Alternative Names Cowgate; Borthwick's Close
Site type SHOP, TENEMENT (19TH CENTURY)
Canmore ID 115469
Site Number NT27SE 1172
NGR NT 25813 73602
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN

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Architectural Notes

(Lord) Borthwick's Close is mentioned as Lord Borthwick's Close in Town Council Minutes 1514 and as Borthwick's Close in RMS (Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Vols I-XI) 1537, and was named for the Lord Borthwick who built a house on the west side of the upper part of the close in about 1450. Along with the Horse Wynd and the Potterrow it may have formed one of the earliest routes into Edinburgh from the South. (from Stuart Harris, "Place Names of Edinburgh", 1996, page 105)