MHL Edinburgh

Night 1 - Blair Street Vaults

In the 16th century Edinburgh had two main thoroughfares - the High Street and the Cowgate - and linking these two streets was a labyrinth of closes and wynds where rich rubbed shoulders with poor.

To provide passage for horses and carriages, the massive South Bridge was built, with the original structure of the South Bridge creating a series of vaults. Over time, as new housing appeared on either side of the bridge, so the vaults disappeared from view. For nearly 40 years and until the early 19th century, these by now dark, inhospitable caves became home and workplace to the city's poorest. The Blair Street Vaults are built into the 19 arches of Edinburgh's south bridge. Under these arches is a catacomb of underground chambers which gradually became home to a thriving community. Many trades, first legal and then illicit, flourished. Its growth brought great advantage to some, but marked a decline in the fortunes of women and the poor.

Night 2 - Nichol Edwards Vaults

Blair Street Vaults Located in the old town below South Bridge are the infamous underground Niddry Street Vaults. Like the Blair Street vaults these were inhabited by the poor and destitute in late 18th century Edinburgh. These vaults formed part of the underground city which was home to some of the city's poorest.

The vaults contained families of 7-10 people in rooms the size of a small bedroom with no ventilation or windows and a fireplace that provided some small amount of heat. The vaults were lighted with fish oil lamps, which combined with stale waste from garbage and chamber pots must have made the area barely habitable.

Not far from the vaults along Niddry Street is the Nichol Edwards pub which has is own newly discovered underground vaults.

Night 3 - Mary Kings Close

Mary King's Close consists of a number of closes that were originally narrow streets with houses on either side. In 1753, the Burgh Council decided to develop a new building on this site, the Royal Exchange. The houses at the top of the closes were knocked down and part of the lower sections were kept and used as the foundations for the Royal Exchange. The remnants of the closes were left beneath the building, dark and ancient dwellings steeped in mystery.

In the mid-17th century the Old Town became infested with black rats from ships at Leith Docks and disease spread. The local council attempted to contain the plague and the decision was made to block up the entrances to Mary King's Close. Some plague victims are believed to have been locked in when this happened.