In particular, today we will discuss one of the aspects of its gloomy capital: Edinburgh. Visited every year by thousands of tourists, the city is famous for its marvellous medieval architecture that makes it a real historical gem, guarded from above by Castlerock; but also for its history full of coups, wars, betrayals and murders.
The very morphology of the territory has defined its origin: forged by the fire of a volcanic land and by the primordial ice, the city is born where the elements meet - thus creating the characteristic hilly landscape, making it the perfect stronghold.
Contested between Celts and Romans first, Scottish clans and by the English then, Edinburgh was enclosed by solid walls, giving it its fortified appearance: as the population grew, space decreased; and, as its people could not leave the safety of the fortress, the buildings began to erect themselves vertically. This spasmodic search for space soon transformed the city landscape into a dense labyrinth of narrow and dark streets, compressed between wonky multi-storey buildings that reached the height of 14 floors.
Once the secular war with the English ended, the citizens of Edinburgh finally decided it was safe enough to move outside the city walls: the wealthier families, fed up with claustrophobic atmosphere that impregnated the town, began to build their new homes in what is now called "New Town": the exact opposite of the historic centre “Old Town”, by name e by nature. Spacious houses with large windows, wide streets lined with tree-lined avenues... Everything aimed to be bright, airy and orderly - letting the old part of the city decay and inhabited by the poorest families.
Bridges were built, in order to connect one part to another of Edinburgh without having to go through the labyrinth of twisted, smelly streets. The South bridge, in particular, was an architectural marvel for the time: commercial buildings, towering over the city landscape, were built above the structure of stone arches.
As we have already seen above, Edinburgh was a densely populated city but with a scarcity of building land so the new bridge became a great opportunity to optimise spaces; other buildings were built close to the structure - thus obscuring the arches and closing it completely on both sides. This secluded area soon became used as warehouses and workshops; until their complete decline due to continuous water infiltrations… And it is at that point that, in the silent darkness, this hidden zone of the city took on a completely different turn.
Sheltered from sunlight, the underground chambers were once again populated: Irish migrants and rural people found refuge in this labyrinth; looking for a better life and the mercy of unscrupulous loan sharks who rent tiny bunks to entire families - without access to nor daylight or running water.
Not only the poor and desperate people benefited from a clandestine shelter far from prying eyes: illegal taverns, smugglers, mercenaries and even body snatchers took advantage of the favour of darkness. Thefts, rapes and murders were the order of the day for the unfortunates who resided in the vaults.
Unfortunately, there are not many findings, except for the few objects found here and there in the various rooms: being mostly illegal activities, clearly many traces were lost.
But some remains have remained, echoes of lost memories: broken toys, horseshoes, buttons, shards of mugs and bottles…
Other testimonies, however, can be found in the subtle planes; presences that still haunt this dungeon and that can be felt by the most attentive visitors.
The maze of rooms and corridors turns out to be one of the most haunted places in the world - thanks to its history of violence, death and suffering.
Closed to the general public for security reasons and its preservation, it can be visited on one of the many tours that can be booked in town. More than a few unfortunate tourists had to deal with these ghostly encounters, from the mere perception of soft whispers and presences to actual full appearances.
Mr Boots
One of the most well-known presence in vaults, he is a restless spirit characterized by a very negative energy. It is suspected to have murdered a woman and hidden the corpse inside his home in one of the vaults, now he attacks the unsuspecting passers who happen to be unfortunately near the place of the crime. The nickname derives from the characteristic sound of heavy steps, which accompany his apparitions. Those who have had the misfortune to see him describe him as a tall, shaggy man wearing a pair of high black boots.
The Aristocrat
Often spotted in fancy regency clothes and tuba near an old clandestine tavern, he grins while he watches the passers, leaning against the wall. He is supposed to be one of the customers; despite its reputation as a dangerous place, the vaults were often frequented by artists and wealthy people in search of inspiration or adventures. He is a fairly sinister presence, but he is not known to interact with visitors in a hostile manner.
The Cobbler
The spirit of a merchant who worked in vaults probably as a shoe maker; unlike the first two spirits, he is a positive presence. He is normally spotted with a work apron, while smiling to visitors.
The Child
Another positive presence is that of a child, whose name is unfortunately not known (like many of the souls who have passed by this sinister place). Described as a 6-year-old blond boy wearing an elegant blue suit, he is famous for taking visitors by the hand and pulling their clothes.
These are the most known and reported by numerous tourists, but we are sure that there are many others still wandering in this dark maze forgotten by time. Probably waiting to be found and heard.
♃Ludna
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