History of the Edinburgh Royal Mile

"Royal Mile" by Dave W licensed under C.C. by 2.0

Inhabited for over 7,000 years and complete with a castle of grand proportions, meandering closes and worn-down cobbled streets, it’s hardly surprising that the epicentre of Edinburgh’s unique past is its famous Royal Mile.

Known for its gruesome tales and triumphant stories of glory, the Royal Mile is steeped in rich history. However, the name “Royal Mile” is perhaps a little misleading – without doubt it’s an energetic walk, but it’s actually over a mile in length – by 107 yards. Always the central focus of the city, the name Edinburgh was derived from the Gaelic “Dun Eidyn” which translates appropriately into “hillfort on the sloping ridge.”

It wasn’t until 1124 that the Royal Mile began to thrive. King David I, was inspired by the hill fort (now known as Edinburgh Castle) supported by the iconic crag rock. Granting trading rights to the Township, the Lawnmarket became an open-air market. King David I continued to develop the town, planning out the Via Regis (“Way of the King”) – now better known today as High Street.

The Royal Mile became a hotspot and sought after housing area. Eventually, by 1591, conditions had devolved from luxury residencies to increasingly squalid and unsanitary conditions in stone-built residencies. The only exceptions were the wealthy, tucked away in the fashionable Cannongate area. 1645 brought more squalid conditions, and by this time it is estimated around 70,000 people were permanently residing in the Royal Mile, in accommodation reaching fourteen stories high and often with ten people sharing a single room.

The end of the 18^th Century began to see some improvement, particularly with the introduction of street cleaning. In 1865, acting Lord Provost William Chambers focused on restoring the city to its former glory, ordering restorations and new tenement flats to be built. Town planner, Partick Geddes, in the 1880s continued to build on this work and form the foundations of the Edinburgh we know today.

Find Out More About the History of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile

Edinburgh’s history knows no bounds – from tales of body-snatchers roaming dimly-lit graveyards in the dead of night, to the practice of drowning suspected witches in the town’s drinking water well. To find out more about the harsh realities of 17^th century life in Edinburgh, why not visit its ancient streets for yourself? Book one of our tours and explore the RealMary King’s Close and the history of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.