In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I’d make a post on one of the spookiest cities in the world, Edinburgh. It has a rich history, shrouded in creepy happenings, making it the perfect subject for a ‘spooky season’ post.
Here are some cool spooky facts:
1.Edinburgh Castle Is Very Haunted
Edinburgh Castle is one of the most famous castles in the world, and also the most haunted. It went through a series of attacks in the Middle Ages and was even said to be besieged over 25 times! With such an active history, it’s no surprise that numerous spirits are said to roam the grounds.
These spirits include a young drummer boy, a phantom bagpiper, French war prisoners, and the Grey Lady.
2. Overcrowded Cemeteries
At one point in time, Edinburgh was one of the most overcrowded and unsanitary cities in Europe. The situation was so bad, that bodies had to be buried on top of each other because there wasn’t enough room in the cemeteries! There are stories of how when it rained, parts of the deceased would stick out of the ground.
3. Greyfriars Kirkyard Phantom
Speaking of cemeteries, Edinburgh is home to arguably the most haunted one. Greyfriars Kirkyard is a cemetery going back to the 16th century. It has thousands of people buried there, as well as an active phantom.
It’s said to be haunted by the ghost of George MacKenzie, an angry judge from the 17th century. He rests in a mausoleum at the back of the cemetery and (apparently) comes out at night to haunt visitors. There are reports of people even being attacked when walking near his resting place!
Fun Fact: I personally walked the cemetery at night (with a friend) and turned out fine, but maybe it was his day off.
4. Public Executions
If you walk down from the famous Victoria Street, you’ll come across a seemingly innocent looking public square. Between 1660 and 1784, this square actually hosted hundreds of public hangings. People often gathered round and watched the executions for entertainment.
This just shows how lived-in Edinburgh is; every corner of it seems to have a past. What is now an empty square, was once a bustling marketplace where people watched gruesome acts.
5. Gardyloo
Back to the unsanitary thing. One example of this is where the term “gardyloo” comes from. Plumbing wasn’t available back then, so residents had to throw their waste out the window and onto the streets. As a courtesy they would yell out “gardez l’eau,” which means “watch out for the water” in French.
However, it became so chaotic, that a law was passed only allowing it to happen between 10pm and 7am. Some say that’s where the expression “shit faced” comes from; drunk people hearing the expression and looking up…to their dismay.