Around 1828, William Hare earned his money in Edinburgh by renting out Lodging House, a sort of apartment block. But it wasn't exactly a goldmine. When a tenant died owing him four pounds, Hare decided he'd had quite enough. This was simply costing him money! He complained to William Burke, a close friend, namesake, and 'partner in crime'. They quickly agreed that they needed to earn more money. But how?
The men stopped at nothing and decided to remove the tenant's lifeless body from the coffin and sell it. To avoid being caught, they filled the empty coffin with tree bark. Perfect, job done! Knox, a well known professor, heard about the two criminals' dark plan and immediately offered £7 for the corpse. Deal! Hare and Burke looked at each other gleefully, thinking the same thing: this is a golden business. In the months that followed, they sold increasingly more corpses. And not only those of people who had died naturally... Until a new tenant found a corpse under her bed and called the police. There was nothing for Hare and Burke to do but flee. Rumours had been circulating in the criminal underworld for years that Edinburgh had a secret exit. Exactly what they need right now!
Escape the city
You too will search for Edinburgh's secret exit. You will receive assignments, riddles, and clues via the app on your smartphone. In the meantime, discover the city's most beautiful spots, but don't forget to keep an eye on the time! If you escape Edinburgh within two hours, you'll earn a spot on the Wall of Fame! The search begins at Canongate Kirk. Good luck!
