Scottish Ghost Stories Informative Summary

Overview:

This collection of short stories explores the folklore and supernatural occurrences in various locations across Scotland. The stories are a fascinating blend of historical context and personal experiences, providing a chilling glimpse into the world of Scottish ghosts and legends. The author, Elliott O’Donnell, uses detailed descriptions and vivid language to bring these tales to life, drawing on both personal encounters and local folklore to create a sense of authenticity and suspense.

Some key highlights include the death bogle of the crossroads, which hunts down individuals and marks them for death within a year, the haunted attic of Pringle’s Mansion where a ghostly child is said to be murdered, and the phantom regiment of Killiecrankie, a chilling vision of a ghostly army marching through the historic pass. O’Donnell weaves together local legends with personal encounters, painting a chilling picture of the unseen world lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.

Key findings:

Ghosts are real: The author and his various sources recount firsthand experiences of ghostly apparitions and phenomena, suggesting that the supernatural is not just folklore but a real aspect of the world.
Ghosts are tied to location: Many of the stories are centered around specific locations like haunted houses, historical battlefields, or even specific rooms, suggesting that ghosts may be bound to certain places or events.
Ghosts may warn of impending death: Some stories, like that of the Drummer of Cortachy, link ghostly manifestations to the death of specific individuals, hinting at a potential connection between the supernatural and the mortal world.
Ghosts can be malevolent or mischievous: The stories depict ghosts ranging from terrifying and vengeful to playful and mischievous, demonstrating the variety of their nature and motivations.

Learning:

Scottish folklore and legends: The book provides insight into the rich history of Scottish ghost stories and the beliefs surrounding the supernatural.
The nature of ghosts: Readers will learn about different types of ghosts, their possible motivations, and how they interact with the living.
The historical context of ghost stories: The stories provide a glimpse into the social and cultural norms of the time period in which they were written, revealing the impact of historical events and beliefs on the development of ghost stories.

Historical context:

The stories are set in various time periods throughout the 19th century, reflecting the changing social and cultural norms of Scotland during this period. The stories are often narrated by individuals who lived during these times, providing insight into how the supernatural was perceived in Victorian Scotland. The stories also reflect the changing attitudes towards religion, science, and the supernatural, as well as the impact of industrialization and urbanization on traditional folklore and beliefs.

Facts:

Death Bogle: The “death bogle” is said to appear periodically at a specific spot on the road, and anyone it touches dies within a year.
Pringle’s Mansion: An idiot child is said to have been murdered in the top attic of Pringle’s Mansion, and its ghost haunts the building.
Phantom Regiment of Killiecrankie: The phantom regiment is said to appear on the historic battlefield of Killiecrankie, marching with weapons drawn and drums beating.
“Pearlin’ Jean”: Jean is the ghost of a French Sister of Charity who was murdered by her lover, Mr. Stuart, and haunts Allanbank, his estate.
The Drummer of Cortachy: The Drummer of Cortachy is said to beat a tattoo before the death of a member of the Ogilvie family.
The Sallow-Faced Woman: A woman is said to haunt No. — Forrest Road in Edinburgh, possibly the ghost of a nurse who poisoned her sister.
The Haunted Bath: A former Captain in the Merchant Service, who murdered a baby, is said to haunt a flat in Edinburgh, often appearing in nautical clothing and carrying a bundle of rags and a bladder of lard.
“—— House” near Sandyford Place: A noose is said to haunt a room in a private hotel in Glasgow, where a man was found dead by hanging.
The Grey Piper: The Grey Piper is a ghostly figure in kilts, seen in Donaldgowerie House, Perth, and is associated with death.
The Heavy Coach: A heavy coach is said to appear at Donaldgowerie House, bringing with it a sense of doom and death.
The Floating Head of the Benrachett Inn: A decapitated head is said to haunt the Benrachett Inn, near Dundee, possibly the ghost of a peddler who was murdered.
The White Lady of Rownam Avenue: The White Lady of Rownam Avenue is said to be the ghost of Sir E.C.’s wife, who died as a result of her husband’s cruelty.
“—— House” near the Great Western Road, Aberdeen: The ghost of Anna Webb, a servant who hanged herself in the cellar, is said to haunt the house.
The Secret Room in Glamis Castle: A secret room in the Square Tower of Glamis Castle is said to hold a key to one of the castle’s hauntings.
The Weeping Woman without Hands or Tongue: This is a well-known legend about a ghost that haunts Glamis Castle.
Earl Beardie playing cards with the Devil: Another legend associated with Glamis Castle, suggesting a pact with the Devil.
The Hindoo Child: The ghost of a Hindoo child, Natalie, is said to haunt the White Dove Hotel in Aberdeen, appearing to a nurse just before the death of her patient.
The Skeleton Hand: A skeleton hand with an unusual shape is found near the Square Tower of Glamis Castle, and is associated with bad dreams.
The Mirror and the Shadow: A man who possesses the skeleton hand is haunted by a shadow in the mirror, eventually leading to a gruesome encounter.
The Gardener and the Hand: The man who gave the skeleton hand to Mr. Vance is revealed to be a ghostly figure, possibly a gardener who was killed in the castle.

Statistics:

£1,000,000: Estimated cost to repair Donaldgowerie House, despite the fact that the Whittingens bought the house for a ridiculously low price.
15 feet: The thickness of the walls of the Square Tower at Glamis Castle.
40 years: The time since the Green Room at Hennersley was demolished, following the murder of Alicia Harbordeens.
104 degrees: The temperature of Miss Vining’s fever when the Hindoo child appears to the nurse.
11th century: Estimated time of construction of the oldest part of Glamis Castle, if the tradition about Duncan’s murder is true.
100 years: The time since the peddler was murdered at the Benrachett Inn, near Dundee.
1892: The year Miss Jane Vernelt sold her dressmaking business to Miss Bosworth.
1893: The year the elderly gentleman’s mother’s friend, Mrs. Gibbons, encountered a ghostly barrel at Glamis Castle.
1904-7: The year of the Egham Case, which involved a slander of title lawsuit.
19th century: The time period in which many of the stories are set.
Twenty years: The duration of the landlord’s lease on the Benrachett Inn.
Twenty-one years: The age at which the heir to Glamis Castle learns the secret of the secret room.
Six weeks: The amount of time it took Captain Smythe’s family to settle into “—— House” in Glasgow, before the hauntings began.
A month: The amount of time between Ralph’s death and his ghostly appearance to his brother Hely.
Half a pound: The amount of wax candles that Hely Browne purchased to keep the light burning in his room at the haunted hotel in Glasgow.
Six months: The amount of time between the time Anna Webb was suspected of stealing a letter and when she hanged herself in the cellar.
Eighteen years: The amount of time between when Jane Vernelt was last seen alive and when the narrator of the story encountered her ghost.
Three people: The number of people who know the location of the secret room in Glamis Castle.
Twelve months: The amount of time given for a person to die after being touched by the “death bogle.”
Two days: The amount of time between Miss Vining’s arrival at the White Dove Hotel and when she complained of feeling ill.

Terms:

Bogle: A ghost or spirit in Scottish folklore.
Banshee: A female spirit in Irish folklore, often associated with death in a family.
Poltergeist: A mischievous or noisy ghost.
Syncope: A temporary loss of consciousness.
Psychic: A person who has the ability to perceive the supernatural.
Apparition: A ghostly figure or manifestation.
Phantom: A ghost or spirit.
Medium: A person who can communicate with the spirit world.
Superphysical: Relating to the realm beyond the physical world.
Sceptic: A person who doubts or disbelieves in the existence of ghosts or the supernatural.

Examples:

The death bogle: The story of the “death bogle” tells of a carters’ experience with the ghostly figure at a crossroads, leading to the death of the boy who was touched by the figure.
Pringle’s Mansion: Letty, the nurse, experiences multiple encounters with various ghosts in Pringle’s Mansion, including two eyes in the cellar, a creature that appears partly human and partly animal in a passage, and a ghost child in the haunted attic.
“Pearlin’ Jean”: The story of “Pearlin’ Jean” recounts the murder of the French Sister of Charity and her subsequent haunting of Allanbank, culminating in her ghostly appearance to Mr. Stuart.
The Drummer of Cortachy: The story of the Drummer of Cortachy details the experiences of Mr. Porter and his friend, Alec, who encounter a ghostly keeper in the woods near Cortachy Castle, foreshadowing the death of a member of the Airlie family.
The Sallow-Faced Woman: Lady Adela Minkon encounters a sallow-faced woman in the basement of a house in Edinburgh, leading to a collapse of the ceiling in the inner cellar.
The Haunted Bath: Captain Smythe experiences a series of haunting incidents in the bathroom of his new house in Glasgow, encountering a ghostly couple and a floating corpse.
“—— House” near Sandyford Place: Hely Browne recounts his chilling experience with a noose that appears in his room at the private hotel in Glasgow, eventually leading to a vision of his deceased brother.
The Grey Piper: Martha Whittingen encounters a grey-faced piper in the corridor of Donaldgowerie House, who is associated with the death of her sister Mary.
The Floating Head: Mr. and Mrs. Murphy encounter a floating head in the cupboard of their room at the Benrachett Inn near Dundee, possibly the ghost of a murdered peddler.
The White Lady of Rownam Avenue: A young boy encounters the White Lady of Rownam Avenue, believed to be the ghost of Sir E.C.’s wife, and witnesses the ghostly figure with the laird himself.

Conclusion:

This collection of Scottish ghost stories offers a captivating journey through the supernatural side of Scotland, filled with chilling tales of hauntings, apparitions, and mysterious events. The stories demonstrate the enduring power of folklore and the lingering presence of the past in the everyday world. Whether these occurrences are simply vivid imagination or actual manifestations of the unseen, they remind us that the world is full of mystery and wonder, and that the boundaries between the living and the dead may be more permeable than we often realize.

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