A letter from 1705 revealed a complaint about a man keeping an elephant in his flat.
Bizarre on Female First
Posting on Facebook, the Scottish capital's record keepers,Edinburgh Archives, unearthed the bizarre complaint made by Adam Kerr at the Dean of Guild Court on November 23, 1705, after the large animal was being housed above his baker's shop by Abraham Sever, which was being destroyed by dung and water coming from the floor above.
Subsequently, Abraham petitioned to the Town Council to be allowed to show his elephant to the citizens of Edinburgh, for which the Town Council duly gave their permission.
The council's response read: ''The Council upon ane petitione given by Abraham Sever Dutchman grants liberty to the petitioner to expose his elephant to all persones within the toun and suburbs upon his payment of ane gratification to the kirk treasurer for the use of the poor''.