Tron Kirk and South Bridge: The Gateway to the Vaults

Edinburgh, Scotland · United Kingdom · Urban site

Tron Kirk was raised on the orders of Charles I and completed in the 1640s.

Beside its wall, in 1697, the student Thomas Aikenhead uttered the blasphemy that would cost him his life. But it is the bridge in front of you that carries the darkest story. When South Bridge was opened in the 1780s, the first person to cross it was to be the wife of a respected judge. She died shortly before the ceremony, and so her coffin became the very first load carried across the bridge.

Ever since, South Bridge has been called unlucky from its first day. The arches were filled with small shops, and beneath them a whole labyrinth of vaults grew up in the dark. That is where we are heading now. Take a deep breath before we go down. Above, the city carries on as usual. Beneath your feet, Edinburgh's forgotten underworld is waiting.

FAQ

Where is Tron Kirk and South Bridge: The Gateway to the Vaults located?

Tron Kirk and South Bridge: The Gateway to the Vaults is in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Kim Traynor · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons