Ritchie's Close

Ritchie's Close

From the late 1700s this close was named after the Ritchie family who made a living as nail makers, which at this time were made by hand. Continuing in this craft until the mid 1800s, they were also employed in the ironmongery trade and as tinsmiths, plumbers and gas fitters. 

In addition, the close housed a brewery, owned by the Steven brothers, which later moved to larger buildings in Waterloo Road in 1870. A small fee paying school run by John Seton was located at the head of the close.