Architecture Notes

Event ID 774050

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Architecture Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/774050

Paisley (Paisley's) Close was named thus by 1679 for Henry Paisley, who owned property in it. Edgar 1742 lists its alternative name Smith's Close, recorded in 1660 as "George Smith's Close", evidently from a predecessor of James Smith, mason, who was appointed overseer of Holyrood and other palaces in 1683, styled himself "of Whitehill" after buying that estate near Brunstane in 1689, and built the Canongate kirk for the town in 1691, as well as his burgess house of "Smith's Land" within the close. On Ainslie 1780 and 1804 the close is shown as East Bailie Fyfe's Close, linking it with Bailie Fyfe's Close (see NT 27SE 294). (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 481)