Nor Loch, reservoir in City of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, drained in 1820
Nor Loch was a body of water that once stretched from the base of Castle Hill to Market Street and Waverley Station. The land it occupied is now known as Princes Street Gardens and forms a central park in the heart of the city.
King James III had the area dammed and filled with water from Margaret's Well in the 1400s to defend the city from invasions. By the 18th century, residents decided to drain it as it had become a dumping site. The drainage process was gradual, and by 1787, Nor Loch was completely emptied.
The site is today accessible through Princes Street Gardens and The Mound, which lead from the valley to the older parts of the city. Visitors can explore the area on foot by walking through the park or climbing The Mound to get an overview of the city.
Workers digging around Waverley Station uncovered skeletons from earlier times, including three in a coffin discovered in 1820. These remains date from when suspected witches and condemned criminals were drowned in the loch, showing that The Mound was literally built over the remains of this tragic history.
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