Edinburgh Vaults, Underground chambers beneath South Bridge in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Edinburgh Vaults is a network of chambers located beneath South Bridge in central Edinburgh, Scotland. The site consists of over one hundred arched rooms spread beneath the street above, connected by low passages running through the stonework.
The chambers opened in 1788 as part of South Bridge, built to link the old town ridge with the land to the south. Craftsmen and traders used the dry rooms at first for workshops and storage, but left after around thirty years because of dampness and poor air.
South Bridge looks like a simple raised street from above, yet these arched rooms hidden inside form one of the most recognized underground sites in the city today. Visitors on tours walk through the same narrow doorways and passages once used by shopkeepers and families who lived below street level.
Guided visits begin from points in the old town and typically last around one hour. Warm clothing is advisable, as temperatures inside remain cool even in summer and the stone walls hold moisture throughout the year.
Excavations in the eighties uncovered everyday items such as bottles, pottery fragments, and toys inside the chambers. These finds show that families with children once lived here, even though the rooms offered neither daylight nor fresh air.
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