1685 - The Netherbow Port

[This is part of  a series of articles on the year 1685.  You might want to read the Overview first.]

June 20, 1685

Two days after his capture, Archibald Campbell, the 9th Earl of Argyll and the leader of the rebellion in Scotland, was escorted into Edinburgh.  It was late in the evening, but it is likely his approach had been announced and many were on hand to witness the champion of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

The procession stopped at the Watergate which was located at the foot of Canongate near Holyrood Palace. Argyll was given the option of walking or riding in a cart up what is now called "The royal mile" to the Edinburgh Tolbooth.  Although he was weak he chose walking as "he had no liking for that kind of coach or coachman - meaning the hangman."

The procession was led by a portion of the mounted guards.  Next came the hangman who was tethered to the prisoner.  Argyll walked with no hat, hands tied behind him, and a rope about his waist that was attached to the hangman.  After a gap he was followed by more mounted guards.

The procession passed the Canongate Tolbooth where my relative, Robert Campbell, would be imprisoned in a few days.

About half way up the hill they passed through the main entrance to Edinburgh called the Netherbow Port.  Many a Covenanter's head had hung on this gate as a message to the populus.  Only four years ago, he himself had entered this gate carrying the royal crown at the opening of the Scottish Parliament.

This gate had been the processional route into Edinburgh for as long as anyone could remember.  It had become part of the massive Flodden Wall that was erected in the years following the Battle of Flodden in 1513.  The gate was rebuilt in the fashion seen below in 1571. Prior versions of the gate however existed at least as early as 1369.

Drawing of Netherbow gate.  More drawings at this link: Netherbow Port

The Netherbow Port was demolished in 1764.  All that remains are the clock, a stone tablet, and the port bell.

The tablet from James VI was salvaged from the gate and is now in the wall just east of the John Knox House.

Tablet from Netherbow Port

The Netherbow bell which was rung to announce executions and other public events was also salvaged and hangs in a belfry above the salvaged tablet.  (see below)

The tablet and bell are now near the John Knox House.  It can be seen on the right of this picture.

The clock was transferred to the Orphan Hospital in Calton Hollow.  When that was also demolished the clock found its current home atop the Former Dean Orphanage. (55.95168 -3.22424)

Netherbow clock on Former Dean Orphanage or Modern Art Two

The passage through the Netherbow Port was quite narrow.  This can be seen by the outline in brass markers that are at the corner of High Street and St. Mary's Street.  This photo is taken with High Street to the right and Canongate to the left.  The second photo connects the brass markers with red to make the outline easier to see.

Outline of Netherbow Port in brass markers.

Enhanced outline of Netherbow Port

Brass marker in High Street with date of "1571", the year the port was rebuilt.

The area near the gate became known as the "World's End."  Many poorer residents never left the city because a toll was required when passing through the gate, therefore their world only extended to the gate.

In 2014 I enjoyed a dinner at the World's End Bar with Mike & Mary Anne Campbell and Gayle & Jeanie Campbell.  We had met only days earlier on the Campbell Tour of Scotland.  We squeezed into a corner and enjoyed talking about where we had been that day.

The next day I had lunch across the street at 1 High Street.  This location was also considered "the world's end."  A talkative local at the bar told me of his adventures and insisted I take a sip of his whiskey.  The World's End did not seem such a bad place today.