Edinburgh’s Hidden Underground World

Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, has a hidden world of underground tunnels, vaults, and secret spaces that reveal a dark and complex history spanning over 1,000 years. The city’s unique terrain, formed by a glacier-eroded volcano, led to the development of a fortified city with limited space, causing residents to build upwards and downwards, resulting in a network of hidden cities beneath the streets.

Mary King’s Close

Mary King’s Close, a 350-foot-long street, was once lined with high-rise apartments and shops, but was eventually buried and forgotten. The close was originally an open-air passageway, but poor living conditions made life difficult for its residents. The area was hit hard by the plague, with city officials quarantining infected residents in their homes, leading to hundreds of deaths.

The Royal Mile and the Plague

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh was once the site of the city’s darkest days, particularly during the 1644 plague epidemic that had a mortality rate of up to 75%. The streets of 17th century Edinburgh were plagued by poor sanitation, with residents throwing their waste into the streets, creating a “river of sewage” that would flood homes and spread disease.

Underground Vaults and Tunnels

The city of Edinburgh underwent a significant transformation three centuries ago, where instead of expanding outward, the residents built upward by raising the level of the steep hillsides to create new streets and buildings. The existing structures were used to support the weight of the new constructions, resulting in the creation of underground vaults and basements, such as the ones beneath the Royal Exchange.

The Blair Street Vaults

The Blair Street Vaults, hidden beneath the South Bridge, were forgotten and sealed for almost 70 years until they were rediscovered. The vaults were created when businesses built shops and tenement houses on top of the bridge, covering 18 of the 19 arches, and then built floors and ceilings beneath the blocked-in arches, resulting in dark, vaulted chambers.

Illicit Activities and Secret Societies

The South Bridge vaults in Edinburgh were a hub for illicit activities, including bootlegging and murder, during the 19th century. The area’s narrow entry points and darkness made it an ideal location for smugglers to operate, and they devised clever ways to evade the law. Notorious murderers Burke and Hare were rumored to have used the vaults to store the corpses of their victims.

Edinburgh Castle and its Underground Tunnels

Edinburgh Castle, a 1,000-year-old fortress, hides a secret world of underground tunnels and spaces that few people know about. The dungeons beneath the castle were not the typical medieval dungeons, but rather subterranean rooms that were initially built as a bakehouse in the late 1800s to feed the soldiers on site.

Gilmerton Cove

Gilmerton Cove, a mysterious underground site, has a rumored past that rivals any other location. The cove, located beneath the small mining town of Watson, is said to have been used by Freemasons, an ultra-rich sex club, and possibly even the Knights Templar to hide the Holy Grail. Despite its history stretching back hundreds of years, little is known about Gilmerton Cove, but it was officially excavated in 2002, revealing seven subterranean rooms that were still in use until 225 years ago.

Theories and Speculations

Theories about the cove’s original purpose abound, with some believing it may have been used by Covenanters, a group of Scots who rose up against the King of England, during the Killing Times. A mysterious subterranean cove, potentially dating back nearly 400 years, has been discovered with features resembling a baptismal bowl and symbols linked to the Covenanters and Freemasons.

Conclusion

Edinburgh’s hidden underground world is a complex and fascinating network of tunnels, vaults, and secret spaces that reveal a dark and complex history. From the plague-ridden streets of the Royal Mile to the mysterious Gilmerton Cove, Edinburgh’s underground world is a testament to the city’s rich and complex history, with many secrets still waiting to be uncovered.

Term	Definition	Example Usage
Glacier-eroded volcano	A volcano that has been shaped by the movement of glaciers, resulting in a unique terrain.	Edinburgh’s cityscape was formed by a glacier-eroded volcano, leading to the development of a fortified city.
Fortified city	A city with defensive structures, such as walls and fortifications, to protect its inhabitants.	Edinburgh’s unique terrain led to the development of a fortified city with limited space.
Quarantine	The act of isolating people or animals to prevent the spread of disease.	City officials quarantined infected residents in their homes during the plague epidemic.
Mortality rate	The number of deaths per unit of population, often expressed as a percentage.	The 1644 plague epidemic had a mortality rate of up to 75% in Edinburgh.
Sanitation	The practice of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, especially in relation to waste disposal.	Poor sanitation in 17th century Edinburgh led to the spread of disease and the creation of a “river of sewage”.
Vaults	Underground chambers or rooms, often with a vaulted ceiling.	The Blair Street Vaults were hidden beneath the South Bridge and were used for illicit activities.
Illicit activities	Activities that are illegal or against the law, such as smuggling or murder.	The South Bridge vaults were a hub for illicit activities, including bootlegging and murder.
Subterranean	Located or occurring beneath the earth’s surface.	Gilmerton Cove is a subterranean site with a mysterious past.
Covenanters	A group of Scots who rose up against the King of England during the Killing Times.	Theories abound about Gilmerton Cove’s original purpose, including its possible use by Covenanters.
Freemasons	A fraternal organization with a rich history and symbolism.	Gilmerton Cove is said to have been used by Freemasons, among other groups.
Knights Templar	A medieval military order with a rich history and mythology.	Gilmerton Cove is rumored to have been used by the Knights Templar to hide the Holy Grail.
Baptismal bowl	A bowl or font used for baptismal ceremonies.	A mysterious subterranean cove features a baptismal bowl and symbols linked to the Covenanters and Freemasons.
Archaeological excavation	The process of uncovering and examining the remains of past human cultures.	Gilmerton Cove was officially excavated in 2002, revealing seven subterranean rooms.
Historical preservation	The act of protecting and conserving historical sites and artifacts for future generations.	Edinburgh’s underground world is a testament to the city’s rich and complex history, with many secrets still waiting to be uncovered.
Urban development	The process of planning and building cities, including the creation of infrastructure and architecture.	Edinburgh’s unique terrain led to the development of a fortified city with limited space, resulting in the creation of underground tunnels and vaults.
Geological formation	The process by which the earth’s surface is shaped by geological forces, such as glaciers and volcanoes.	Edinburgh’s cityscape was formed by a glacier-eroded volcano, resulting in a unique terrain.
Historical significance	The importance or relevance of a historical event, site, or artifact.	Edinburgh’s underground world is a testament to the city’s rich and complex history, with many secrets still waiting to be uncovered.
Cultural heritage	The customs, traditions, and artifacts that are passed down from one generation to the next.	Edinburgh’s underground world is a part of the city’s cultural heritage, reflecting its complex and fascinating history.
Architectural adaptation	The process of modifying or adapting buildings to suit changing needs or environments.	Edinburgh’s residents built upward by raising the level of the steep hillsides to create new streets and buildings, resulting in the creation of underground vaults and basements.
Urban legend	A story or myth that is passed down through popular culture, often with a basis in fact but also with embellishments or exaggerations.	Theories abound about Gilmerton Cove’s original purpose, including its possible use by the Knights Templar to hide the Holy Grail.
Historical mystery	An event or phenomenon from the past that is not fully understood or explained.	Edinburgh’s underground world is full of historical mysteries, including the true purpose of Gilmerton Cove and the secrets of the Blair Street Vaults.

Edinburgh’s Hidden Underground World Vocabulary Quiz

Question 1: What does the term “fortified” mean in the context of Edinburgh’s city development?

A) Built with the intention of expanding outward B) Constructed with strong defenses or walls for protection C) Designed to be easily accessible D) Developed with a focus on underground spaces

Question 2: What was the primary cause of the “river of sewage” in 17th century Edinburgh?

A) Heavy rainfall and flooding B) Poor sanitation and waste management C) Industrial pollution and waste D) Natural disasters and earthquakes

Question 3: What is the term for a group of Scots who rose up against the King of England during the Killing Times?

A) Freemasons B) Covenanters C) Knights Templar D) Royalists

Question 4: What does the term “quarantining” mean in the context of the plague epidemic in Edinburgh?

A) Isolating infected individuals to prevent the spread of disease B) Providing medical treatment to infected individuals C) Evacuating the city to prevent the spread of disease D) Ignoring the disease and hoping it would go away

Question 5: What is the term for a secret society that is rumored to have used Gilmerton Cove?

A) Freemasons B) Knights Templar C) Covenanters D) Illuminati

Answer Key:

1. B) Constructed with strong defenses or walls for protection 2. B) Poor sanitation and waste management 3. B) Covenanters 4. A) Isolating infected individuals to prevent the spread of disease 5. A) Freemasons

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Using the Past Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Historical Events

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started before a specific time in the past and continued up to that time. In the context of Edinburgh’s hidden underground world, this tense can be used to describe the historical events that led to the creation of the underground tunnels, vaults, and secret spaces. For example, “The city’s unique terrain had been formed by a glacier-eroded volcano, leading to the development of a fortified city with limited space.” This sentence uses the past perfect continuous tense to describe the process of the terrain being formed, which started before the development of the city.

Quiz: Using the Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Choose the correct answer for each question:

1. By the time the plague epidemic hit Edinburgh in 1644, the city’s residents ____________________ their waste into the streets for decades.

A) had been throwing

B) were throwing

C) threw

D) have thrown

2. The Royal Mile in Edinburgh ____________________ a major commercial center for centuries before it became a hub for illicit activities.

A) had been

B) was

C) has been

D) is being

3. The Blair Street Vaults ____________________ for almost 70 years before they were rediscovered.

A) had been sealed

B) were sealed

C) have been sealed

D) are being sealed

4. By the time the city officials quarantined infected residents in their homes, the plague ____________________ the city for months.

A) had been spreading

B) was spreading

C) has spread

D) spreads

5. The Gilmerton Cove ____________________ by various groups, including Freemasons and Covenanters, for centuries before it was officially excavated.

A) had been used

B) was used

C) has been used

D) is being used

Answer Key

1. A) had been throwing

2. A) had been

3. A) had been sealed

4. A) had been spreading

5. A) had been used