Location of Baillie Berwicks Brewery Close in Cannongate?

[jmacg]

Hi,

On a poor relief application, my ancestor gave her place of birth (1799) in Edinburgh as: Baillie Berwicks Brewery Close.

Anyone know where this is/was? Her birth cert on Scotlands People only indicates Canongate Parish.

Thanks,

Janet

[alba99]

I don't know exactly where it was, but Canongate Parish is in Edinburgh. Look at Streetmap/Multimap etc and find the High street. This runs from the Castle eastwards to Holyrood Palace. The canongate parish is south of the high street and east of the castle . The area near the castle comes under St Giles parish.

Unfortunately most of this world heritage site was badly destroyed in a fire a few years back and is still lying in ruins whilst the planners argue over the replacement buildings to ensure it can continue as a heritage site.

I am sure someone  will give you more details

Les

Note: Sorry got Cowgate mixed up with Canongate. Canongate is the area near Holyrood House.  Scottish & Newcastle had a brewery in this area, before relocating elsewhere. The Scottish Parliament now stands on this site.

[alba99]

Look at this site http://www.edinburgh-royalmile.com/canongate_plan.html. Cannot see the close in question. May have been lost when the S&N Brewery was built or the Parliament.

A close is a communal entrance to a block of flats, tenement building

Les

[jmacg]

Thanks Les.

I haven't been able to find it on any old maps either, but appreciate the link.

Janet

[Little Nell]

This is pure speculation, but may assist.

Alexander Berwick and Co owned a brewery in Gentles Close, Canongate in 1825.  In fact the Berwick family seem to have been involved in brewing in a number of places.  Alexander was quite prosperous.  Perhaps his father was the original brewer.  It is possible that he is the Bailie Berwick referred to.

Gentles Close dids not have an entry onto the Canongate, but instead onto Back of Canongate - now Holyrood Road.  It was just south-west of Bull's Close where there was a brewery marked through most of the 19th century.  It seems to have expanded over time to become the Holyrood Brewery and was demolished in 1995.  Gentles Close would now seem to be Gentiles Entry.

I wonder if this is the close that was referred to, before it had a settled name?  Or that was how it was locally known?

Nell