Gladstone's Land

This 17th century high-tenement house situated in the Old Town of the city still survives. It has been restored and furnished to look as how it did way back when. This is a popular tourist destination and is located on the Royal Mile. The tenement has six levels and housed different families from different social classes. Originally the building was owned by a textile merchant. However in 1934 the building was condemned and scheduled for demolition until it was rescued and restored by the National Trust of Scotland. While on the tour of the old tenement, I was amazed at the cramped spaces that these families resided in. I learned that the women sat in front of the fire with a shield infront of their face so that their wax makeup wouldn't melt off. We also learned about the term, "garde loo" or to toss human and other urban waste out the window. Before they threw it out they would yell the term "garde loo". I  do not know how people back then could live in those tight and unsasnitary conditions. And to think that Gladstone's land was a wealthy tenament makes me wonder how bad the poor tenaments must have been.