Edinburgh, 130 Cowgate, Old Meal Market Close

The Meal Market is shown on Rothiemay 1647 with two arched entries from the Cowgate. The meal market was anciently held in the High Street, but latterly this became difficult to control; an effort was made in 1538 to re-site it at the "foot of James Aikman's Close", but the Town Council Minutes show that "some honest amd gangand" (i.e. suitable) alternative to the High Street was still being sought two years later, and indeed this site in the Nether Kirkyard of St Giles was not fixed on until 1587, and even then the new market was not built until 1600. It gave its name to the Meal Market Stairs leading up the Parliament Close; and by 1852 an opening which represented its eastern entrance was being called Old Mealmarket Close. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 428)