Architecture Notes

Event ID 768988

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Architecture Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/768988

Depicted on the coloured 1st edition of the O.S. 1:1056 scale map (Edinburgh and its Environs, 1854, sheet 36).

Cant's Close is listed on Edgar 1742. Recorded in RMS (Register of the Great Seal of Scotland Vols I-XI) 1588, its name is from the Cant family, prominent in the town from the days of Adam Cant, bailie in 1403, and probably even earlier. Members of the family had property on both sides of the High Street; but one in the vicinity of this close, next to land owned by Melrose abbey is mentioned in RMS 1492 as owned by Henry Cant junior, who figures along with his father Henry in a list of "gude nychtbouris" or burgesses in Town Council Minutes 1501. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 151)

NMRS REFERENCE:

Edinburgh, 64-78 High Street and Strichen's Close, 66 High Street which were Category B Listed were demolished in 1965/66. Information from Demolitions catalogue.