Herstory Tours

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The Real Mary King’s Close is bringing back the popular Herstory Tours to celebrate Women’s History Month this March.

About Herstory Tours

Listed Under Tour Events / Family and Kids Events / History Events

The underground experience is inviting you to journey underneath The Royal Mile and learn all about the incredible lives of the women who once lived, worked and died on the now hidden streets of Edinburgh.

The Herstory Tour shares stories of the women who faced suppression and persecution over the centuries but also of how the City’s most influential women pioneered gender equality, shaped the city’s history and impacted our lives today.

The tour is guided by one of the past residents of The Close, Jonet Nimmo, the youngest daughter of Mary King. Along the way, you will also meet two additional residents, Janet Chesney, a member of the last family to leave the historic street behind, and Mary King herself. You will learn about Sophia Jex-Blake, one of the revolutionary Edinburgh Seven who fought for women’s education and the right to practice medicine, Lang Meg, one of the city’s Foul Clengers, and Euphame MacCalzean who was charged of witchcraft unfairly

Mary King’s Close is known for having been “a haven for independent women” with 45% of properties having a female head of the household. Furthermore, Mary King obtained voting rights nearly 300 years ahead of her time. The Close is the perfect place to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, learning about the achievements of the women of the Close.

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All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.

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