At one time the site of Lanark’s Tontine Inn, part of which later became the Bruce Arm’s public house, this close is named after Thomas Thomson, innkeeper. He, and later his wife Charlotte, ran the pub during the mid to late 1800s. The previous owner was Thomas Prosser, Charlotte’s father.

This close led to the Rope Walk of Alexander Sharpe. The Rope Walk was a long covered shed about 250 yards long where Sharpe made ropes, nets and other similar products. Sharpe was in business here by 1837 and until after 1861.