SOME 200 dead bodies will need to be dug up to allow the extension of Edinburgh’s controversial trams system, as their graves lie in the path of the new lines.
Under Scots law, no authorised burial ground can be disturbed for building without permission of the courts. An application is to be made next month by Edinburgh Council seeking permission to exhume the bodies.
The proposed new line will extend the current tram network down Leith Walk to Newhaven.
The 18th-century wall of South Leith Parish Church graveyard is A-listed building and will need to be knocked down and relocated in order to make way for the new line.
Edinburgh’s transport convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “Part of our construction works for taking the trams to Newhaven involves laying foundation work which will affect the South Leith Parish graveyard.
“We have been in close contact with the church over our plans, which have been designed to avoid disturbing burials within the present graveyard and to carefully rebuild the wall and historic memorials.
“However, the works will result in around 200 bodies, dating from the 14th to the mid-17th century, underlying the wall and Constitution Street being exhumed.”
Archaeologists will be allowed to carry out inspections of the bodies and graves which could enhance knowledge of Leith from a time when it was the most important port in Scotland.
MacInnes added: “The bodies would be carefully excavated by the project’s archaeologists and curated by the council, along with our established collection of archaeological remains, including human remains from other excavations within Edinburgh.
“Leith has a very long and colourful history and is recognised as one of the most important urban archaeology sites in Scotland, so this archaeological work will give us an even closer insight into the area’s medieval past.”
Previous excavations for the tram lines carried out 10 years ago found the remains of almost 400 people from centuries go.
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