Deep beneath the streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town lies a hidden warren of streets and tenements with a rich history and a dark reputation: Mary King’s Close.
This underground maze of rooms and alleyways was once a bustling hub of activity but was left abandoned after a devastating plague outbreak in the late 17th Century.
The spirits of the past are still said to linger here, and the close is reputedly one of the most haunted places in Edinburgh.
History of Mary Kings Close
Mary King’s Close consisted of several closes and tenements located in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.
The close, named after an affluent local Mary King, dated back to the 17th Century and was once home to an interesting mix of all of Edinburgh’s social classes.
The close housed numerous tenement buildings, regarded by many as the world’s first skyscrapers, often reaching nine or ten stories high.
Wealthy residents, such as merchants or doctors, lived on the upper floors. In contrast, Edinburgh’s poorest residents lived in the squalid dark, smelly, lower floors where sanitation was severely lacking.
Human waste was disposed of from the upper floors into the street below, with residents able to dispose of their urine and feces twice a day – shouting “gardyloo” to warn neighbors passing below before tossing their waste into the open sewers that ran through the close.
Due to these increasingly unsanitary conditions and an infestation of rats from the ships docking nearby Leith Docks, the plague hit Edinburgh very hard.
The city authorities sealed off the close to contain the disease, trapping over 300 residents inside.
While the close was quarantined, residents were brought food and drink and were treated by Edinburgh’s second official plague doctor, Dr. George Rae.
Rae wore a long cloak and bird-like beak filled with herbs in an attempt to avoid being infected by the plague himself.
Somewhat surprisingly and much to the council’s surprise, Rae lived to tell the tale, but it is believed he did not receive the hefty salary he was promised for his heroic work and died before receiving a penny.
It is estimated that 50% of Edinburgh’s population lost their lives between 1644 and 1645, and it is known that many of the close residents succumbed to the terrible disease during this period.
Following the plague outbreak, the close was abandoned for around 40 years.
But, as the population of Edinburgh increased, residents began to move back in.
The new inhabitants started to report paranormal activity, with apparitions, ghostly lights, and strange glows reported regularly.
Were the spirits of the plague victims haunting the close, or could the poisonous gases rising from the nearby polluted man-made loch, Old Nor’, have been causing residents to hallucinate?
In 1753, the Edinburgh Council decided to develop a new building on the site, which eventually became the Royal Exchange.
The houses at the top of the closes were knocked down while part of the lower sections was kept and used as the foundations for the new building.
Saw-maker Mr. Chesney was the final resident to move out. He was eventually ordered to leave his modest lodgings by a compulsory purchase at the turn of the 20th Century.
Mary Kings Close Ghosts and Hauntings
The most well-known ghost believed to haunt Mary King’s Close is a little girl named Annie.
Annie’s distressed spirit still wanders the close looking for her family, who are believed to have abandoned her when the plague swept through the city.
A furious man, understood to be Mr. Chesney, has been reported to lunge at visitors in Chesney’s House.
It is thought his angry spirit is still reeling from being forced from his home when the final parts of the close were demolished.
There are also stories of a boy trapped within the walls of a chimney and a ‘businessman’ like figure who wanders up and down the close.
Other reported ghostly activity includes disembodied footsteps in sealed corridors, sudden temperature drops, and mysterious figures appearing in the professional photos taken by the tourist attraction.
Are there any haunted locations nearby?
Edinburgh has a dark history and many haunted locations, so there are undoubtedly other places near Mary King’s Close that are said to be haunted. Some of the most well-known include:
- Edinburgh Castle: Perched ominously atop Castle Rock, the castle holds centuries of history and intrigue, making it a hotbed for ghostly encounters. Two grey Ladies, the Headless Drummer Boy, the Phantom Piper, and many other spectral figures said to wander Edinburgh Castle and it’s historic grounds.
- Greyfriars Kirkyard: This cemetery is located just a short distance from Mary King’s Close and is said to be one of the most haunted places in Edinburgh. Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, including the famous “Mackenzie Poltergeist” which is said to be one of the most violent ghosts in the world.
- The Royal Mile: This historic street runs from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse and is lined with many old buildings that are said to be haunted. One of the most famous is the Canongate Tolbooth, once used as a prison and execution site.
- The Edinburgh Vaults were built during the construction of the South Bridge in the 18th Century. The vaults are considered one of the most haunted places in the UK, with strong links to the occult and seriously dark history.
