of a royal charter was sought. Progress of the petition was slow due to the Jacobite rebellion and it made no mention of Scotland: "the Scots were looked on with open suspicion as open supporters of the exiled House of Stewart." The charter was eventually granted by George II on 6 July 1746 in the name of the British Linen Company.

Their first premises, purchased from the Tweeddale family, was the family mansionhouse on Tweeddale Court off the Royal Mile