Wide Close

Wide Close

In early medieval times this close formed part of the Via Regia which led to Lanark Castle at the foot of what is now Castlegate. 

Wide Close remained an important route into the 19th century and was home to two inns and a smithy. It also led to the tannery works belonging to the Vassie family. 

Local legend has it that in the early 1900s, an elephant from a visiting circus rampaged through Wide Close after getting drunk on beer that it had either been given or helped itself to from a nearby inn, where it was being stabled.

The illustrations below are the work of local artists Kirsten Harris whose website is here and Ronnie Cruwys here.