The Real Mary King’s Close Blog

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5 Powerful Women from Edinburgh’s History

27th Feb 2020

Plagues, poverty and demanding kings: living through Edinburgh’s dark past would have been far from easy. Centuries controlled and retold only by men, it is hard to imagine the struggles women faced. This International Women’s Day we journey as far back as the 4th century to meet some of the powerful women from Edinburgh’s history who refused to be held back by their gender.  

Virtual Reality Prank – Meeting Edinburgh’s Plague Doctor in Real Life

31st Oct 2019

Did you know that the last outbreak of the plague in Edinburgh happened in 1645? Roughly 12,000 of Edinburgh’s residents died the slow and painful death thanks to being infected by bubonic, pneumonic or septicemic plague. However, there was a slight chance of survival if the Edinburgh Plague Doctor happened to treat you.

Edinburgh’s Plague Doctor: The True Story

24th Jun 2019

Allow us to take you back to the summer of 1645. The worst outbreak of the plague is ravaging Edinburgh. Just to make matters worse it has also taken the life of Edinburgh’s Plague Doctor, John Paulitious. Thousands of people have died. In fact, historians believe that at the height of this plague only 60 men remained to defend the city.