The Edinburgh Vaults: The Haunted Subterranean Streets Beneath Scotland's Capital

A dark journey through Edinburgh's forgotten underworld, where restless spirits and malevolent forces still linger

Apr 09, 2025

Case File: The Edinburgh Vaults Haunting
Case No.: 30ED-1820-SC
Classification: Haunting – Malevolent Spirit Activity
Location: The Edinburgh Vaults, Edinburgh, Scotland
Date of Incident: 18th Century – Ongoing Reports
Filed by: Eyewitnesses, Paranormal Investigators
Status: Ongoing – Phenomena Documented, Explanations Unclear

If you enjoy my work, why don’t you…

Buy me a Coffee☕

Incident Summary

The Edinburgh Vaults, located beneath the South Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland, have long been associated with eerie events and ghostly activity. Constructed in the early 19th century as storage spaces and workshops for tradesmen, the vaults became a notorious location by the mid-1800s when they were abandoned and left to deteriorate. During this time, they became a haven for the city's poorest, including criminals, and were notorious for overcrowding, squalid living conditions, and alleged criminal activities.

Over time, the vaults gained a sinister reputation, with reports of strange noises, shadowy figures, and a sense of intense foreboding. The most well-known haunting is linked to the spirit of a child, but numerous other apparitions and malevolent forces have been reported by those who dare to enter. In the late 20th century, the vaults were rediscovered, and paranormal investigations have continued to fuel the belief that these dark chambers hold more than just history.

Phenomena Overview

Over the years, visitors, paranormal investigators, and tour groups have reported a wide range of ghostly activity within the vaults:

Ghostly Apparitions and Shadow Figures: Multiple reports of shadowy figures and full-bodied apparitions, including a woman in period clothing, have been documented. Most commonly, these figures are seen near the vaults' entrances or in dark corners.
Unexplained Noises: Disembodied footsteps, whispers, and eerie laughter have been heard, often at night or in the quietest sections of the vaults.
Cold Spots and Temperature Drops: Many witnesses report sudden, unexplained drops in temperature, often accompanying feelings of dread or unease.
Physical Touch and Sensations: Several individuals claim to have felt invisible hands brushing against their skin or even being physically pushed or pulled while exploring the vaults.
Screams and Crying: Particularly haunting reports involve the sounds of children crying or screams that seem to echo through the abandoned corridors, often attributed to the spirits of those who once suffered in the vaults.
Electromagnetic Disturbances: Paranormal investigators have recorded unusual electromagnetic readings, with some attributing these anomalies to the presence of spirits.

Investigation Overview

Since the vaults’ rediscovery, numerous investigations have been conducted, both by professionals and amateur ghost hunters:

Initial Exploration and Findings: Early investigations confirmed the eerie atmosphere of the vaults, with reports of cold spots and strange sounds. Paranormal enthusiasts began exploring the vaults as part of ghost tours, which added to the public’s interest.
Modern Paranormal Research: In the 21st century, the vaults have become a popular site for paranormal researchers using equipment like EMF detectors, infrared cameras, and audio recorders. Investigations have found higher-than-usual EMF readings in certain areas, especially in the so-called "black vault," which is believed to be the most haunted section of the site.
Psychic and Medium-led Investigations: Several psychics and mediums have been invited to the vaults, many reporting heightened sensations of malevolent forces, particularly in the deeper sections. Some claim to have communicated with the restless spirits lingering within.

Documented Phenomena

The Crying Child: One of the most frequently reported apparitions is that of a child, often heard crying or seen as a faint figure in the shadows. Some believe the child’s spirit is linked to the harsh conditions the poor and abandoned people of Edinburgh suffered in the vaults.
The "Lady in Black": This ghostly woman is often described as wearing 18th-century clothing, walking quietly through the vaults. She is said to emanate an aura of sadness and despair.
The Heavy Footsteps: Particularly in the dark and damp corners of the vaults, there are repeated reports of heavy footsteps that seem to follow visitors, only to vanish when looked for.
Poltergeist Activity: Some reports suggest poltergeist-like activity, including objects being moved or knocked off shelves without explanation. One tour guide even reported having a door slammed shut behind them when no one was present.

Press Coverage and Public Reaction

The Edinburgh Vaults have become one of Scotland's most famous paranormal sites, with media outlets from around the world covering the strange events associated with the area. Ghost tours in Edinburgh often include a visit to the vaults, where many tourists have experienced unexplained phenomena for themselves.

Local newspapers have published several stories about the vaults, often focusing on personal experiences of ghostly encounters. The vaults' growing reputation as one of the most haunted places in Scotland has drawn interest from documentary filmmakers and TV shows dedicated to exploring the supernatural.

Case Status

The haunting of the Edinburgh Vaults remains unresolved, with numerous investigations continuing to this day. The vaults themselves are now part of Edinburgh's tourist scene, with paranormal tours being a major draw for visitors. Despite the widespread belief that the vaults are haunted, no conclusive scientific explanation has been found for the phenomena.

File Archived: Case Ongoing – Phenomena Documented, Explanations Unclear
Location: BUREAU ARCHIVES – Authorized Personnel Only

The Story:

Beneath the bustling streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, lies a dark and eerie secret—a place once known for its squalor and despair, now infamous for its restless spirits. The Edinburgh Vaults, a series of subterranean chambers built in the early 19th century beneath the South Bridge, were initially intended as storage for tradesmen, workshops, and taverns. But over time, the vaults became something far more sinister, a place where the dead outnumbered the living, and where the shadows hold the stories of countless lost souls.

In their early years, the vaults were damp, cold, and poorly ventilated, a breeding ground for disease. However, the real horrors began when the vaults became overcrowded and were inhabited by the city's poorest residents, criminals, and those who had nowhere else to go. The vaults, which were once constructed to serve as practical spaces for merchants and traders, devolved into something far worse: a dark underworld where misery and death seemed to linger in every corner.

The vaults were not just homes to the destitute; they were a haven for crime, filth, and suffering. These underground chambers, suffocated by the musty air of neglect, saw countless deaths. The lives of those who lived there were short and brutal—victims of disease, violence, and starvation. The cries of children, the desperate pleas of the sick and dying, and the agonizing sounds of the victims of crime echoed through the dark, cold spaces. Some died in the midst of fevered dreams, while others were taken in horrific acts of violence, their bodies left to rot in the stifling air. The haunting legacy of their suffering would linger in the vaults for centuries to come.

As Edinburgh grew and expanded, the vaults were abandoned, and the macabre history of the chambers was sealed beneath the city. Forgotten for years, the vaults eventually faded into obscurity. But the spirits of the lost souls who once dwelled there refused to stay buried. Over the centuries, whispers began to spread—rumors of ghostly apparitions, eerie noises, and strange occurrences near the South Bridge. Some claimed to hear the distant cries of children, others spoke of a dark figure wandering the vaults in search of its next victim. The vaults had become a place where the veil between the living and the dead was thin, and the restless spirits of those who had suffered there seemed to call out from the shadows.

By the late 20th century, the vaults were rediscovered during renovations and excavations. When they were reopened, it became clear that the vaults were far more than just a forgotten historical site. The air felt different in the vaults—oppressively thick with an unsettling chill, as though the spirits of the past had never left. Visitors to the vaults began reporting strange occurrences. Tourists on ghost tours described feelings of dread, of being watched, as though unseen eyes were following their every move. In some areas, particularly in the deeper recesses of the vaults, people felt an overwhelming sense of unease—like something was just waiting to pounce from the darkness.

One of the most disturbing accounts comes from the infamous “Black Vault,” where visitors report an intense drop in temperature as they enter. The air becomes thick, as if every breath is weighed down by centuries of grief and suffering. It's in this vault that the strange noises begin. First, a faint whisper, then a soft tapping, followed by the unmistakable sound of children crying—echoing through the thick stone walls. But when visitors turn around to search for the source, the vault remains eerily silent, save for the cold that seems to press against their skin.

In another part of the vaults, the sounds of footsteps are often heard, heavy and deliberate, echoing down the narrow, damp corridors. But when people try to track down the source, the footsteps always seem to stop just out of view. On several occasions, those exploring the vaults have reported being followed—by unseen footsteps that seem to mirror their own, getting closer and closer, until they turn around in a panic, only to find no one there. The feeling of being pursued is overwhelming, leaving even the bravest of souls with their heart racing and their breath shallow.

But the vaults are not just haunted by sounds. Apparitions have been seen by multiple witnesses—shadowy figures that flicker in and out of sight, moving quickly and silently through the dark corners of the vaults. One of the most commonly reported figures is a woman, dressed in 18th-century clothing. She appears as a fleeting shadow, often seen walking through the vaults, her face obscured by darkness. She is said to emanate an air of sorrow, her every step heavy with grief. Some claim to have heard her whisper in their ear, but when they look, she vanishes as quickly as she appeared.

But it’s the presence of a child’s ghost that haunts the vaults the most. People have reported hearing the soft, desperate cries of a child, echoing through the dark spaces. Sometimes, it’s just a faint whimper, barely audible above the sound of dripping water, while at other times, it’s a full-blown cry, so lifelike it feels as though the child is right there with them. The voice is often accompanied by the unmistakable sound of small footsteps, hurried and frantic, as if the child is running in terror from something lurking in the shadows. And yet, when visitors search for the source of the cries, they find nothing but silence. Some believe the child’s spirit is the ghost of one of the many young lives lost in the vaults—victims of the harsh conditions they were forced to endure.

But the vaults are not just a place of sorrow—they are a place of malevolent energy. Some visitors report being physically touched by invisible hands, pushed, or even scratched. One tour guide reported feeling a sharp tug on their coat sleeve, only to turn around and find no one there. Others have described being surrounded by an overwhelming sense of dread, their hair standing on end, their hearts pounding in their chests as if something terrible were about to happen. One investigator claimed that the very air in the vaults seemed to close in on them, suffocating them with the weight of the past, forcing them to leave in a panic, breathless and shaken.

Even the equipment used by paranormal investigators has been affected by the dark energies within the vaults. Cameras have malfunctioned, capturing strange, flickering images that seem to reveal shadowy figures lurking just beyond the lens. EVP recordings have captured chilling voices, some of which seem to speak directly to those present—calling out names, whispering in strange languages, or simply repeating the word “help” in a voice that sounds too real to be ignored.

The Edinburgh Vaults are a place where the past never truly left. They are a place where the spirits of the dead still walk among the living, lingering in the shadows, crying out for justice, or perhaps simply for the peace they were never granted. No one knows exactly why these spirits remain, trapped in the vaults beneath Edinburgh, but one thing is certain: whatever darkness lurks there, it is not content to stay hidden. It waits for the next unwitting soul to cross its path—and when they do, they will be forced to confront the horrors of the past.

Every tour through the Edinburgh Vaults is a journey into the unknown—a descent into a place where the veil between the living and the dead is disturbingly thin, where the past refuses to stay buried, and where the restless spirits of those who perished in misery still cry out for release. The vaults may be silent now, but beneath their cold, stone floors, something waits. And it will never stop haunting Edinburgh.