Welcome to a new page about the real history behind Edinburgh's famous "South Bridge". This IS the true story of The South Bridge and Vaults.
Edinburgh's South bridge was constructed between 1785-1788 the main use of this bridge was as an extension of the High street to connect the new town to the University via the North bridge without the need to walk down into the valley known as the Cowgate as that had become a dangerous and dirty overcrowded city slum by the 1750's. The act of Parliament was passed in 1775 and once all the planning
permission and land had been bought the foundation stone was laid in 1785 with the bridge opened to cross in 1788. The South bridge has a total of 19 arches with only one on display (the Cowgate arch) The other 18 are concealed behind the tenements that make up Blair street, Niddry street and South Niddry street. The reason the tenements are against the bridge is so when it was built South bridge street would just look like any other street in Edinburgh with shops along both sides of the street. Ground level is the cowgate so from there level 4 is the shops so the arches that were covered , Corridors were put in between the arches and tenements on both sides the east side having 3 levels and the west having 2 levels. The arches were then split in to 3 levels horizontally and once down the middle and turned into storage vaults for the businesses to use as storage or workshops. The main problem though was that the bridge was never waterproofed so every time it rains water pours into the vaults from the street above so the businesses soon moved out and left them empty. The start of the 1800's saw the vault system being used by the criminals of Edinburgh for illegal use of all kinds from prostitution to illicit drinking dens.......... and the rest they say,.....is history.....
This page will cover the years from 1750 including the area and Wynds that were demolished to make way for the bridge to present day and give the reader a true account into this amazing structure and the businesses that once thrived above and below ground including the living and working conditions and the unfortunates that lost their lifes within the walls of the vaults due to disease and poverty.
