Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Understand
Underground Edinburgh
As Edinburgh expanded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, new bridges were built to link
the Old Town to newly built areas to its north and south.
South Bridge
(completed 1788) and
George IV Bridge
(1834) lead southwards from the Royal Mile over the deep valley of the
Cowgate, but since their construction so many buildings have clustered around them that you
can hardly tell they are bridges: George IV Bridge has a total of nine arches but only two are
visible, and South Bridge has no less than 18 hidden arches.
These underground vaults were originally used as storerooms, workshops and drinking dens.
But as early 19th-century Edinburgh's population swelled with an influx of penniless High-
landers cleared from their lands and Irish refugees from the potato famine, the dark, dripping
chambers were given over to slum accommodation. The vaults were eventually cleared in the
late 19th century, then lay forgotten until 1994 when some of the South Bridge vaults were
opened to guided tours (from Mercat Tours,
Click here
), while others are now home to atmo-
spheric nightclubs such as Cabaret Voltaire (
Click here
)
and The Caves (
Click here
)
.
4
Gladstone's Land
HISTORIC BUILDING
GOOGLE MAP
One of Edinburgh's most prominent 17th-century merchants was Thomas Gledstanes,
who in 1617 purchased the tenement later known as Gladstone's Land. It contains fine
painted ceilings, walls and beams, and some splendid furniture from the 17th and 18th
centuries. The volunteer guides provide a wealth of anecdotes and a detailed history.
(NTS;
www.nts.org.uk
;
477 Lawnmarket; adult/child £6.50/5;
10am-6.30pm Jul & Aug, to 5pm Apr-Jun
& Sep-Oct;
2, 23, 27, 41, 42, 45)
5
Writers' Museum
Tucked down a close just east of Gladstone's Land you'll find Lady Stair's House (1622),
home to this museum that contains manuscripts and memorabilia belonging to three of
MUSEUM
