Mary King's Close: An Enigmatic Underground Village in Edinburgh

In case you strolled down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, the shops, restaurants, and tourists probably caught your attention. However, there is something much older and darker beneath the streets. The city itself sits atop a network of narrow alleys, or "closes" as they are called, long forgotten for many years. Still, one of these, which is Mary King's Close, has been brought back to life and provides an amazing glimpse into history.

Try to picture walking in a place where history calls out to you from every direction. Mary King’s Close is alive with the echoing footsteps of people and their lives—with hopes, struggle, and even tragedy captured forever in the stones beneath your feet. Today, it is revived 17th-century Edinburgh that awaits you, but this is not the kind of history you will read in an unforgiving dusty book. It is everything but that: a history that captures your attention, visceral, and vibrant.

A Forgotten World Beneath Your Feet

So, what is the buzz concerning these 'closes'? These tight passageways were once the core of old Edinburgh, including homes, workshops, and small businesses. The Royal Mile above was bustling with activity, but down in the closes, things were a bit different. People lived in tight, cramped spaces, sometimes sharing a room with whole families. The streets were busy, loud, and not the cleanest.

However, Mary King's Close was not just another alley. It was named after a successful merchant, Mary King, and for a long time it was a vibrant neighbourhood where locals worked and traded. Shops were plentiful in the area, while families were crammed in small houses, utilising even the most diminutive spaces. The close was an essential part of Edinburgh's daily life until disaster struck.

When the Plague Came

The plague struck Edinburgh in the mid-1600s, causing chaos all over the city. Even before the disease reached Mary King's Close, it was already infamous for its high mortality rate. The plague spread quickly and with fury, and the city did the same right back: they quarantined the close, locking it away from the rest of Edinburgh. People were trapped, and a lot of them died in the very abodes they were confined in. Regions where people once bustled about joyfully became ghostly, silent.

The survivors of the close, after the plague passed, were in utter shock. While some moved to safer regions of the city, others succumbed to illness. The close itself fell into disrepair as it was turned into a relic of the past. It fell into oblivion until one day, the roads above were constructed and Mary King's Close was blocked off from the world for centuries.

Exploring what Lies Beneath

Jump to the 19th century. It is during the construction of new buildings on the Royal Mile that the lost close came to light. It was not only an old and broken street, it had archaeological remnants of life's evolution. The old buildings, the historical artefacts alongside the other relics scattered throughout the region came to life the moment they were uncovered. This space was an area that was preserved later turned into a tourist hotspot as it enabled travellers to glimpse what life was truly like in 17th century Edinburgh.

The Real Mary King's Close is an irreplaceable part of Edinburgh's historical heritage these days. The unique passageways enable guests to stroll through the very same hallways where individuals existed and perished ages ago. You are truly taken back in time; it is now a living museum, unlike any other frozen film set. During the professionally guided tours, one listens to absolutely enthralling stories which depict real history. Legends come alive when you listen to the people who lived in the close, the fierce battles they went through, and the terrifying changes that came to be.

The Close stands out as it offers unrestricted access to its original, undisturbed streets. Unlike several other historical points of interest that attempt to appear optimal by exaggerating 'restoration,' The Real Mary King's Close possesses a crude, untampered charm. While navigating these age-old and poorly illuminated passageways, one can practically sense the burden of history. It's simple to picture what life must have been like for these people who populated the locality and how they documented to tell their side of the story.

The Ghosts of the Close

Certainly, no historical site as grand as this will come without a fair share of secrets. In particular, Mary King's Close has been the subject of paranormal activity, especially to newer visitors and locals. These 'anomalies' range from cold patches, strange sounds, and even shadowy figures. Some claim they have witnessed the apparition of a young girl named Annie, a plague victim. The spirit is believed to haunt the close, perpetually stuck in the reality she once lived in.

But do these claims have any basis, or are we simply looking to feed into the stories? Perhaps—but the chronicles provoke a heightened interest to visit this already beautiful ancient relic. The Real Mary King's Close offers a stunning example of authentic history and mystical enigma. The site has an inexplicably alluring beauty, regardless of whether you are a non-believer or someone who embraces the paranormal. Perhaps there's something more to Mary King's Close: the locked-away voices of people begging us to document their untold stories of a peaceful city long lost to time.

A Journey Through Time  

In the end, The Real Mary King's Close allows one to experience Edinburgh in a manner that few can enjoy. It is not simply about looking at ancient structures or listening to boring, dry narratives about history. It is about immersing oneself in another realm—a realm where life was lived both in hope and fear, where tragedy and triumph were faced, and the remnants of life lived are felt in the air.

You have to feel a connection to the bygone era while standing at these sites, which are now archaeological treasures. Each structure is unique in its own right as it features stories waiting for you to uncover. So, the next time you find yourself on the Royal Mile, think of all that remains hidden for starters. There is a treasure trove of lost chronicles you have yet to uncover.