Edinburgh'S South Bridge.
About Edinburgh'S South Bridge.
Welcome to a new page about the real history behind Edinburgh's famous "South Bridge".
Edinburgh'S South Bridge. Description
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. This IS the true story of The South Bridge and Vaults.
Reviews
Getting prepared to venture into a new section of the bridge tomorrow that has never been entered before, totally uncharted.... excited is an understatement... nervous also as the corridor is situated around 20ft BELOW the Cowgate road level....... keep checking back for updates.
Looking forward to this as I have just finished the book .
The great fire of 1824 and breaking the myth of the "hundreds" that were allegedly "cooked" alive........... :/
My favourite street of the South bridge scheme.
Here is a challenge from our favorite Greyfriars page.............. :)
Niddry Street South taken 1965. Picture credit to © Robert Blomfield c/o www.edinphoto.org.uk.
A fascinating page about Greyfriars Kirkyard. https://m.facebook.com/home.php…
Fun Fact...The first waxwork museum in Edinburgh came in 1863 and was situated at 11 South Bridge (previously the Andersons Temperance Hotel) This was a popular attraction in its day but in 1914 the owner Matthew McLeod decided to sell up and auction all the models off and this was the end of the "South Bridge waxworks museum".
This engraving from the 1800's shows the bottom of Niddry street south and the cowgate arch.
Located on the south side of the Cowgate directly across from Niddry Street. Now home to The "Rowan tree" bar and "The Caves" Venue along with "City of the dead tours" section of Vaults. The Buildings here that cover 7 of the 19 massive arches of South bridge all date from the 1790's and are mostly rubble build (built using stones from the houses and tenements that were knocked down to make way for the bridge).
Located on the south side of the Cowgate directly across from Niddry Street. Now home to The "Rowan tree" bar and "The Caves" Venue along with "City of the dead tours" section of Vaults. The Buildings here that cover 7 of the 19 massive arches of South bridge all date from the 1790's and are mostly rubble build (built using stones from the houses and tenements that were knocked down to make way for the bridge).
The directory of 1773 shows two trades within two prominent churches that would never be allowed today due to health and safety alone. 1. A candlemaker "Above" the Tron Church. 2. A Gunsmith "at" Magdalens chapel on the cowgate.
While going through the Edinburgh directory of 1773 this is the first time I have ever heard of "Lucky Toms Close". I now need to find out how it got that name.... #sidetracked
Once the board of trustees had been set up for the bridge they held a competition open to all to submit a design for the new bridge over the Cowgate. One of the biggest names to submit a design was Robert Adam from the famous Adam family that were highly respected Architects in Edinburgh and beyond. Adam's plan for South bridge was grand in many ways, including the cost... so the trustees declined his submission which didn't go down too well with Mr Adam. The winning design w...as from a relatively unknown architect called Robert Kay who took Adam's design and stripped it back to basics to what we see today with guidance from another well known architect, Thomas Hamilton. This album has a few prints of Robert Adams original plans for his view of what the South bridge would have looked like had he won the competition and contract.
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Once the board of trustees had been set up for the bridge they held a competition open to all to submit a design for the new bridge over the Cowgate. One of the biggest names to submit a design was Robert Adam from the famous Adam family that were highly respected Architects in Edinburgh and beyond. Adam's plan for South bridge was grand in many ways, including the cost... so the trustees declined his submission which didn't go down too well with Mr Adam. The winning design w...as from a relatively unknown architect called Robert Kay who took Adam's design and stripped it back to basics to what we see today with guidance from another well known architect, Thomas Hamilton. This album has a few prints of Robert Adams original plans for his view of what the South bridge would have looked like had he won the competition and contract.
See More