburgh at the foot of the Canongate as a captive on his way to trial and execution for treason.
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lower ground level compared with the courtyard of the close. A small descending flight of steps and narrow
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The origin of the name is obscure. The location has been traditionally associated with a royal
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J Boswell, The
Journal Of A Tour To The Hebrides With Samuel Johnson, Nelson n.d.
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Gifford, McWilliam and Walker, The Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh, Penguin 1984
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The inn was the departure point for the stagecoaches that ran between Edinburgh,
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A well, found in 1986, is delineated with a circle of cobbles in the courtyard.
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A wall plaque inside the close records it as the birthplace in 1793 of
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is widely regarded as the most picturesque group of buildings on the
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Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh, by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
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still connects the courtyard with the rear of the inn building.
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White Horse Close from the steps of the former White Horse Inn
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C McKean, Edinburgh, An Illustrated Architectural Guide, 1992
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Holyrood and Canongate by E P Dennison ISBN 1-84158-404-5
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has characterised it as "heritage rather than history".
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S Mullay, The Edinburgh Encyclopædia, Mainstream 1996
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In 1902 the dilapidated buildings were purchased by
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RCAHMS site record for White Horse Close on Canmore
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440:J Geddie, Romantic Edinburgh, Sands & Co. 1929
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431:R T Skinner, The Royal Mile, Oliver and Boyd 1947
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187:was stabled there, near the main entrance to the
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230:, published around 1820, the English engraver
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417:W Dick, From Castle To Abbey, Portobello n.d.
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359:The main restoration was undertaken by Sir
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458:Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.299
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322:Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
382:RCAHMS, The City Of Edinburgh, HMSO 1951
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494:CEC District Council records June 1986
872:List of former Edinburgh street names
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899:55.95275°N 3.17559°W
353:Dr Alexander Barbour
181:Mary, Queen of Scots
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764:Constitution Street
363:from 1961 to 1964.
320:and founder of the
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803:Easter Road
713:Rose Street
590:Grassmarket
361:Frank Mears
347:Restoration
316:, son of a
305:during the
887:55°57′10″N
813:Leith Walk
808:Ferry Road
733:York Place
683:Heriot Row
610:Royal Mile
370:References
333:Royal Mile
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168:Professor
145:Royal Mile
66:newspapers
890:3°10′32″W
625:West Port
600:The Mound
545:Edinburgh
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96:July 2018
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