Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 25 on 17/02/2006.

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Historically haunted

Edinburgh’s underground vaults attract historians as well as mediums. Are the rumours true that this is the most haunted place in Britain? Marieke Smegen tries to find out

Edinburgh’s underground vaults have always intrigued me. It is incredible to think that they were created more than 200 years ago, and they are still standing.

The vaults form the base of the South Bridge in the Old Town. This bridge was built to cross a deep ravine south of the High Street. The land at either side of the bridge was sold to local retailers for up to £150,000 per statute acre. This was a huge amount, especially in those days.

Merchants built shops and workshops on either side of the bridge, thus enclosing all but one of the arches. Business was to thrive, with goldsmiths, booksellers, wine merchants and hoteliers making the most of the new bridge.

In 1788 the grand opening of the South Bridge took place. However, the first person to cross the bridge was an old lady... in a hearse. She had died, but her wish to be the first person to cross the bridge was still granted. To many people this was a very bad omen – and in some ways they would be proved right.

The bridge consists of 19 arches. Although very dark, damp and smelly, archaeological evidence and old registers tell us that many people worked down there. Cobblers, wine merchants, bookbinders and jewellers could be found plying their trade underground.

However, during the building of the bridge, one very important thing was forgotten: the builders had not used any puddling clay, which is the substance that should have been used to waterproof the vaults. In Scotland it does occasionally rain, so the unde.....

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By Marieke Smegen

Section : Haunted Scotland

Page number : 52