Edinburgh, 373 High Street, Byer's Close
Bee Bole (Period Unknown)(Possible), Tenement (Post Medieval)
Site Name Edinburgh, 373 High Street, Byer's Close
Classification Bee Bole (Period Unknown)(Possible), Tenement (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 52297
Site Number NT27SE 276
NGR NT 25675 73639
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52297
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 276 2567 7362
(Six-storey block on W side of Byer's Close, T-plan, remodelled 18th century, projecting newel stair.)
HBD No. 1336A
Byre's Close (Byer's Close) was named for John Byres, merchant burgess (1569-1629). Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney (d.1593) also had his house here (see NT27SE 277), still noted for its half-octagon gable and curious "bee holes" on its East front. "Protocols of John Foular" record two earlier names for the close: in 1525 it is noted as Malcolm's Close, for a family of that name, owners of a land on its East side; and in 1534 it is given as William Lauder's Close, evidently named for William Lauder, bailie in 1528, or quite possibly for his namesake, a bailie in 1453. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 139).
