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White Horse Close

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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 262:
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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Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 440:J Geddie, Romantic Edinburgh, Sands & Co. 1929 392: 390: 388: 431:R T Skinner, The Royal Mile, Oliver and Boyd 1947 404: 402: 187:was stabled there, near the main entrance to the 914: 267:came with Count Burzyuski in September 1771 and 385: 198:It is recorded that some of the leaders of the 399: 275:on his arrival in Edinburgh in August 1773. 230:, published around 1820, the English engraver 528: 417:W Dick, From Castle To Abbey, Portobello n.d. 427: 425: 423: 359:The main restoration was undertaken by Sir 297:officers were billeted in the close during 535: 521: 458:Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.299 420: 322:Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies 106:Learn how and when to remove this message 382:RCAHMS, The City Of Edinburgh, HMSO 1951 237: 127: 119: 915: 494:CEC District Council records June 1986 872:List of former Edinburgh street names 516: 44:adding citations to reliable sources 15: 13: 642: 14: 934: 501: 614:List of closes on the Royal Mile 20: 488: 479: 470: 31:needs additional citations for 461: 452: 443: 434: 411: 376: 346: 204:James Graham, earl of Montrose 1: 369: 7: 218:had been signed to end the 10: 939: 162: 147:at the eastern end of the 132:White Horse Close at night 869: 837: 830: 798: 791: 754: 745: 663: 654: 640: 560: 551: 339:which connects it to the 293:Tradition maintains that 301:'s occupation of nearby 282:was a cathedral, namely 543:Streets and squares in 202:in Scotland, including 648: 243: 193:White Horse of Hanover 133: 125: 769:Great Junction Street 646: 299:Charles Edward Stuart 241: 131: 123: 923:Streets in Edinburgh 899:55.95275°N 3.17559°W 353:Dr Alexander Barbour 181:Mary, Queen of Scots 40:improve this article 895: /  764:Constitution Street 363:from 1961 to 1964. 320:and founder of the 143:at the foot of the 55:"White Horse Close" 904:55.95275; 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Canongate
Royal Mile
Old Town
Edinburgh
Scotland
Charles McKean
mews
Mary, Queen of Scots
palfrey
royal palace
White Horse of Hanover
Covenanting party
James Graham, earl of Montrose
Berwick
King Charles I
Treaty of Berwick
First Bishops' War

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