A 16thC 'marriage-stone' removed from Old Post House Close in the Cowgate and incorporated into the building which stands on the former site of the White Horse Inn (not to be confused with its namesake at the foot of the Canongate). The inscription NISI DEVS FRUSTRA—without God, [the building of the house is] in vain—appears above the initials of James Barron and his spouse Ellen Leslie who died in 1577. It is believed that the third numeral of the date 15[?]3 has been recut as a 2.
NT2673 : Holyrood Why not just look at the clock I hear someone asking. ;)
A. Because it was traditionally kept five minutes fast to encourage travellers to be on time for their (North British) trains at nearby Waverley station.