30/04/2026
Before The Lost Close became a place to explore Edinburgh’s heritage and enjoy shared stories and whisky, it was hidden from view.
In 1824, the Great Fire of Edinburgh swept through the Old Town, destroying large sections of the city. The rebuilding that followed reshaped streets and buildings, and some parts of the city were sealed off or built over. Among them was a narrow close that gradually disappeared from maps and public memory.
For almost 200 years, this close remained unseen, preserved beneath later construction as the city continued to change above it.
In 2019, during redevelopment works, the passageway was uncovered. Its structure offered a rare insight into the layered history of the Old Town — a physical reminder of how the city once functioned, and how fire, rebuilding, and time altered its layout.
Today, The Lost Close has been carefully brought back into use. It stands as a space where Edinburgh’s past can be experienced directly, connecting present-day visitors with the everyday spaces and stories of the city’s earlier generations.
