Deacon Brodies Tavern

Deacon Brodie’s Tavern on the Lawnmarket is marked by its prominent corner position along the Royal Mile and an ornately carved ceiling inside. It takes its name from William Brodie, a cabinet-maker and city councillor who lived here in the eighteenth century. By day, Brodie held a position of public trust as the Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Masons, yet he maintained a secret life as the leader of a burglary gang. He used his professional knowledge of locks and security to target the city's wealthiest homes, eventually stealing enough to fund a gambling habit and support two separate families.