Mary Kings Close comprises a number of underground closes, with houses that stretch up to seven stories high, on either side of the narrow walkways. They were built in early 17th century, but there are records of tenements on the land as early as 1526. It’s bloody history include being ravaged by the Plague in 1645 and by a great fire in 1750, while during WWII the buildings were used as air raid shelters. The ghost of Mary King reportedly haunts the area, while the apparition of little girl whose face is covered in pustules from the plague, has been seen in the Shrine Room. The vision of a grim, grey-haired old man has also been seen on numerous occasions, while dismembered body parts have been reported floating above the ground, including a child's head and a severed arm.