The development of Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, from the 11th to the 20th centuries

Archaeological excavations at Greyfriars Kirkhouse, Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, revealed unexpectedly early human activity dating back to the 11th or 12th century, challenging assumptions about the area's rural origins. The site, located at the confluence of two major cattle-droving routes, transitioned from a largely rural landscape to an urban setting in the late 15th century, marked by the division into burgage-plots and the construction of a tenement, suggesting occupation by merchants and burgesses. Further redevelopment occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with evidence pointing to industrial use as a brass foundry. The study employed archaeological excavations and historic-building recording to unravel this layered history.

Franklin, J., Cross, M., Mighall, T. M., Haston, S.-J., Smith, C., Morrison, S., & Holden, T. (2017). The development of Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, from the 11th to the 20th centuries. Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports, 71, 1–37. https://doi.org/10.9750/issn.2056-7421.2017.71.1-37