Close encounter with trailblazing woman who defied gender rules
Ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, The Real Mary King’s Close has created a series of (Her)story Tours in support of the Strut Safe charity. Guest experience manager Katie Scott tells Ross Crae The Honest Truth about the women who shaped Edinburgh’s history Who was Mary King and why is her story so important?
Mary was a burgess born in Edinburgh in the 16th Century. As is the case with so many women in history, we don’t know a great deal about her but what we do know provides us with a glimpse of a characterful woman who was a successful merchant and mother.
She married Thomas Nimmo in 1616 yet, despite the tradition of taking a husband’s name, she kept her surname. When her husband passed away in 1629, he left Mary a title naming her a burgess. She gained a seat on the Edinburgh Council, granting her voting rights almost 300 years ahead of her time.
She died in 1645 and the close was renamed after her in 1694. This is quite remarkable as only two in Edinburgh today are named after women.
What is the idea behind the tours?
We have seen centuries controlled and retold by men so it can be hard to imagine the struggles women faced. It tends to be that women are missing in our history books but that doesn’t mean they were not there and making significant changes.
The strong heritage of Mary King’s Close makes it the ideal location for these social history tours. It was once “a haven for independent women”, with 45% of the properties having a female head of the household, which was very unusual for the time.
What can people expect when they come along?
Guests will follow Jonet Nimmo, Mary’s youngest daughter, underneath the streets of the Royal Mile and embark on a journey through time. They will learn truths about women who would have lived, worked and died on The Close. For the first time in one of our tours, visitors will even meet Mary King herself.
What did the team learn when researching for the project?
When we began exploring the idea of a tour dedicated to the women of the close, it was clear to us that we wanted to share their achievements, truths and impact on the world we know today.
The interesting thing about this research is it is often (as is most history) written from a male perspective. It can be slightly more difficult to find a first-hand account from a woman herself.
The whole experience has been insightful, upsetting at times, but it has been a true pleasure to tell these women’s stories.
Who are the other women celebrated on the tours?
Guests will hear real stories of some of the women who shaped Edinburgh’s history between the 16th and 19th Centuries. Visitors will discover what it was like to be a woman in the past and how they had to fight for their rights.
Our guests will also learn more about another famous and powerful Mary – Mary, Queen of Scots – and the Edinburgh Seven, women who fought to be able to study medicine at Edinburgh University. They will also hear the story of Euphame Maccalzean, a prominent woman in Edinburgh who was put to death because of a false witchcraft accusation.
Why are projects like these so important?
There are more statues of animals than women in Edinburgh, which shows how important it is to educate people about women’s past and their part in Scotland’s history.
We are also thrilled to be able to raise awareness about Strut Safe’s actions.
How did Strut Safe form and what services does it offer?
Strut Safe was founded in Edinburgh after the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021. It operates a Uk-wide free and non-judgmental phone line for people to call while they journey home, offering support and reassurance. Strut Safe also operates a walking service here in Edinburgh and plans to expand this to the rest of the UK. We are thrilled to be able to raise awareness and support Strut Safe as it is such an important cause.
For more information and to book a tour visit https://bit.ly/ Herstory_tour_book_