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At the Back of this close was the Tweeddale mansion occupied by Dame Margaret Kerr, daughter of the 1st Earl of Lothian.
Later
the mansion became the Head Office of the British Linen Bank.
large sums of cash were transfered to and fro by the Banks Porters.
In 1806 one such porter, William Begbie was robbed and murdered of £4,392.
The murderer used a piece of paper on his knife so no blood would be splattered
on him, waited for the porter, stabbed him and dissapeared through the
close and back amongst the crowds on the high street. He was never caught
and the money was never recovered.
In 1817 until 1973 the building was occupied by Oliver & Boyd publishers.
The building was restored in the 1980s and in 1984 the Scottish Poetry Library was established.
Another interesting feature is the original wrought iron gates and a shelter for sedan chairs which were used to carry the richer citizens above the filth of the streets.
