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| I work alone at night in Edinburgh's dark and spooky vaults | I work alone at night in Edinburgh's dark and spooky vaults |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| 'I work at night in Scotland's most haunted place' | 'I work at night in Scotland's most haunted place' |
| 'I work at night in Scotland's most haunted place' | 'I work at night in Scotland's most haunted place' |
| The vaults in Edinburgh's Old Town are dank, dark and spooky - but that is where Jamie Corstorphine spends his nights. | The vaults in Edinburgh's Old Town are dank, dark and spooky - but that is where Jamie Corstorphine spends his nights. |
| He starts work shortly before midnight, then spends up to 10 hours maintaining the dimly-lit tunnels. | He starts work shortly before midnight, then spends up to 10 hours maintaining the dimly-lit tunnels. |
| Jamie says some of his friends think he's mad spending hours in the vaulted chambers on his own - but he has become used to his surroundings. | Jamie says some of his friends think he's mad spending hours in the vaulted chambers on his own - but he has become used to his surroundings. |
| "I find it quite peaceful now," he said. | "I find it quite peaceful now," he said. |
| The 43-year-old has to work at night because history tours take place in the vaults during the day and evenings. | The 43-year-old has to work at night because history tours take place in the vaults during the day and evenings. |
| Jamie's job includes painting the doors and walkways, and making any repairs that are needed. | Jamie's job includes painting the doors and walkways, and making any repairs that are needed. |
| Jamie Corstorphine works in dark vaulted chambers on his own at night | Jamie Corstorphine works in dark vaulted chambers on his own at night |
| So how scary is it working in these eerie conditions? | So how scary is it working in these eerie conditions? |
| "The dripping water, the rats, the echoes and the shadows can make your mind play tricks when you are alone in here at night," says Jamie. | "The dripping water, the rats, the echoes and the shadows can make your mind play tricks when you are alone in here at night," says Jamie. |
| "When I first started working here I was a bit nervous because I didn't know the sounds that were naturally made inside. | "When I first started working here I was a bit nervous because I didn't know the sounds that were naturally made inside. |
| "Things cause huge shadows when you have a torch on. For example, a small spider's web can make a huge shadow and then when it moves in a draft it can be quite unnerving. | "Things cause huge shadows when you have a torch on. For example, a small spider's web can make a huge shadow and then when it moves in a draft it can be quite unnerving. |
| "Stalactites sometimes break off and fall from the ceilings too. | "Stalactites sometimes break off and fall from the ceilings too. |
| "When this happens I tell myself to pull myself together." | "When this happens I tell myself to pull myself together." |
| On one occasion when Jamie was working near the entrance he heard children laughing. He thought that was strange at 03:10, so he went outside - but the street was deserted. | On one occasion when Jamie was working near the entrance he heard children laughing. He thought that was strange at 03:10, so he went outside - but the street was deserted. |
| "That is the only time I haven't finished my shift and I have called a taxi to take me home," he said. | "That is the only time I haven't finished my shift and I have called a taxi to take me home," he said. |
| Jamie works for the City of the Dead Tours in the vaulted chambers at South Niddry Street, which are located off the Cowgate. | Jamie works for the City of the Dead Tours in the vaulted chambers at South Niddry Street, which are located off the Cowgate. |
| Jamie now finds it peaceful working in the vaults | Jamie now finds it peaceful working in the vaults |
| The vaults were behind shops in the archways of South Bridge, which was built between 1785 and 1788. | The vaults were behind shops in the archways of South Bridge, which was built between 1785 and 1788. |
| They were used for storage and as workshops, but were abandoned in 1796 because they leaked so badly. | They were used for storage and as workshops, but were abandoned in 1796 because they leaked so badly. |
| The shops themselves remained dry and their rent paid off the bridge's construction debt. | The shops themselves remained dry and their rent paid off the bridge's construction debt. |
| Shopkeepers insisted on the vaults being taken off their title deeds so they did not have to pay the extra rent for them. | Shopkeepers insisted on the vaults being taken off their title deeds so they did not have to pay the extra rent for them. |
| The latest headlines from Scotland | The latest headlines from Scotland |
| Read more stories from Edinburgh, Fife and East Scotland | Read more stories from Edinburgh, Fife and East Scotland |
| The South Bridge was built across the Cowgate, which was a valley, so the well-off could bypass the area, which had become a slum. | The South Bridge was built across the Cowgate, which was a valley, so the well-off could bypass the area, which had become a slum. |
| In the early 1800s, there was an influx of people from Ireland and the Highlands looking for work in Edinburgh. | In the early 1800s, there was an influx of people from Ireland and the Highlands looking for work in Edinburgh. |
| "We weren't welcoming to them at all," says Jamie. | "We weren't welcoming to them at all," says Jamie. |
| "They had no jobs and no shelter so they chose to use the abandoned vaults." | "They had no jobs and no shelter so they chose to use the abandoned vaults." |
| Manure from horses pulling carts on the South Bridge above would mix with sewage and rain water, which then seeped into the vaults below. | Manure from horses pulling carts on the South Bridge above would mix with sewage and rain water, which then seeped into the vaults below. |
| Jamie paints and varnishes doors as part of his job | Jamie paints and varnishes doors as part of his job |
| Living in these wet, unhygienic and unventilated conditions led to illness, and cholera was rife. As a result many people died in the vaults. | Living in these wet, unhygienic and unventilated conditions led to illness, and cholera was rife. As a result many people died in the vaults. |
| Due to that grisly history, the tunnels - which still leak to this day - have long been popular with ghost hunters. | |
| "Some friends think I'm mad spending hours in here alone but others are intrigued and often ask if they can come with me," added Jamie. | "Some friends think I'm mad spending hours in here alone but others are intrigued and often ask if they can come with me," added Jamie. |
| "But I prefer working on my own because I get more done." | "But I prefer working on my own because I get more done." |
| With no phone reception due to the 75ft of stone between him and the street outside, he needs to be careful and have his wits about him. | With no phone reception due to the 75ft of stone between him and the street outside, he needs to be careful and have his wits about him. |
| "I don't have an escape plan should something happen. I need to think about that," he said. | "I don't have an escape plan should something happen. I need to think about that," he said. |