Welcome back to This Day in Scottish History! I’m your host, Colin MacDonald. Today, we turn our attention to a devastating event that struck the heart of Edinburgh on February 3, 1700—The Lesser Great Fire of Edinburgh. Though it may not be as well-known as the Great Fire of London, this inferno wreaked havoc in the historic Parliament Close area, leaving 400 families homeless and forever altering the city’s landscape.

At the dawn of the 18th century, Edinburgh was a densely packed city, its towering tenements and narrow wynds creating a labyrinth of wooden structures huddled close together. The Old Town, dominated by the imposing Edinburgh Castle and the grand Parliament House, was a hub of political and commercial activity. But it was also a city at constant risk of fire. Open hearths, candlelight, and wooden beams made for a dangerous combination, and fires were a frequent and terrifying reality.

On the night of February 3, flames erupted in the Parliament Close area, near the heart of Scotland’s legal and political life. Parliament Close, adjacent to St Giles’ Cathedral and Parliament House, was home to many of the city’s most influential figures—lawyers, merchants, and officials.

The fire quickly took hold, racing through the densely packed buildings. Eyewitnesses described how the flames leapt from one tenement to another, consuming everything in their path. The strong winds that swept through Edinburgh’s streets only fed the inferno, making it impossible for early firefighting efforts to contain it. Residents fled in terror, carrying what little they could as their homes were reduced to ashes.

By the time the fire had burned itself out, over 400 families had been left homeless. Given Edinburgh’s already overcrowded living conditions, this was a disaster of immense proportions. Many had no choice but to seek shelter in makeshift lodgings or rely on the charity of their fellow citizens.

This fire, though devastating, became known as the Lesser Great Fire to distinguish it from the even larger fire that would engulf Edinburgh in 1824. But for those who lived through it, there was nothing “lesser” about the suffering and loss it caused.

The Lesser Great Fire was a harsh reminder of the dangers of urban living in pre-modern Scotland. It spurred conversations about fire safety, though real reforms would take much longer to implement. Over time, the city introduced regulations to reduce fire hazards, including better building materials and the establishment of more formal firefighting efforts.

Today, the Parliament Close area is part of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Though much has changed since 1700, reminders of the city’s fiery past still linger in its architecture and local memory.

The fire of February 3, 1700, was a moment of tragedy, but it also demonstrated the resilience of the people of Edinburgh. They rebuilt, adapted, and learned from the disaster, shaping the city we know today.

That’s all for this episode of This Day in Scottish History. Thank you for joining me, and be sure to tune in tomorrow for another journey into Scotland’s past. Until then—Haste Ye Back!

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