Edinburgh, 107 High Street, Bailie Fyfe's Close

Bailie Fyfe's Close is shown on Edgar 1742 and was named for Gilbert Fyfe, merchant and three times bailie within the period 1677-86, who had a house on its West side. It was earlier Barry's Close, of untraced derivation, although a Dr Samuel Barrow was made free burgess and freeman in 1657, and a Martin Barra was witness to a judgement of the bailies in 1542. Also before 1706 it was known as Trotter's Close, from John Trotter, elder, who owned a tenement in the West side of the close, and was living in it in 1635, the year in which he became laird of Mortonhall. East Bailie Fyfe's Close was a name for Paisley Close (see NT 27SE 1119) entering the same court. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, pages 281-2)