As is inevitable over the centuries, in Scotland buildings have been built
and rebuilt on the same site. The imposing City Chambers on the Royal Mile
in Edinburgh, which was constructed between 1753 and 1761, is just one
example. But beneath the City Chambers lies Edinburgh's deepest secret - a
warren of hidden streets where people lived, worked and died between the
17th and 19th centuries. From today (11 April 2003) a new attraction will
allow visitors to step back in time and to walk through these underground
closes and witness some of the dramatic episodes and extraordinary
apparitions from this site's fascinating and historically rich past. The
Official opening of The Real Mary King's Close, this new world-class
heritage attraction, will be made today (11am) by Edinburgh's Lord
Provost.
The substantial remains of Mary King's Close, a steep early-17th century
alley in Edinburgh's High Street, still lie beneath the City Chambers and
is likely to be have been named after the daughter of a former owner,
advocate Alexander King. One of the last strongholds of the 1645 plague
outbreak, the close acquired the reputation of being haunted, and was
abandoned about the middle of the 17th century. Some property, however,
was occupied prior to a fire in the south end in 1750, for Andrew Bell,
the engraver who conceived the Encylopaedia Britannica, then moved from
there to the nearby Advocate's Close. The north end was 'roofless and
ruined' in 1845, prior to the construction of Cockburn Street.
From April 2003, guided parties of visitors will be able to visit The Real
Mary King's Close and a range of other closes and spaces that lie hidden
beneath the City Chambers - some of which have never before been open to
the public. The new attraction will present a historically accurate
interpretation of life in these narrow alleyways from the 16th to the 19th
century. Extensive documentary research and on-site survey works has been
undertaken to provide an accurate platform for the subtle and unobtrusive
interpretation of these A-listed buildings.
The new attraction The Mary King.s Close is situated at 2 Warriston's
Close, Writers' Court, (off The Royal Mile), Edinburgh and will be open
all-year round. Opening hours for the period April to October will be 10am
-10pm (last tour at 9pm); and for November to March 10am - 4pm (last tour
at 3pm). Unfortaunately for Health and Safety reasons children under the
age of 5 cannot be permitted to take the tour. For more details visit
www.realmarykingsclose.com
This week we invite you to make an Edinburgh Sandwich to celebrate the
opening of Edinburgh's latest visitor attraction.
Edinburgh Sandwich
Ingredients : 8 oz (225 g) flour; 2 oz (50 g ) lard; pinch of salt; 2
tablespoons syrup; 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 1 cup milk; 2
tablespoons cocoa; 1 tablespoon vinegar; 2 oz (50 g) caster sugar
Sift flour, salt, soda and cocoa, with the sugar. Heat lard and syrup
gently until melted. Stir into dry ingredients, then gradually stir in the
milk. Beat well, then stir in vinegar. Divide between two greased sandwich
tins, 9 inches across. Bake in a moderately hot oven, 400 deg F, 200 deg
C, Gas Mark 6, for about 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack, then pair with
Cocoa Creme. Cover with Chocolate Frosting.
Cocoa Creme : Beat 2 oz (50 g) butter till softened. Mix 1 cup sifted
icing sugar with 1 dessertspoon cocoa. Gradually beat this into the
butter. When creamy, stir in 1 tablespoon hot water, and half-a-teaspoon
vanilla essence.
Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients : 1 1/2 oz (35 g) chocolate; 1/4 pint ( 150 ml ) scalded
cream; 1 egg yolk; 1/2 teaspoon melted butter; a few grains of salt;
sifted icing sugar as required; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla icing
Melt the chocolate in a basin over hot water. Gradually stir in the cream,
then the egg yolk, butter and salt. When blended, stir in enough icing
sugar to make a spreadable frosting, then the vanilla essence.
