Maconochies Close Edinburgh

Val · Post by **Val** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 3:20 am

In the 1841 Census the Wallace family lived in Maconochies Close, Cowgate, Edinburgh.
I have not been able to find this street on any maps. Could someone please help?

Cheers from Australia
Val

Post by **paddyscar** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:46 am

Have you tried:

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk

http://www.nls.uk/digitallibrary/map/to ... plans.html

Val · Post by **Val** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:21 am

Hi Paddy

No I haven't tried the second site so will do so now. Thanks for your help.
Cheers
Val

Post by **AndrewP** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 6:51 am

Hi Val,

Using the NLS Digital Library link given above, select Edinburgh 1849-1853. From there select the south-west quarter of the city. Next select Sheet 35, one below the furthest nort-east in that selection of maps.

Now you have the right map, clicl on the east end of the wide street in the centre of the map, The Grassmarket. Move eastwards out of the Grassmarket into the Cowgate. Zoom in until you can read the names of the closes. Machonochie's Close is one of the first leading northwards from the Cowgate, before you get to George IV Bridge.

By the time of the 1931-1932 Ordnance Survey map, the Edinburgh Central Library has been built on George IV Bridge. It backs on to Machononachie's Close, therefore the previous buildings of the east side of the close had been demolished. Part of the west side of the close had become an open area (a sort of courtyard, I guess), therefore some of the west side had gone by then. As far as I can picture in my mind, the back of the library there has a large open area behind it (used to be used for parking their mobile libraries until they were moved elsewhere), so I don't think any of the buildings of the close remain now.

All the best,

AndrewP