Explaining where the Vaults are under the Streets of Edinburgh

[@theyearsshallrun6641]

Life long Edinburgh person and local history buff here. This is really good man, thanks!

[@DMCDObidon]

I was in a band in the early 2000, we used to love playing Bannerman's as the stage area is in one of the bridge vaults and the acoustics were brilliant.

[@frankgellenthin3733]

Excellent history class, Tony. I've heard of the vaults and that's about it. I had no idea they were under the bridges. Looking forward to more of Edinburgh's rich history in your style of storytelling.

[@kristieraynor7182]

I'll be there next month, and feel so much more comfortable about getting around because of your videos. I love hearing about all the history of the city!

[@billbremner9801]

That was the most interesting video I have watched after being brought up in Edinburgh many years ago never knew anything about it.

[@larryfurman6735]

Great video Tony. Folks can also get a meal or shop on East Market Street and see vaults that were relatively recently refurbished.

[@siobhannmccabe9696]

Yes it makes sense. I’ve never seen bridges like this anywhere else, it’s unique ❤ . Thanks for doing that Tony

[@alecpeck8319]

Great video mate. I’m the guide who bumped into you the other day on the Royal Mile that does the tours. Some interesting stuff in here I didn’t know. So thank you. I’ve trying for sometime to figure out the best way to articulate the whole vaults thing and I really liked the approach you took. Only thing I’d add to this is why the old town is built on this slope we call the royal mile in the first place as I think it’s one of the best untold stories of our city. And that’s because during the last ice age a glacier scraped over now castle rock (a volcano as you know) and as it did so it created a glacial tail (a ridge basically) that today we call the royal mile. As a result we only had a thin strip of land on which to build our city. A thin strip with steep sides which we today try and navigate via the closes that have been built into it. A result of that was we could only build up and so we became the most densely populated city in Europe. The glacial tail also meant no reservoirs for our city as it scraped all the non volcanic bits of land down to bedrock. So wells only for us. Many of which are still visible today. As a result of that we had no water into the buildings. So no sewage out. So ‘gardeloo’ or however it’s spelled. So NorLoch. So auld reekie. So new town. So this mad accidental social experiment where all classes of Edinburgh society lived in the same building because. Again. We only had a tiny wee strip of land to build on. Etc etc. the whole city is built on consequences of consequences. Basically the whole city was defined by a big piece of ice that scraped over a volcano about 22000 years ago. And I love that. It defines us to this day. It’s why we have to struggle to climb up the side of the glacial tail to visit the royal mile (I’m looking at you Scotsman steps). It’s why we have the vaults. It’s why we to this day have a stunning medieval city we can walk around that still looks materially the same as it did 500 years ago. It’s amazing. And it’s why I love this wee bit of planet earth we call home. Its kinda cool. 😊

[@Tatia146]

Brilliant! I knew the history but you explained it so well. All Edinburhgers should have a history lesson. I sat in the bus the other day and an elderly Edinburgh lady was telling her friend all about New Town and the residents. It was so fascinating that I nearly missed my stop!

[@felixthecat265]

One of the few businesses that did keep going in the vaults was the Waverly steel pen company which was on Blair Street. "They come as a boon, and a blessing to men; the Pickwick, the Owl and the Waverly Pen". My grandmother always used a Waverly Pen.

[@LittleDaveGuitar]

I've just got home to Dorset yesterday from a four day visit to Edinburgh with my partner who has been many times. Absolutely incredible place! We visited the vaults on a Double Dead Tour. Loved this video, will be subscribing and watching more. Thanks for making the great content. We're heading back in January.. Can't wait..

[@johnburns3703]

Good memories, I parked my bike at the top of Blair street, an easy bump start!

[@jstringfellow1961]

Such a good one. You did a really really good job with it. Thank you. I've heard and read about them, I've explored them as well. I like them. I wrote about them in my books. I just think they should be talked about and shared. Good and bad history is still history.

[@Steve-Duh-Rino]

Always enjoy watching your Saturday morning videos. It’s 5 AM here in South Carolina. Starts my day off nice and relaxed

[@shaneyb7643]

Im coming in 3 weeks to edingburgh and have booked one of the auld reekie tours. Cant wait to go through the vaults and see them.

[@shirleycarson646]

WOW! That was fascinating! Thanks, Tony!

[@aidanwilson6035]

Wishing you all the best Tony , just checked your community link again for any info , as you always let us know if you are not able to provide a Saturday video and now it's been 2 weeks makes me concerned for your father and also your child who recently had to go to hospital. Loyal Clan Broonford followers will support you every step of the way and understand that family come first 🙏

[@dmshofikulbd]

Looking very trim and smart. Enjoy your day

[@susanbibeault]

Thanks. This was so helpful. I took one of the tours back in 2003 or so and loved it. Not sure if you are still checking comments, but if so, do you know if any maps exist of the vaults themselves? I've been googling and all I ever find is that hand drawn schematic of the vaults similar to what you display at 5:55. I'm trying to understand where the white room etc are in location to each other. I'm in the US otherwise I'd do the tour again. :)

[@ClanBroonford]

Hi, I'm afraid I don't know if there are any professional schematics. Sorry.

[@susanbibeault]

@@ClanBroonford Thanks for the quick reply. It was worth a shot. I've spent the last few days googling and your video was the first time where the geography actually started to make sense. So thanks again.

[@Crusty_Camper]

I love visiting Edinburgh. I remember from school days that the volcano on which the Castle stands protected softer rock behind it from the ice sheet in the ice age, which is why the Royal Mile slopes down from the castle.

[@devanman7920]

Very interesting. I remember my first morning walking around Edinburgh old town I was so confused as I was walking around thinking I'm on ground level then suddenly realizing im above ground level on a bridge and not understanding how it happened 😅

[@irenearseneault355]

I grew up in Edinburgh but didn’t really know all about the vaults. My Mum worked in the old Blair’s store after which the street was named and often had to go way down into the store basement which was probably part of the original vaults. So very interesting Tony, you really did outdo yourself this time.

[@SuzyTaylor-o5l]

I have been in the vaults in Blackfriars’s street. They had put in a mirror and ended up with a poltergeist. It was thought to be the bloody McKenzie as the homeless person had broken into his krypt at the time. He kept biting and scratching people. They have now removed the mirror from the vault. I can,t remember what ghost tour I had taken during the festival. It was a while ago

[@Rick_Cleland]

😦😦😦

[@markshaw-sh6by]

Very interesting I’d love to have a look around the vaults

[@greenghoul157]

The vaults are fascinating, I've been in them a couple of times I'm going to book with Mercat Tours for this Halloween, I've not seen any ghosts but it is creepy down there, I can imagine the body snatchers Burke and Hare hiding bodies in the vaults

[@stevematthey6676]

I always enjoy your videos, Tony. We took a Mercat tour of the vaults during our visit to Edinburgh last September and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much fascinating history associated with the vaults.

[@martyalbershardt8314]

This helps! As a tourist, it's a little tricky! ; )

[@martyalbershardt8314]

Brilliant Tony!!!

[@thedrammed345]

Thanks Clanman, that was really interesting and well put, especially not focusing on ‘the plague’ too!

[@suetruchan7266]

Very interesting Tony. Thanks for the history lesson.

[@karstensawade]

As always, very interesting. Thank you Geetings from Berlin, of course

[@pollyduron674]

This was very interesting and informative. I want to do a tour of the Vaults with my boys. I think they would love it.

[@harveyfleming9572]

is your youtube video at cramond today clan broomford?

[@linelafrance2937]

One of your best video ! Thank you

[@lulubicus]

This was really educational, mate! Good work!

[@brianconnaughton1734]

Hey Tony thanks for doing this video great as always

[@andrewrichardson-z2e]

high tony my wife and i and some friends have done the vaults tour on cowgate well worth a visit and few bears in the bannermans bar next door great place for live music aswell all the best to you and your clan keep doing the great job showing off your great city

[@sandiandgregh]

We love your history videos. Are the vaults worth a tour? We’ve never done it…yet!

[@simonmcglary]

The way I’ve pictured it is the vaults are created by low level access buildings with the high level buildings built above them. Vaulted ceilings, apparently, are incredibly strong! I’m pretty sure the stage at Bannerman’s is under one of those vaulted ceilings.

[@stuartwatkins171]

Really interesting. Never fully understood that.

[@russmeans]

Great video Tony!

[@ingaborlowski1536]

Checking in to make sure you are doing alright. It’s been a couple weeks since your last video so I am worried and wondering if you’re okay. I hope all is well. Take care 🙋🏼‍♀️😊

[@Dutchmansladdie]

Thinking about you mate. ❤

[@Squeegeeclean]

Awesome video! I went to Edinburgh when I was in my 20’s and didn’t explore them and have forever kicked myself.

[@2210courtney]

Enjoyed that Tony

[@daveurwin6788]

Hi Tony, much luv and hugs from the Toon! A small suggestion, perhaps start putting your watermark through the centre of the screen occasionally, as your thief has started cropping to bypass it!

[@antonyetherington7358]

We love Edinburgh..great video and well narrated

[@johnburns3703]

Duns of Blair street was an institution, short elderly men in Broon coats!

[@user-tv5uz6vw5nedinburgh]

Nice work big supporter

[@michaelwiseman9021]

I have a trip to Scotland coming up in May and I've been watching your videos to decide what to visit in my 4 days in Edinburgh. Should a tour of the vaults be part of my visit or would you recommend other things instead?

[@clairt8043]

I've done the vaults tour and it was well worth it. Mary king's close is good too and a look around greyfriars cemetery.

[@kent3900]

I have been both scared and inebriated 🤪in these vaults, in equal measure over the years 😂

[@ClanBroonford]

😂

[@siobhannmccabe9696]

Those vaults scared me too 😂 👻

[@Rain-Peters]

Oh shoot I’m in Canada and seen my phone light up at 12:03 am and thought I’d caught a live! Lol.

[@JamesMcDermott1968x]

My god what did you do Tae get rid of the jaikies in Hunter Square, I've never seen it so quiet, there's usually someone there wae a can of special brew

[@blownouttransmission5832]

You should see the tunnel networks that run under the old city the vaults were atop of . They run all over edinburgh . I accessed from the basement tunnels of waverly Station. There is more under edinburgh than they are willing to tell us !

[@felixthecat265]

Not really.. Edinburgh is mostly built on volcanic rock which is hard to tunnel. The vaults were built in places where there were gaps in the rock ridges. This is why there is not an underground system in Edinburgh. Also the height difference between the High Street and Leith would mean you would have to have very deep stations in the old town or put the rails on stilts down by the Forth. This is why all the rail lines in Edinburgh go east - west and have to go out as far as Portobello to go north south.. The only way to access the city from the West was along the line from Bathgate into Corstorphine which is where the canal ran to its basin on Lothian Road. If you look there is a frieze showing the canal boats on the side of the building where the Odeon is. This is why there used to be big goods yards at Haymarket and opposite the Usher hall. All the cattle markets and slaughterhouses used to be in the wedge between Kings Stables Road and the West Port and out to Gorgie. The breweries were also there beside the rail sidings as moving water is expensive! Cattle got driven down from the North and then went south by canal and rail, hence "The Cowgate". There was a tunnel driven from Waverley station down to Scotland street in an attempt to make a north - south link, but the gradient was always too steep for normal rail traffic. There are tunnels under Leith Walk and up to Salisbury which were part of an old cable tram system, but most of them got blocked as part of the new tram development.

[@user-tv5uz6vw5nedinburgh]

The most beautiful city in the world 4 me. it has its dark places like everywhere I still get chills being on the trams now they are done no comment on that I still can't believe they had the fortuiety to build a castle next to a train station 😂

[@michaelrm83]

Fun video Tony, looks like a nice day there! Just want to let you know the insta link on the video description needs to be changed. 🙂

[@davidoliverwilliams3008]

Your videos are fantastic … informative and entertaining. The one thing I’d like you to take on board? Please look at the camera lens and not the viewer. You’re not looking at your audience … you’re addressing your commentary to someone to yourself!

[@Calum-vn1sl]

I just seen a tiktok of someone who couldn't understand how this worked in Edinburgh too. If I see it again I will put in comments to check this video out as alot of people were baffled

[@keithmclaren1766]

great as always,pity you cant shut down the fake site,i still wont use facebook due to this

[@SubhiSHashwa]

What about the story of people being buried alive in the vaults when the plague was on?