The final residents of a historic Edinburgh alleyway have been honoured with a grave marker almost a century after their deaths, restoring dignity to their memory. Andrew and Margaret Chesney were the last people to work on Mary King's Close, a preserved tourist attraction off the Royal Mile, and their unmarked burial site has now been identified and commemorated.
Uncovering a Hidden History
Research conducted by the team at The Real Mary King's Close revealed that the Chesneys were buried in an unmarked grave at Morningside Cemetery. Andrew Chesney, a sawmaker who operated a family business beneath the Royal Mile, died in 1906 at age 74, while Margaret passed away in 1918 at 88. They share a burial plot with their nephew Andrew Marshall, who died in 1892 aged 19.
The Last of the Closes
Mary King's Close is one of the narrow alleyways, known as closes, that surround Edinburgh's central thoroughfare. These closes were once densely populated, and Chesney and Son Sawmakers was among the last businesses to operate there before commercial activity ceased in the early 20th century. The Chesneys later moved to south Edinburgh, but their legacy remains integral to the close's story.
A Team Effort in Preservation
The project to place the grave marker was supported by local historian Robbie MacRae and involved researchers like Ashleigh More. Paul Nixon, general manager at The Real Mary King's Close, emphasised the importance of connecting historical interpretation with real people, ensuring the Chesneys are honoured within Edinburgh's wider narrative.
Restoring Dignity and Remembrance
Characters portraying the Chesneys feature in the attraction's tours, making their unmarked grave a poignant oversight. The new marker aims to restore a sense of dignity, with the team taking pride in preserving Edinburgh's social history through respectful acts like this.
Ashleigh More reflected on the significance, noting that talking about the Chesneys daily on tours made it essential to keep their memory alive. This quiet family, though everyday members of the close, are now properly remembered as part of the city's rich heritage.
