You may have never noticed the cobblestone marked with a copper 'S' at the foot of the Royal Mile, but it once had an significant purpose.

It's actually a Sanctuary Stone, which marked the five-mile boundary known as Abbey Sanctuary that gave protection to debtors seeking refuge from their creditors.

Today Abbey Sanctuary (pictured below) is a bookshop but, like many holy places of its time, it once offered sanctuary to criminals.

Abbey Sanctuary was a place of refuge for debtors

However when the land came under the control of the crown in the late 16th century the right to claim sanctuary was restricted to financial debtors only.

The sanctuary covered an area that included most of Holyrood Park; outside those confines debtors faced jailed and violence from those they owed money to.

Sanctuary seekers who wanted to stay for more than 24 hours had to apply to the Bailie of the Abbey, many were given accommodation in what became known as the Abbey Lairds.

In 1880 a law was passed that meant debtors could no longer be thrown in prison and the sanctuary ceased to exist after becoming unnecessary.

You can find the Sanctuary Stone between the junction of Horse Wynd and Abbey Strand at the foot of the Mile.

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