The Ghosts of Mary Kings Close: Edinburgh's Haunted Underground

[@jesseglass5674]

I brought a group of Japanese students to the University of Edinburgh to study English back in the late 1990s and took the tour one dank night and it was fascinating. I brought a small battery-operated cassette recorder with me to catch the stories of the guide and during one part of the tour I took a small detour and walked into a vault away from the others and there I caught a small high voice clearly saying 'help me'. I played it back over and over in my room and there it was and I still have it. Later I had a chance to talk to some of the students working with the ESL program, at the U. of Edinburgh, and they'd had experiences there. One story in particular told me by a young woman stays with me. She had been a part of a Fringe Festival performance centered on the Close and her part was to lie inside a glass-topped coffin as the participants moved from station to station through the Close. The final group had just passed through and as she was waiting for word via walkie-talkie to close her position, the coffin rocked on its support as if someone had leaned their weight on the glass top and was looking in at her. She opened her eyes a tad to check if it was a late-comer, but it was in fact no one. Yet the feeling of someone leaning on the coffin persisted until someone from the crew came back to check on her and it lifted right before they arrived. Jesse

[@thurayya8905]

Wow! Thank you for sharing this.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Oh wow, is the recording on tape still? I posted about the Close on instagram and had a few people contact me about their experiences. It seems to be a particularly active location still.

[@jesseglass5674]

Yes, I still have it and would be happy to share it. Jesse @@eerieedinburgh I love Edinburgh and want to come back someday. I was there right before the biting, scratching ghost started its thing. (As per The Ghost that Haunted Itself). I do recall passing that mausoleum on my way to the Coventer's prison section and feeling definitely freaked out by the place. There was another ghostly thing happening when I was there: in the Castle, there was an old drummer's jacket on display inside of a case and people were seeing the arms of the jacket move as if striking a drum. You might check that story out! I have also been fascinated by the story of the tiny coffins on Arthur's Seat and believe I found that something similar happened in Baltimore city, c. 1850, or so. Take it easy! Jesse Glass, poet, artist, and folklorist. My archives are at the University of Maryland, College Park, and you contact me vid them., if you like.

[@cornwallparanormalresearch2378]

Awesome Big like 👍 👌

[@sandcat66]

Awe poor wee Annie, broke my heart. The music is so eerie. Thankyou i love the stories.

[@leonaheraty3760]

Thank you for sharing these spooky and sad hauntings.

[@eerieedinburgh]

My pleasure, hope you enjoyed them 😊

[@jez6208]

Again?? How do you do it? Marvellous! You should be proud of what you do. Thank you. 👍

[@eerieedinburgh]

😊 comments like yours give me the inspiration. Thank you 🫂

[@lizardspoint]

So interesting, so sorry about little Annie , hope the toys bring her comfort xx

[@eerieedinburgh]

Psychics have said she's found a bit of peace since she's been brought toys 👍🏻

[@eleanorbarrie3527]

Love yer vids and the guid Scots voice that accompanies them!🤩

[@eerieedinburgh]

Haha, yer awfy kind my friend 😊

[@ghorsley9437]

I asked you to cover this and I wasn’t disappointed. I knew about Annie but not the others. This is your best work yet. The delivery, music and sounds were spot on as was the research. I cannot thank you enough. My best regards 😊

[@cavecavecavecave5295]

Brilliant, informative and gripping as ever. Thank you for this superb channel.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Always a pleasure 😊 glad you enjoyed and thank you for the lovely feedback.

[@Duececoupe]

Most excellent video, as always! 🤜🏻🤛🏻🍻

[@eerieedinburgh]

Aww, thank you 💪🏻

[@Duececoupe]

You're most welcome, always a pleasure! 🤜🏻🤛🏻🍻

[@matildamartin2811]

Years ago I read about this Close in an old Edinburgh history book. I was born in Edinburgh and had never known about it,although I was born just a stones throw away.The book said if you made an appointment you could be shown around by a retired member of the CityChambers staff, who did it voluntary. We did this but unfortunately we were unable to visit on the day and moved out of Edinburgh shortly afterwards. This was before it became a tourist attraction. I believe the story about it was published in a Magazine and then it became a money spinner. I was so used to life in an old Edinburgh Close. Most of my friends when we were children, lived in them before they were tarted up for tourism, while the original tenants were moved out to Council estates. My family included.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Yeah, very difficult to imagine the Royal Mile being a residential area these days.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Excellent as always.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thank you 😊

[@ambarrose]

Sometimes we sort of forget that little children died too, sometimes horrific deaths. Before the Victorian time, as soon as a child was able to stand and walk they would become a member of society and yes, work. If this little girl was still asking for her doll, then she was really small. I can't quite imagine how terrifying it must have been to be alone for God knows how long, all by herself. Today we have a hard time leaving a 12-year-old alone sometimes. The Historical perspective is... Horrifying.

[@billyaitken7461]

A great day just got better with a fresh Eerie Edinburgh to view 🎥😎👍. Nice that Annie finds mote attention now than when she was alive😊👍

[@eerieedinburgh]

Yeah, sad story with a sort of happy ending. Hope you're keeping well.

[@billyaitken7461]

@@eerieedinburgh Thanks for asking, first time in a long time I can say that things are going swimmingly 😊. Significant stress relieving events in my life today, plus more tales from the auld toon …. It’s better than the last two Christmas’s, that’s for sure 😎👍

[@eerieedinburgh]

@@billyaitken7461 Really pleased to hear that, i hope the good news continues 👏🏻

[@billyaitken7461]

@@eerieedinburgh our house sold, just need the one we want to buy to go through 🤞. Hope the weather’s fairing up in your corner of the world. I saw someone with a floodwater torrent flowing through their garden in Perthshire😬

[@DontScareClaire]

Such a fascinating place, with a dark, sad history attached to it - it’s no wonder the place is claimed to be haunted. Fabulous video, I always love the music and visuals you use in your content! 👏

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thanks Claire. I use Nightcafe for the AI images - i know its bad but its sooo useful for amadans like me 😊 the video you did on the Close was excellent, learned a lot about the history 👍🏻

[@iainmelville9411]

I’ve never heard a full account of Mary King’s Close before. It was fascinating and very interesting. A great episode. Thank You.

[@eerieedinburgh]

My pleasure, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@ktswandering]

Thanks

[@eerieedinburgh]

I'm running out of ways to say thank you, Kellie but again i am so grateful to you 😊 thank you.

[@ktswandering]

Just keep doing what you do.....I understand your appreciation and would hate for it to feel a chore. I simply believe that your channel is the best I have found so far with regard to the paranormal and the history behind it. There will be times when I am broke, or travelling and I won't be able to contribute, so please don't feel obliged to thank me. Your vids are thanks enough.....😎

[@ktswandering]

I hope to one day walk the cobbled streets and underground of this place....so drawn to it. Thanks again for your vids.

[@eerieedinburgh]

I hope you're able to also. It is a fascinating location.

[@Folklore-evermore1987]

I visited Edinburgh this week and really enjoyed going on the Real Mary King's Close tour. Wish I'd experienced some activity though! But it was definitely eerie.

[@northedinburghnightmares7533]

I think I told you the story about when I went there with the church of Scotland in the mid-90s. No lights and all done with torches. It was pretty bloody spooky.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Ohhh, no. I don't think you did but that must have been something. Need to fill me in next time we catch up.

[@prd1073]

My sister and I visited in Feb 2011, and we both felt something touch our legs/pull at hem of coats in the vicinity of Annie's home. We also chose to get a photograph taken at the end, and there was a number of orbs and what appeared to be "shining eyes" in the photo. It was deeply affecting being there.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Wow!

[@pinklady7184]

Ghosts were probably fascinated by the fabrics of your coats that looked different from what they wore during their lifetime. Curiousity always makes them touch items like plastic goods, ball-point pens, makeup kits, wardrobes, etc.

[@susanbutler2542]

Thank you really great story very interesting. Keep up the great job. Love the channel.❤

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thank's Susan 😊

[@susanbutler2542]

@@eerieedinburgh 💜💜💜🎃💙💙💙🎃🎃🎃🎃

[@jared1870]

More great tales, Mr. Eerie, thanks once again.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thank you my friend, i hope you're keeping well.

[@MahnoorKhan-wn6eg]

So informative and interesting. Just recently discovered your channel and now I am hooked to it. Keep it up 👍

[@edenmoon8275]

I visited a year ago and I didn't feel anything in Annie's room but I entered a room that we were told was a workshop and I immediately wanted to get out of there, awful feeling. The guide after told us that King Charles had visited there and wouldn't go in that room because the search dogs wouldn't go in there.

[@unikkorns]

I wish they hadn't made it as touristy as it is now. I did a walking tour when I was a teen before the "Real Mary King's Close" stuff was all there and just going down and seeing it undisturbed after so long was spooky enough. I'm glad we went to see it before it got done up like it is now. The spooky aspect of it is intriguing, but the history also is fascinating. We got to see inside one of the houses and explore more of the rooms back then without silly mannequins, projectors, and tourist fanfare.

[@eerieedinburgh]

I never go to, so little envious. I think i first went down in around 2009. I did get into the vaults in the mid 90's though. An after party ended up in a flat on Niddry Street that had a hole in the wall that led into the vaults. For the life of me i cant remember which flat though 🤦‍♂️

[@unikkorns]

@@eerieedinburgh Wow, that's really cool. I live in the States so I love going back to visit and seeing places in Edinburgh that are much older than the USA. My sister was just staying in this Georgian era AirBNB last time we visited in July and it blows my mind how old those places are, even in the "newer" part of town. But sitting right on top of the Vaults would be amazing and so spooky.

[@greenghoul157]

​@@eerieedinburgh I've been on that tour the story behind that is it was once student accomodation that was abandoned after the vaults were discovered behind the wall

[@greenghoul157]

My dad was also lucky enough to explore Mary King's Close before it was opened to the public and I went on one of the first tours, definitely spookier back then

[@jamiecheslo]

Great spooky tales! The "Annie" story was heartbreaking. Can't wait to see Mary King's Close in person. Thanks so much for your excellent uploads! Cheers from Canada. 🍻

[@eerieedinburgh]

Absolute pleasure. Thank you for watching and feeding back 😊

[@glendaeden2501]

Visited Mary King’s Close in 2018. Cannot begin to imagine what it was like to live in those conditions back in the day.

[@thurayya8905]

What a chilling tale. When I heard of all the specters the family saw, I thought that was quite a lot, then you said that was all in one night! Even when you take into account the story may have grown in the telling, that is still a terrifying ordeal. The Coldhart (?) patriarch sounds like a very stubborn man.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Yeah, Mr Coltheart is a braver man than i!

[@wht-rabt-obj]

Every time I hear Annie's story, it just breaks my heart to try to imagine that baby all alone in the close.

[@trig6712]

Thanking you again. amazing

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thank you 👍🏻😊

[@AScottishOdyssey]

I've been to Mary King's Close. It is such an interesting place. I keep telling my parents that they need to visit.

[@eerieedinburgh]

They definitely do! Fascinating place. You can feel the history there.

[@AScottishOdyssey]

@@eerieedinburgh You certainly do feel the history. I wanted to film there for my channel, but they don't let filming within the Close.

[@eerieedinburgh]

@@AScottishOdyssey Yeah, considering we'd be helping promote the place it seems a bit counter productive 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@AScottishOdyssey]

@@eerieedinburgh It's the same with the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. I asked them if I could film for my channel. In a round about way, they told me that they didn't want people to film for KZbin in the museum.

[@annamackay8597]

I visited Mary King's close near the turn of this century with my partner. I actually felt warm when others felt cold. I didn't see anything but near the end heard the children playing and laughing. Being a cynic I thought it could be a recording. But my partner and another gent heard nothing. But me and the gents wife heard happy children.

[@phylliscook-se7mx]

What a spooky story, no wonder it's haunted. Love your videos. Content is brilliant

[@eerieedinburgh]

That's awfy kind of you, thank you.

[@tammydownes2413]

Im second but im here lol. Ill com.ent after i watch it. Good to here from you as always

[@eerieedinburgh]

Hey Tammy, happy Saturday 👋🏻 hope you're keeping well.

[@tammydownes2413]

@@eerieedinburgh I am lol I'm trying to see the eclipse but it's so cloudy here lol how are you doing?

[@eerieedinburgh]

@@tammydownes2413 i am jealous we have no eclipse here! I hope you catch it.

[@tammydownes2413]

@@eerieedinburgh I can see a little of it but it's too bright. It's weird to see lol I have seen one in years

[@tammydownes2413]

Ok now I can comment lol. I have heard so many stories about Mary Kings Close but this had a twist! I enjoyed it very much! Thank you for sharing it. I can't wait for your next one

[@tamsin1969]

Thanks for another brilliant tale. I sincerely look forward to listening each week. I'll be in Edinburgh early March "24 and can't wait to explore. All the very best E.E

[@eerieedinburgh]

Thank you so much, Tamsin. Its massively appreciated!

[@tamsin1969]

@@eerieedinburgh as are your fabulous stories. ☺️

[@annebell7274]

I've done this tour, visiting Annie's room. Quite intense and emotional. Excellent video. ❤❤

[@JaynaeMarieXIV]

I love the story of little Annie. I hope to visit one day so I can give her a present.

[@deirdrebrandon7115]

You uploaded early! I'll have to wait until later to watch. Gotta sleep 😭

[@eerieedinburgh]

I hope you have a cracking rest.

[@julianwarren7770]

I’ve been to Mary Kings Close and also to the City Vaults under The Bridges. I found the vaults much more eerie, and had a sighting down there, although it wasn’t scary, surprisingly it was a pleasant experience. One point… and I may be wrong, but I don’t believe either Mary King’s Close or the the City Vaults are “subterranean” (ie underground), just enclosed.

[@suesmilie2438]

Been there, it was creepy.👻👻👻

[@jeffwarren6906]

It's time to rest now sweet Annie . Great tale E.E. ,, you never disappoint us

[@brandonkennedy5848]

New subscriber from Newcastle but love Edinburgh’s history 😊

[@suecrowhurst4393]

I believe in ghosts my house has ghosts,I went down Mary kings close many years ago, before it commercialise , and after great ghosts stories love it , very interesting in Mary kings close

[@eerieedinburgh]

Its a really fascinating place.

[@shelloo9]

i visited edinburgh just before xmas and did a few tours and wish i had done this tour next time i definitely will ❤

[@starrynight1329]

I visited many years ago in the middle of winter. When our guide took us into a particular room I became too warm and had to take off my coat. I was still too warm and checked the pipe running through the room to see if it was hot. Nobody else was uncomfortable but I felt like I would need to leave the room very soon. The guide then told us a story about a body of a child being found in the chimney breast. Sadly I do not remember the details of the story due to being distracted by being too warm.

[@donnadunlop7853]

Thankyou so much. 🖤🖤

[@a.brooks7656]

Love your videos.

[@paulinemahon884]

Been there what a strange place

[@eerieedinburgh]

It certainly is. Lots of other stories within a few feet of it also.

[@Little_Sidhe]

I saw The Watcher in MK close he was utterly chilling.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Wow! 😱

[@susanfurman]

Why does no one help move Annie on? I hate that children get stuck,most are not even aware they have passed.

[@chloeb5161]

I visited Mary Kings Close a few years back and I have to say there is definitely something down there, I didn't feel well throughout the duration of the tour for some reason which was strange because I was feeling fine after I left! The creepy mannequins didn’t help either! 😂

[@eerieedinburgh]

They definitely don't! 😆

[@jaynepainter9743]

I visited in 2005 and took a camera with me with brand new batteries, I took several photos before the batteries died, although they suddenly were ok when I returned above ground, also a friend and myself did hear cows mooing! Creepy but fascinating.

[@LadyV1962]

I definitely felt little Annie’s presence when I visited

[@theoldways1549]

I love the Scottish accent. It is one of the sexiest accents 😂 I miss living in Scotland.

[@matthewpowell6516]

there is supposedly a little girl that died in Mary kings close and people leave milk, cookies and dolls in there so that she has something to play with .

[@alanatolstad4824]

My group stayed at the Jeffries Hotel at the start of our driving trip, & we'd take the close nearest to the hotel to get up/down to the Royal Mile. So much history, but in this day & age of fabulous fakes, it was almost more than my mind could grapple with the fact that Edinburgh was the real deal.

[@juliemoscrop2448]

Been to Mary's King Close had some experiences down there I had my coat pulled litte girl called Annie

[@eerieedinburgh]

Oh wow, that's a widely reported phenomena. Not sure how i'd feel about that!

[@juliemoscrop2448]

Thanks

[@unikkorns]

Have you been down the Vaults? Had the same thing happen to me there. Looked around and didn't see or hear anyone who could have done it (like someone from the tour company messing with me), and everyone else in the group was on the other side (I was pulled on my left side, while my sister, her husband, and the rest of the tour group was to my right). There's (allegedly) a little boy in the vaults who pulls on people.

[@eerieedinburgh]

@@unikkorns I have, been down a few times and even been part of an overnighter. I heard a growl about a foot off the floor in the 'cobblers room'. It was between me and an American couple who heard it also. Creepy place.

[@unikkorns]

@@eerieedinburgh Are you planning to do a video about the Vaults sometime in the future? There's so many stories down there.

[@talex1625]

Curse Annie's family for abandoning her! May you rest in perfect peace Annie ❤

[@kstormgeistgem461]

a friend of my mother's once said that the Scots were a stubborn lot. i would say this rather proves it. dude refused to budge one bit Despite everything and Then decides he's not going to leave even when Dead. X) _i have a fair bit of Scot myself, along with Welsh, Irish, a bit of English and a dash of Finnish. i have no idea which of these contributes the Most to My stubbornness, but sure, i'll go with the Scot. lol_

[@Mark_CTN]

Been on the real Mary King's Close tour today. The story of Annie is heartbreaking, as a father to a little girl i can safely say that i would rather stay with her until it took me with her than leave her. The fact somebody stole her doll a few years ago is awful, i hope she's haunting them

[@sandrarecker1907]

My life dream to visit it one day ...

[@charlesmugleston6144]

And... to add to your interest do pay a visit to The Edinburgh Horror Festival especially at Halloween.... see you there IF you dare !

[@eerieedinburgh]

Haha, i will have a wee look at this.

[@robinbarrett5301]

Why hasn't anyone tried to show little Anne, how to enter the light?

[@neildavis3664]

What’s the music used at the start of this video please?

[@pontecarlo4354]

I have visited this place and it is dark and has abandoned buildings. It no doubt trades on ghost stories and the power of suggestion is all around. Numerous stunts and jump scares are used by the guides and it’s easy to imagine the place is haunted. It’s worth a visit but you need to keep an open mind. There were no ghosts or apparitions seen.

[@eerieedinburgh]

Open mind is never a bad thing 👍🏻 and even if you don't visit for the ghost stories, the history is reason enough. Really interesting place.

[@pontecarlo4354]

@@eerieedinburgh You are so right. I used to be sceptical but woke up one night at Jamaica Inn to see what I thought was a man in the corner wearing a cloak and tri cornered hat. My wife swears someone walked into the bathroom thinking it was me. We thought nothing of it until we read the stories the next day. We were in room 4. I also caught Mr Boots in Edinburgh vaults kneeling down and facing the wall. I thought it was a waxwork but the guide said there were no waxworks in that room. The atmosphere and surroundings definitely can record things and play them back. The battle of Naseby is replaid in the sky under certain conditions. It has been seen by lots of eyewitnesses. The only problem is that a lot of the combatants seen survived the battle. An interesting enigma which I am sure will be solved. Keep looking and have your camera ready.

[@ih8hertz1]

Been in mary kings close a few times but haven't seen anything paranormal...it was better before they put all the wax figures and props in

[@tmr4342]

Mary King's Close. A very fascinating place. Not sure I'd like to visit. While ghosts don't really scare me. A chance encounter with wee Annie would break me. I can't fathom how anyone could abandon a child, no matter what the reason. 🦇

[@eerieedinburgh]

100%

[@Bundyphile]

Why not, are you in denial och do you just pretend to not understand? Children have died alone for as long as we have existed as a species; children are dying alone today somewhere in the world.

[@NanaBren]

The Colthart family was not prepared for the ghosts. Maybe the Mr. did experience more ghostly events and just refused to admit it. He wasn’t going to be scared off from his house.

[@grazia1238]

0.44💜 beautiful Rats please dont scare them💕🙏

[@theseeker4642]

Just why was wee Annie deserted by her family, could she have been disabled in some way & would've held her family's flit back ! The bible reading wife shouldn't have been wearing nail polish, it hadn't been invented & had it been, such a pious woman wouldn't have worn it !

[@NanaBren]

Annie supposedly had the plague. They abandoned her because they were afraid of getting sick. 😢

[@rovercoupe7104]

I went there and it wasn’t spooky at all. M.