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Herstory: The Real Mary King’s Close celebrates Women’s History Month
The Real Mary King’s Close are celebrating Women’s History Month with special historical Herstory Tours, where visitors can hear the stories of some of Edinburgh’s most influential women
Throughout the month of March 2023, Women’s History Month, one of Edinburgh’s top historical attractions, The Real Mary King’s Close are celebrating with specially curated ‘Herstory Tours’, so that visitors can learn all about the incredible lives of the women who once lived, worked and died on Edinburgh’s hidden streets.
The Real Mary King’s Close is a historic close located underneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, in the Old Town. The streets themselves were not always underground, but, in the 1600s, were open to the skies and filled with residents and market traders. The Close is named after a former resident, Mary King a prominent merchant who traded fabric there.
During the construction of the Royal Exchange in 1760, the close was partly demolished and buried beneath the new building’s foundations – closed to the world, it wasn’t long before it began to harbour stories of ghosts and urban legends. In 2003 the site opened as a historic visitor attraction, offering visitors an incredible insight into Edinburgh’s rich past, in an atmospheric underground setting.
This Women’s History Month, the site’s ‘Herstory Tours’ (which will last one hour), will offer fascinating revelations about some of the most famous women in Scottish history, and guided by female residents of The Close itself, including Jonet Nimmo, the youngest daughter of Mary King, and Janet Chesney, a member of the last family to leave the historic street behind.
You’ll even have the chance to meet Mary King herself, and hear the true story of how she managed to obtain voting rights, almost 300 years ahead of her time! The story of the revolutionary Edinburgh Seven who fought for women’s education and the right to practice medicine will also be told.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “We’re so excited to be celebrating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month here at The Real Mary King’s Close by shining a light on all the remarkable and powerful women who once occupied the Close.”
About the tours
Tours will be running throughout March, every Friday and Saturday at 17.30 and 19.00. Prices are £25 per adult / £19 per child (5 to 15yo – no under 5 allowed). There will also be an additional tour on Wednesday 8th March (International Women’s Day) with tours starting at 17.15 and 17.30
For more information and bookings click here.
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