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© Mike Small |
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Edinburgh: Dark Wynds and Enlightened Minds. |
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© SCRAN
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On arriving at Waverley Station it only takes the briefest of glances to see the difference. To the North, you'll see the glamour of Princes Street, George Street and Queen Street: the well laid out streets with statues and open gardens. To the South, the tall, dark, almost foreboding sprawl of Old Edinburgh. Narrow wynds and closes connect the main streets and even now, there is a sense of darkness, in mood as well as the lack of light. Even the street names conjure up images - one can imagine the bustle of the Grassmarket, or the smell of the Cowgate.
With two such diverse areas, it's no surprise Edinburgh spawned the tale of Jekyll and Hyde.
"Modern Edinburgh presents that curious spectacle...of two distinct divisions, divided topographically as well as historically and socially - Old Edinburgh and New Edinburgh"
Rosaline Masson "Edinburgh" 1907.
The Old Town was based around the Royal Mile, stretching from the Castle to Holyrood Palace. The better off lived in tall buildings bordering the road; the less fortunate literally lived underground. These areas were sealed off when the outbreak of the plague became too much to contain. Recently, small areas of Edinburgh's "hidden city" have been revealed to the public. At the now famous Mary King's Close, directly below the rather more splendid City Chambers, visitors now leave toy dolls for a small girl who is said to haunt the area, a luxury that few who lived here would ever have seen.
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