Ghost Sightings

The underground vaults of Edinburgh’s Old Town are another hotspot for ghostly activity. Constructed in the 18th century, they were abandoned shortly afterwards because of flooding, and became home to a legion of the city’s dodgiest characters. Before long, they had turned the vault area into a warren of crime and vice. After being closed up in 1830, they were re-opened in the 1990s and, since then, a large number of people have reported ghostly encounters inside. These range from cold sensations to stones being thrown mysteriously through the air, sounds being heard where no one is present; visual manifestations, of course; and one woman is even said to have been attacked by one particularly vicious ghost. This was Mr. Boots, who is believed to be a murderer from the olden days.

Various kinds of communication have taken place with the vault ghosts over the years, allowing many of them to be identified by name. Psychics and mediums have relayed messages from the spirits and EMF meters have been used to provide simple Yes-No answers in response to questions which were asked aloud. In addition to the infamous Mr. Boots, there is the little boy Jack, who is said to have been murdered by Mr. Boots, and a woman called Maggie Dickson who appears frequently to visitors.

Mercat Tours run all-night vigils in the vaults so you too can confront the ghosts of Edinburgh’s grim past if you dare. These are a cut above the average ghost walks and feature the presence of a psychic and the use of serious equipment such as EMF meters and video cameras to try and detect the presence of the spirits.