New moves to unearth secrets of Capital kirk

Published on Monday 6 November 2006 11:55

ARCHAEOLOGISTS are hoping to unravel the secrets which lie beneath one of Edinburgh's most historic buildings.

A council team is returning to the Tron Kirk, 30 years after a whole 16th century street was found in its basement.

They will investigate the front part of the building which has not previously been excavated, ahead of work being carried out to create a new cafe in the Kirk.

The public are set to be able to watch the dig as it happens when it begins in just over a week.

The archaeologists will also reanalyse some of the buildings unearthed during their last visit to see if any new light can be shed on life in Edinburgh in the 1500s.

John Lawson, the city council's archaeologist, said: "It was dug up in the past as part of the development process of the Tron Kirk and we're looking forward to getting in and looking at it again.

"We're going to look at areas that haven't been opened up during past excavations. We also want to re-examine some of the finds of the past. There's been a lot more research done on medieval pottery in the last 20 or 30 years, so it will be interesting to re-examine that and see if there is any new light we can shed on it.

"We have rooms at the front that are untouched. The important bit is getting into the front and digging up the remainder of the 16th century cellars."

The Tron Kirk closed as a church in 1952 but it was only in 1974 when archaeologists dug up the inside of the building that it became known how important the building was.

The 16th century Marlin's Wynd, including shops and cellars, was discovered and is thought to be the oldest-surviving paved street in Edinburgh.

It is hoped that similar finds will be unveiled again during this dig, and Mr Lawson says he is delighted that it can be open to the public.

He said: "It's often difficult to get the public in viewing something like this because it depends on the site and health and safety issues. So it's good to get them in for something like this.

"The site's been open to the public for 15 years or so that makes it easier to get them in as we work."

Councillor Donald Anderson, the city's culture and tourism leader, is looking forward to finding out what else lies below the historic building.

He said: "It is a real joy for visitors to be able to go in and see what was discovered during previous excavations.

"I'm sure there is much more to explore and that the archaeologists will uncover many more interesting things.

"The exciting thing about it is there could be a whole range of things in there - we won't know until the work has been carried out.

"Anybody with an interest in the heritage of the city will be waiting to see what is uncovered."

• Work on building the Tron Kirk began in 1636 after the multi-storey buildings at the top of Marlin's Wynd, which led from the Royal Mile down to the Cowgate, were demolished to make way for the new church. It took nine years to complete.

Originally T-shaped, the Kirk was shortened and had its south aisle removed during the construction of the South Bridge from 1785-87.

The 1824 Great Fire in the Old Town severely damaged the building and destroyed the original tower. The current spire, which is taller than its predecessor, was built in 1828.

For years a traditional gathering place for the bells on Hogmanay, the Tron Kirk was closed as a church in 1952 and passed to the council.