Edinburgh, 48 - 50 High Street, Murdoch's Close
Shop (19th Century), Tenement (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 48 - 50 High Street, Murdoch's Close
Classification Shop (19th Century), Tenement (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Toddricks Wynd
Canmore ID 115461
Site Number NT27SE 1164
NGR NT 26047 73664
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/115461
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Murdoch's Close is named thus on Edgar 1742 and Ainslie 1780 but is given as Munloch's Close on Ainslie 1804, probably in error. The name was probably from Robert Murdoch, writer, who owned a tenement in the close at some time before 1737; but an earlier name Spotsewode's (i.e. Spottiswood's Close) is listed in 1635 and probably goes back to a James Spottiswod, mentioned in RMS (Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Vols I-XI) 1504 along with Archibald Todrik among owners adjoining a property on the south side of the High Street. A number of Spottiswoods continued to be prominent in town affairs in the sixteenth century. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 451)