Paranormal stories from Scotland’s buildings: part 1

Warning: contains topics that may cause an uneasy feeling. Advised to not read at night or rather with someone when easily feeling unsettled.

Scotland has many buildings that behold ghost stories, or well, paranormal ones. I’ve always been interested in such stories, including abandoned buildings. Sure, the question will always be the same: are such stories true? Multiple buildings have been visited by paranormal scientists, and they said it was true. In several parts, I’ll be telling all paranormal stories and the history of Scotland’s buildings! Today: the first part!

1. Glamis Castle

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This castle was built in the 14th-century, where the queen/mother of Queen Elizabeth II grew up. It’s said to be haunted by multiple ghosts, such as The Grey Lady or The Lady of Glamis, known as Lady Janet Douglas. The Grey Lady was accused of murdering her own husband by poisoning King James V from Scotland. And, by using witchcraft. So, they burned her at the sake in 1537 in Edinburgh. Her spirit was said to haunt the clocktower, running up the stairs, leaving a trail of ashes behind. A woman without tongue as been seen ‘floating’ through the castle. And there’s the ghost of an 18th-century boy servant who was badly abused. He was said to be seen sitting on a chair at the bedroom door of the queen. The most famous ghost is Earl Beardie, the earl of Crawford. This nobleman visited the castle back in the 15th-century. He got drunk and demanded that someone would play cards with him. When no one would, he’d play his own devil, or so he said. A mysterious man with a black cloak appeared and said he wanted to play. The next morning, the earl had disappeared. Visitors who went to visit the castle said they heard cursing, loud voices, dice and glasses falling.

2. Glasgow Necropolis 

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This mega cemetery, named The City of the Dead, originated because of the increasing demand in England during the 19th century. Typical for the time being is that about 50.000 people were buried in the Necropolis, but only a small percentage have gravestones and even fewer, barely names. In the 1950s, a police officer was shocked to see hundreds of children armed with knives and sticks. They were patrolling the cemetery after they heard that a 7 feet tall vampire had killed and eaten two local boys. His nickname is the Gorbals Vampire, and the rumour still stands. Voices seem to have been heard and a strange mist anomaly seems to have been seen.

3. Crathes Castle

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With enchanting turrets, towers and ornate chambers, Crathes Castle at Banchory certainly looks like a place where ghosts would haunt. The castle was first built in 1500 by the Burnett family with the sweltering tower house still standing. It’s said to be haunted by the restless ghost of the Green Lady, a ghostly apparition clad in a green robe. She is said to have been a maid or ward of the Laird who disappeared shortly after having a child. In the 19th century, skeletal remains were found behind the fireplace in a room where she was spotted.

4. Glencoe

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The brutal Glencoe massacre, which took place on February 13th 1692, is one of the bloodiest incidents in the history of Scotland. The story goes that a troop of soldiers – acting on government orders – posed as friendly visitors before attacking their hosts, Clan Macdonald, while sleeping in their beds and killing 38 men, women and children. Other members of Clan Macdonald are said to have fled to the surrounding mountains, but died from exposure in the bitterly cold mountain landscape. Today, people have claimed to have reenacted the slaughter or heard screams in the valley, especially around the anniversary of the massacre.

5. Culloden battlefield

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It was on this bleak moor in 1746 that the bloody battle of Culloden near Inverness took place. In just 40 minutes, thousands of clan members were crushed and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army defeated, ending the Jacobite rebellion. Cries, sword fights and gunshots have all been heard on the battlefield and a desolate-looking Highlander is said to haunt the area, reportedly murmuring the word “defeated” when encountered.

Which story had you heard before? And which one seems the most ‘creepy’ to you?

Love, Deem/Skye Lewis ❤

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