Chessells Court

This remarkable collection of mansion houses was built by Wright and Merchant Chessel in 1748. The houses were heavily restored in the 1960s. As well as being of architectural interest, they may also have played a role in literary history. Some claim that the seminal novel ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ by Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by a burglary that took place here. Cabinet maker William Brodie lived a double life. He split his time between socialising with the well-to-do of Edinburgh and leading a ruthless group of burglars. It was in a raid on an Excise Office in Chessels Court that Brodie was finally caught. Stevenson was fascinated by his story and many believe that the novel was inspired by these events.