The forgotten street found behind a hidden library door

Behind a doorway heavy wrong the little floors of the National Library of Scotland lies a forgotten thoroughfare which gives a glimpse of however Edinburgh looked centuries ago.

Libberton's Wynd, successful the bosom of the aged city, was demolished to marque mode for George IV Bridge successful the 1830s – but portion of the thoroughfare inactive remains.

It tin beryllium recovered betwixt the span walls and the room building, with entree done a hidden door.

The corridor – which has been named The Void by room unit – is not unfastened to the public, but BBC Scotland News has been allowed to spot inside.

It was discovered by room officials successful the 1990s erstwhile they broke down a tiny hatch connected a partition down filing cabinets, past crawled done it.

They recovered a transition with arches into chambers and rooms which are thought to person erstwhile been retention successful the bridge.

Bill Jackson, erstwhile manager of the library, told BBC Scotland News helium recovered aged rotten furniture, ledgers, shoes and a slate urinal that were each much than 100 years old, but were waterlogged and damaged.

"My torch was hardly illuminating anything, it was precise acheronian erstwhile I went done and a spot scary and I wanted to get retired of there.

"It was fascinating though."

Since past helium has fitted lights and different doorway astatine the Cowgate extremity of The Void.

The library’s rooms were built connected apical of foundations, which tin inactive beryllium seen, of buildings that were demolished successful Libberton's Wynd to marque mode for George IV Bridge.

Robbie Mitchell, a notation adjunct astatine the library, said that wrong the passageway you could spot the brickwork of the library's little levels and the bridge’s stonework.

"Although not a preserved thoroughfare similar Mary Stair's Close, this nevertheless offers america a glimpse of the Edinburgh of centuries ago,” helium said.

"There are respective maps and accounts of the Old Town successful the library's collections which assistance america physique an atmospheric representation of the neighbourhood connected which some George IV Bridge and the room present stand, and what was determination earlier The Void."

George IV Bridge was built arsenic a way to link the centre of Edinburgh - the Royal Mile - implicit the Cowgate, which was successful a valley, to the southbound broadside of the city.

Its arches had chambers built into them connected respective floors for retention for the shops astatine the apical of the bridge.

Libberton's Wynd was the way from the Cowgate to Edinburgh's gallows successful a conception of the Royal Mile called The Lawnmarket - earlier it was demolished to marque mode for the bridge.

Later, The National Library of Scotland was built connected apical of the bridge, with floors moving each the mode down into the Cowgate below.

The span was built connected Libberton Wynd's foundations, which tin inactive beryllium seen successful The Void.

The corridor runs for respective 100 feet astatine a steep gradient.

Officials person widened the entranceway truthful determination is present a full-sized door. Some of the chambers are present utilized to store immense h2o tanks for the library's sprinkler system.

Mr Mitchell said that ample crowds, often respective thousands strong, attended the executions which took spot astatine the metropolis gallows wherever Libberton's Wynd joined the Lawnmarket.

One of the astir infamous figures to person been executed determination was body-snatcher and murderer William Burke successful January 1829.

Libberton's Wynd was besides famed for lodging 1 of the city's best-known taverns, which was called The Mermaid earlier it became Johnnie Dowie's Tavern.

Taverns were cardinal features of Edinburgh's Old Town communities, and patrons often came from assorted societal classes.

John Dowie was described successful accounts arsenic "the sleekest and kindest of landlords". He ever wore "a cocked hat, buckles astatine the knees and shoes, arsenic good arsenic a cross-handled cane, implicit which helium stooped successful his gait".

Mr Mitchell said the astir fashionable portion had been the Edinburgh Ale brewed and supplied by Archibald Younger.

This was described arsenic "a potent fluid which astir glued the lips of the drinker together, and of which few, therefore, could dispatch much than a bottle".

Mr Mitchell said descriptions of the tavern, which occupied the crushed level of a gangly tenement, gave an content of the claustrophobic confines of the Old Town.

About 14 radical could acceptable successful its main room, which looked to the Wynd, but the different rooms were said to beryllium truthful tiny that nary much than six radical could acceptable successful each of them.

They were described arsenic being "so dingy and acheronian that, adjacent successful wide day, they had to beryllium lighted up by artificial means".

The Tavern was described arsenic a location of "much respectability" and was a fashionable gathering spot for "the main wits and men of letters" successful Edinburgh.

It was regularly frequented by writers including writer Robert Fergusson, artists and galore members of the judiciary.

The smallest of its windowless chambers was an irregular oblong container which was commonly referred to arsenic "the Coffin", and was believed to beryllium Robert Burns' favoured spot successful the Tavern.

Libberton's Wynd was archetypal referred to successful the precocious 15th Century, but had been demolished by 1835.

Local historiographer Jamie Corstorphine said entering The Void had been 1 of the astir breathtaking things helium had experienced.

"The sanction of the wynd astir apt came from Henry Libberton, who had a ample spot connected the wynd - oregon if not him, past his family, who remained successful the location for galore years aft his decease successful 1501.

"The thoroughfare had merchants, barbers, a shoemaker, grocers, customized house, vinters, cork-cutters, metallic turners, hosiers and glaziers.

"It was a precise engaged thoroughfare that would person been afloat of beingness astatine the time."