Mystery Of Gilmerton Cove: Underground Maze Of Caves, Passages And Tunnels

AncientPages.com - Gilmerton Cove is a network of secret underground tunnels, numerous passages, caves and seven chambers hand-carved from sandstone.

It’s located beneath the streets of Gilmerton, an ex-mining village, which is now a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Just how old the caves are - is unknown; ancient records go as far back as the 18th century, but the system seems to be much older and it has baffled historians since its discovery.

The questions remain who constructed them? When? What was their true purpose and what have they been used for over the years?

Among them, it was suggested that they may have been a meeting place for the Covenanters who used the area for their secret religious worship. Photo: Gilmerton Heritage Trust

It is known that they have been inhabited for at least 300 years, but by whom? There have been many speculations and even theories. Among them, it was suggested that they may have been a meeting place for the Covenanters who used the area for their secret religious worship.

Gilmerton Cove - a passage

Or were the Gilmerton’s caves perhaps their ideal hiding place during times of persecution, or a Masonic Lodge Room as some Masonic marks were discovered there?

Gilmerton Cove. Photo: http://www.gilmertoncove.org.uk/

See also: 

Frightening Edinburgh Vaults: The Spooky Underground City Of The Dead

Secret Passageways And Caves Beneath The Nottingham Castle

Some other ancient records confirm that at one time, they were inhabited by George Paterson, a blacksmith, who had his residence there from 1724 until around 1735.

Why did Paterson need such a vast area to build his residence?

Archaeologists say the network could not have been dug by one man and believe they may date back centuries.

The Cove represents an archaeological puzzle and the question is:  will some future excavations reveal ancient secrets of this enigmatic structure?

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