The most famous English ghost comes from. Ghosts of medieval England. The pages of the magazine also present

This place is almost no longer England, but not yet Scotland either. Because of its border location, in the old days armed skirmishes and conflicts constantly arose here, which is why a large castle was built here as a stronghold and support, where watchmen tired from service could rest.

Over time, closer to the thirteenth century, real construction began on the site of the guard post, essentially a lonely tower, among shady groves. Then Chillingham Castle acquired new owners, noble gentlemen named Gray.

Throughout the history of the castle, which still stands today, several kings stayed there, but this is not what makes it famous. Of course, real ghosts live here. Where should they be if not in an old English castle?

They say that Gray, the first owner, was not the kindest person on earth. He was cruel, ruthless and greedy. He tormented and tortured enemies who fell into his clutches, and sometimes even acquaintances or neighbors who looked askance. In general, the type was extremely negative.

And the subsequent owners of the castle, one way or another connected with Gray by some kind of kinship, were each more disgusting than the other. All of them, as if by choice, were greedy and evil people. Although there may have been some exceptions, it is not interesting to talk about this.

However, time passed, and the need to fight, defending their borders, disappeared by itself, and the owners began to “cultivate” the territory. A luxurious garden was laid out around Chillingham, trees and flowers were planted. The castle acquired the splendor and glory of one of the most secular places of our time.

The twentieth century was a turning point for the castle; at the very beginning, the castle, having lost its last owner, began to slowly collapse. During the Great Patriotic War, a hospital was placed here, and the garden was chopped up and burned in ovens, trying to warm up the chilled wounded heroes.

After the war, the castle completely fell into disrepair, its ceiling collapsed, and only the ubiquitous English pigeons lived inside. And, of course, a couple of real ghosts, which once again attracted the attention of the public to the castle.

In the early eighties, the castle was bought by Sir Humphrey, the husband of the last of the Gray family. He spent a huge fortune to give it splendor and beauty and organized a museum in Chillingham, recreating the atmosphere and spirit of various eras.

And at night, the restless souls of people tortured by tyrants wander through the dark corridors. Chillingham on given time England's most haunted castle. Here the ghost of a little boy walled up alive in the wall wanders along with his father, the executioner sometimes returns to the basement torture room, abandoned by him several hundred years ago, and Lady Mary Berkeley still suffers about her husband who left her, leaving the picture in one of the rooms.

But the most scary place in the castle it is a dungeon, without windows or doors. You can get there only through a narrow hole in the wall. In this dungeon it was discovered great amount machines of human bodies with broken arms and legs.

Today there is a museum in the castle, and anyone can visit it. Visits are open from Easter week until October. Every day except Saturday, when a variety of cleaning and maintenance work is carried out.

On the eve of Halloween, we talk about ghosts and ghosts. The most haunted country is believed to be Great Britain; local ghosts have long stopped hiding in the dark corners of abandoned houses and dilapidated mansions; they easily walk around the Tower and the halls of ancient castles, and some ghosts even live in the chambers of Buckingham Palace.

Still from the film “House of Ghosts”

By the way, the first documentary description of a ghost belongs to Pliny the Younger, who lived in the first century AD. In one of his letters, he talks about an incident that happened to his friend, the philosopher Athenodorus. Athenodorus rented a house in Athens and on the very first night he saw the ghost of an old man with a long beard, an emaciated face, chained hand and foot with a rusty chain. English ghosts are not so ancient, but that doesn’t make them any less frightening.

GHOSTS OF THE TOWER

The Tower, built under William the Conqueror, is a favorite haunt of ghosts. Noble ladies and the nobles who spent their time in his prisons last days, every now and then they return to these gloomy walls.

The ghost of Countess Margaret of Salisbury, executed at the age of seventeen in 1541, loves to frighten the night guards. You can understand the lady, because her death was terrible - the executioner only managed to cut off her head on the third attempt.

Place of execution of the aristocracy in the Tower

The spirit of another executed beauty, Anne Boleyn, has not left the Tower for several centuries. Anne, Henry VIII's second wife, was beheaded 1,000 days after her marriage and her body was hastily buried in St. Peter's Chapel. Often it is to the chapel that the ghost of Anne Boleyn heads, and not alone, but in the company of a whole procession of the same restless souls. The ghost looks frightening: a white silhouette with a cap on its neck, under which the head is missing.

The execution of Anne Boleyn, The Tudors series

In the winter of 1864, a sentry on duty in the Tower saw the spirit of the beheaded Anne Boleyn at dawn; the ghost appeared before him in the corridor of the fortress. They say that a soldier tried to pierce the ghost with a gun bayonet, but lightning ran down the barrel, and the ghost was not hurt, but the brave soldier lost consciousness. His colleagues found him in this state. Naturally, the case was referred to a military tribunal, because the soldier “fell asleep at his post.” At first, they did not believe his stories about the ghost, however, when the other two soldiers and an officer admitted that they had also seen a lady without a head within the walls of the Tower, the tribunal freed the poor fellow.

It also turned out that the ghost always appeared near the room where Mrs. Boleyn spent the night before her execution. There are also male ghosts in the fortress. The oldest ghost is St. Thomas Becket, who was once a steward of the Tower. He was killed in 1170 during mass in Canterbury Cathedral.

The site of the murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

Another ghost in life was the navigator Walter Rapey. He was imprisoned under James I for his part in the plot, released two years later, then re-shackled and executed. It is rumored that the ghosts of children sometimes scurry along the gloomy corridors of the prison: the young Prince Edward V and his brother Duke Richard of York walk along the corridors, dressed in white and holding hands.

Painting "Princes in the Tower", Paul Delaroche, 1831

Although everyone is accustomed to blaming King Richard III for the death of the princes (thanks to Shakespeare for popularizing this version of the disappearance of children), there is no direct evidence that it was Richard who gave the order to kill the princes. And the remains of the princes, allegedly discovered under the stairs of the White Tower of the Tower, and now buried in Westminster Abbey, experts were unable to fully identify; according to an examination carried out in 1933, these are the bones of teenagers 12-15 years old, but even the sex of the deceased can be accurately determined scientists failed.

An interesting fact is that ghosts never look into the main tower of the Tower. They say the whole point is that during its construction in XI, the British sacrificed a cat in order to protect this place from otherworldly forces. Believe it or not, in the 19th century, workers carrying out repairs discovered a walled-up skeleton of a cat in one of the supporting walls of the tower.

PERFUME OF THE SCOTTISH CASTLE GLAMIS

The Scottish castle of Glamis, where Queen Elizabeth I spent her childhood, has long become a mecca for those who like to tickle their nerves. Today it is the most famous haunted castle in Scotland, because it is home to what can be said to be a full-fledged community of ghosts.

It is believed that the true mistress of the castle is the Gray Lady or the ghost of Janet Douglas. Janet Douglas came from one of the most influential clans in Scotland, and her brother was the stepfather of King James V. Aristocratic origins destroyed Janet: the king hated his stepfather, and therefore confiscated Gladys Castle from Lady Douglas, and Janet herself and her son were imprisoned in Edinburgh castle.

Lady Douglas's son, John, was released from prison only after the death of King James V, but Janet's fate turned out to be much more tragic. On July 17, 1537, she was burned at the stake on Castle Hill in Edinburgh; the reason for her execution was a trumped-up charge of using witchcraft against King James V, as well as an alleged attempt by the defendant to poison the monarch.

The Scots never doubted Janet Douglas's innocence, and at Glamis Castle she is revered as a martyr. They say that the ghost of the Gray Lady often appears in the castle chapel, so one of the places in the chapel is always reserved for Janet Douglas, so no one has the right to occupy it.

The second famous ghost of the castle is the spirit of Count Beardi, but the story associated with him is not tragic, but rather adventurous. They say that during his lifetime the count was a great fan of card games, and the sin of green cloth brought him to a meeting with the devil. They say that one evening the guests refused to play cards with the count (one must think that he simply got them out of gambling) and in the heat of anger, Beardi exclaimed: “Then I will play cards with the devil himself!”

The devil, of course, did not refuse the invitation: after some time there was a knock on the castle door, and a stranger entered the gate, dressed, characteristically, in black from head to toe. The bet in the game was, of course, the count’s soul, and the count’s soul, as you might guess, lost. Well, that’s right, everyone knows that it’s better not to sit down at the card table with professional players (and the Devil, presumably, is one of them).

Caravaggio "Card Players"

It is believed that since then the ghost of the count has been playing cards in his chambers from sunset to dawn; especially impressionable visitors to Glamis even hear the rustling of cards and echoes of obscene language in the rooms of the castle at nightfall. Although, maybe it’s just the servants having fun? If the rumors about the ghost’s adventures are true, then the spirit of Count Beardi does not have the worst option for an afterlife, the only thing is that losing at cards for an eternity is probably not very pleasant for the soul of an avid player.

But the spirits of the Ogilvy clan, who languish in one of Gladys’s rooms, have no time for gambling. Many years ago, several members of this family asked for refuge with a man from the Lindsay family, who owned the castle at that time. He let them inside, but, fearing revenge (the clans did not get along well with each other), he locked Ogilvy in a secret room and never approached the doors again.

Room in Glamis Castle

Several decades later, the new owners of Glamis heard knocking and groaning in the secret chambers of the castle. Opening the door, they discovered skeletons. The knocking and groaning in this room can be heard to this day, as if the people locked inside were still trying to get out.

By the way, not only the Ogilvys died while locked within the four walls of Glamis, the same fate befell the deformed son of one of the many owners of the castle. Many years ago, parents imprisoned a child in one of the rooms; at night, the inhabitants of Glamis are still disturbed by the terrible screams of a boy trying to free himself.

By the way, the current owners of the castle are accustomed to ghosts and even try to be friends with them, for example, nightly card games are held in Glamis in order to entertain the ghost of Count Beardi, and the place in the chapel reserved for the Gray Lady is also an indicative moment.

GHOSTS OF LONDON PUBS

In 1962, the collector of the local power station, Charles Crampton, died in London. For the last ten years of his life, the neat old man visited the same pub every day for a glass of Ginger Ale. Apparently, after his death, Charles decided not to change his habits. Every day after 18.00 his ghost began to appear in that very pub, the old man sat alone at his favorite table, confusing visitors who knew about the death of the collector.

Still from the film “The Bowery”, 1933

The owner of the pub, who felt very awkward in the company of the ghost, once decided to treat Charles to his favorite drink and placed a mug of Ginger Ale in front of him. The old man smiled sadly and disappeared. After this, the guests of the establishment entered into an unspoken agreement: not to disturb the alien from the other world. However, the ghost was scared away by the all-knowing reporters; after newspapermen tried to photograph the ghost several times (the film always turned out to be exposed), Charles Crampton stopped looking into the pub.

But in The Grenadier Pub the ghost of a British army grenadier still sometimes drops by, and it’s not for nothing that this place is included in the route of the “London: Haunted Places” tour.

The site of the pub used to be a barracks where grenadiers lived. The servicemen spent their free hours playing cards, and then one day one of the grenadiers was caught by his colleagues in fraud. It was decided to punish the dishonest player, that is, simply put, to beat him, but the military overdid it a little and the unlucky cheater died from the beating. This happened in September, and therefore now on September evenings, visitors to The Grenadier Pub periodically see the spirit of the late guardsman here, well, or tell what they see. The pub is located at: 119 Kensington Church St., Notting Hill, Kensington, a.

GHOSTS OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND HAMPTON COURT

Every year on Christmas Eve, a chain-clattering ghost in a monastic robe appears in the corridors of Buckingham Palace.

The inhabitants of Buckingham got used to the ghost of the monk, and English occultists found an explanation for this phenomenon. It turns out that in ancient times, on the site of the palace there was a leper hospital, established by a religious order. Apparently, the ghost is the spirit of one of the founders of the hospital. The second ghost of Buckingham Palace is relatively young. This is the ghost of John Gwynn, private secretary to King Edward VII. At the beginning of the twentieth century, John got involved in a scandalous story that became public knowledge. Wanting to restore his reputation, the secretary acted in the best traditions of the Japanese samurai - he committed suicide, or rather, locked himself in one of the palace offices and shot himself. To this day, in the room where the tragedy occurred, the sounds of a shot can be heard, but when the door is opened, no one is found behind it.

Hampton Court, the former country residence of British monarchs, is also uneasy. Which is understandable, since the “bluebeard of the English monarchy”, Henry VIII, lived here. The ghost of Anne Boleyn likes to visit here; apparently, the ghost does this in her free hours from walking around the Tower, as well as the spirit of Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, who died during childbirth.

Henry the Eighth, Jane Seymour and Prince Edward

It’s interesting how the spirits of Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour get along at Hampton Court; during the queen’s lifetime, for obvious reasons, they couldn’t stand each other. However, the wives of Henry the Eighth have a large company at Hampton Court, because they say that in the former residence of the British monarchs, in addition to the ghosts of Their Majesties, the spirit of the nurse of Edward VI and the ghosts of Queen Elizabeth I and King Henry III also live. In short, a full-fledged high society of ghosts!

Mantsev Artem

The work creates interest in history, in the country of the language being studied, and develops cognitive and creative activity. The variety of castles in Great Britain has been studied. Castles that are said to be haunted have been identified. A brief description of these locks is given. A booklet and message “Great Britain. Haunted castles."

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MUNICIPALITY
DISTRICT CITY OF NIZHNEVARTOVSK
MUNICIPAL BUDGETARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION "Secondary School No. 8"

RESEARCH PROJECT

"GREAT BRITAIN.

HAUNTED CASTLES"

Student of 3B class.

Supervisor:

Elisova Maria Ivanovna,

English teacher.

NIZHNEVARTOVSK

2012

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…....2

Chapter 1. Great Britain. Haunted castles……………………………………….……..……...4

Chapter 2. Research by UK scientists in the field of paranormal phenomena…………………………………………………………………………………………..……...7

Chapter 3. Mysticism and secrets of British castles………………………………………………………...10

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...…..16

List of used literature………………………………………………………………………………17

Applications……………………………………………………………………………….………………..…….18

INTRODUCTION

Castles are one of the main treasures of the state in the British Isles. They reflect the soul of the people who created them, tell about life and death, love and hate, happiness and sorrow. They represent centuries of historyGreat Britain, the largest European power. Castles that have stood the test of time; castles scorched by battles and stained with blood; finally, castles that embodied the dream of beauty and freedom - all this is the best page in the book of the country’s history.

The castles of Great Britain are known throughout the world for their age and architectural power; many of them are closely connected with the fates of outstanding personalities of different eras. A close acquaintance with these various cultural monuments allows us to use their examples to trace the history of the country, the path of development of medieval building technologies and the changes in the main functions of castles over the centuries. Castles have always played a big role in culture, acting, depending on the status of the owner, as military base, a seat of government or a stronghold to protect a region from the enemy. Sometimes one castle combined several functions at once, but first of all it was a private residence - the home of the owner of the castle, his family, servants and subordinates. At the same time, fortified structures served as symbols of power, authority and wealth. They were used to intimidate enemies, defeat rivals and entertain guests.

The British are immensely proud of castles, rightly considering them an important part of their country's unique heritage. Today you can find full-fledged fortifications with battlements, round towers and drawbridges, residential castles and palaces, which are still occupied by representatives of illustrious noble dynasties, and comfortable hotels. Many castles regularly host knightly tournaments and bird of prey shows. Add a fascinating history, mesmerizing landscapes, a mysterious atmosphere (castles boast a record number of ghosts per square meter) - and it becomes clear to you: there is nothing more interesting in Great Britain than medieval castles.

Relevance of the topic. The castles of Great Britain, their history and purpose have attracted the attention of thousands of people for many centuries. Nowadays, when most of the castles have been destroyed, and those that remain are gradually being destroyed, the need has arisen to preserve the castles as cultural heritage. We must understand the role of castles in history and their purpose in modern times.

Item research - variety of castles.

An object research - a group of the most mysterious castles in Great Britain.

Hypothesis research - information about the existence of ghosts in UK castles helps expand the horizons and knowledge of people interested in the history and culture of Great Britain, and also attracts people who have never been interested in this.

The purpose of this work is to discover the unknown Great Britain, the mystical Great Britain. I chose this particular topic - “Great Britain. Haunted Castles,” because I believe that paranormal phenomena have always been the subject of the most heated debate among both scientists and ordinary people. And for the latter, various visions or even information about them are phenomena that inspire horror, fear of ignorance, but at the same time, no one has ever refused the opportunity to see something mysterious and exciting.

Main objectives of the study:

Explore the variety of castles in Great Britain
Identify castles that are said to be haunted.Give brief description these castles.
Design a booklet and message “Great Britain. Haunted castles."

Research methods:

Literature analysis, pproblem-search method, research, systematization and generalization.

Practical significance.

Such work creates interest in history, in the country of the language being studied, and develops cognitive and creative activity. Independent activity contributes to a comprehensive acquaintance with the topic under study and expansion of knowledge on this issue. Skills in working with literature develop critical thinking and the ability to analyze phenomena on a scientific basis, and this is a component of any research work.

These studies can be used in English lessons.

CHAPTER 1. GREAT BRITAIN. HAUNTED CASTLES

"The land of greatness, the abode of Mars,
The royal throne, this second Eden,
Against the evils and horrors of war
A fortress built by nature itself,
The happiest tribe is the homeland.
This world is special, this wonderful diamond
In the silver frame of the ocean,
Which is like a castle wall
Or a protective moat encloses the island
From the envy of not so happy countries..."
William Shakespeare.

The fate of Great Britain, in my opinion, is one of the most striking and memorable historical treasures of our world. This country has always attracted the attention of tourists, researchers, writers, scientists, artists and rarely leaves anyone indifferent. I think that already in the very air of Foggy Albion there is something magical and mysterious that makes you plunge headlong into the history of this great country.

Almost every nation has its own reputation. For example, they say that Russians are generous and kind; Spaniards are noble and very proud; The French are cheerful and frivolous; Germans are very hardworking, but rather boring; Americans are boastful, energetic,

Now about the British. What is a typical Englishman like?

For most of us, the people of Great Britain, at first glance, seem to be reserved and imperturbable people, even a little prim.

The clear order, the “discipline” of life in this country, the integrity of those who inhabit it, would seem to suggest that there could never have been any unforeseen circumstances or unexpected turns of events in history. But first impressions are always deceiving.

Great English history has been one of ambition, avarice, betrayal and betrayal. The walls of the castles were silent witnesses to the bloodshed; the long corridors still echo the screams of the unfortunate victims, whose restless souls never entered either heaven or hell. Sobbing in pain, crying out for retribution, they became ghosts in the castles of Great Britain.

Castles are a special part of the history of this beautiful country. They are not only true masterpieces of architecture from different eras, but also keep many secrets. Most historical events are in one way or another connected with various castles. They claim to be haunted by real ghosts! Whether this can be believed is difficult to say. After all, no one has yet been able to accurately prove or disprove the veracity of these statements. AnywayUK castlespreserve the memory of many generations of their inhabitants, among whom are not only representatives of the English nobility, but royal dynasties. They witness insidious conspiracies and magnificent coronations, love stories and tragic events.

Until the 11th century, castles were mainly built of wood, so they were often destroyed during an assault and burned down. It was only at the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th centuries that castles began to be built of stone. Interestingly, the most ancient castles were not suitable for living. The owners of the castles lived only in a small, most durable structure - a donjon, which was not very comfortable, but was able to withstand any assault. Only several centuries later, nobles and monarchs allowed themselves to expand their living space and equip other premises of the castles. It was at this time, towards the end of the 14th century, that special castles appeared, intended for life and not for war.

Residents of the United Kingdom willingly believe in the existence
ghosts, which is quite reasonable:here, in almost any castle, stories about encounters with ghosts have been recorded for centuries in special books. Enthusiasts believe that the reason for such a proliferation of ghostsin Foggy Albion lies in the maritime climate and special geographical location. Or perhaps, in the abundance of bloody historical events in this relatively small country .

According to statistics, in terms of the number of officially registered cases of ghost sightings, residents of the British Isles deservedly take first place: they encountered 147 ghosts, which is confirmed by the testimony of credible witnesses and police reports. In second place is Spain (99), followed by France (48) and Belgium (32). Scandinavians now have the least chance of seeing a ghost - only 14 stories recognized as true have been described in three countries, and only isolated cases in Eastern Europe.

Ghost hunting in the UK is an honorable and highly paid business. Both the phenomenon of the existence of ghosts and the reasons for each individual case are explored. British scientists analyzed a lot of data.

In most cases, ghosts are the villains, as well as their victims. Ghosts love spacious and darkened spaces. In this sense, castles are ideal for them: they have room to wander around to their heart's content and rattle their chains, howl terribly or freeze high under the ceiling of the main hall.

Here is a short program for those who want to become the mocking Casper (please do not take this as a guide to action!):

1. Be born in England, into a family of aristocrats (about 80% of ghosts are of noble origin).

2.Settle in a castle (70% of cases).

3. Commit a crime (there are a lot of options here) and not repent.

4. Become a victim of a villain (there are also many options) and not forgive the offender.

The Gazetteer of English Ghosts says: “The British Isles are home to more ghosts than anywhere else.” English scientist Paul Lee noted: “The number of ghosts depends on how acceptable it is for a given people. British ghosts are part of the culture. We have had them at all times and under any government.”

In Britain, even the National Heritage Foundation is looking for ghosts (in addition to its main activities). In 2007, on the eve of Halloween, he compiled a ranking of the most famous haunted castles. The rating is based on the book by researcher Sheen Evans, “Ghosts: mysterious stories national heritage". According to the writer, of the 630 castles open to the public and old mansions Britain is haunted in 230.

CHAPTER 2. RESEARCH BY UK SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD

PARANORMAL PHENOMENA

In the UK, ghosts are taken care of. For example, the first official club Ghost Finders was organized in this country back in 1665. This society was founded not by insane people or psychopaths, but by quite respectable scientists of that time, among whom was the famous physicist Robert Boyle, known to every schoolchild according to the Boyle-Mariotte law. And the only task of this club of interests was precisely to study the phenomenon of ghosts. And in 1882, another organization was created to study the same issue - the Society for Psychical Research. The great merit of this society is that they began to question eyewitnesses and carefully document all information about ghosts. True, the problem is still far from being resolved.

Humanity still does not know for sure whether ghosts really exist. Most representatives of traditional science claim that they do not exist. Modern psychologists have even developed a theory as to why some people see or feel the presence of ghosts.

Psychologists claim that these “obsessions” are nothing more than the brain’s reaction to some external factors affecting the body, in particular, temperature conditions and lighting intensity. Simply put, ghosts appear in the most appropriate environments. As for mediums who are able to determine where a ghost appears, then British psychologists have their own explanation. They believe that mediums more keenly perceive those external factors that also form the impression of someone’s presence in ordinary people. I note that psychologists do not at all claim that their theory is the ultimate truth. However, there are plans to build a haunted house in the UK. Scientists have a whole range of tools at their disposal to create an eerie atmosphere in the house: lighting, electromagnetic fields, infrasonic vibrations, temperature changes, and the like. By managing all this, the researchers hope to prove that all talk of ghosts is just a figment of fantasy, caused by certain reactions of the human brain to changes in the environment.

Scientists have tried many times to study the mysteries of Hampton. Physicist Richard Weissman even received official permission to install instruments there. He installed sensors that recorded the temperature and humidity in the room (Weissman examined the gallery where Catherine Howard appears).

In this way, he tried to determine the air currents that, in his opinion, bring and carry away ghostly visions. He did not achieve much success. I spent a lot of sleepless nights and, as a result, fell asleep right at my post. It was then that the ghost of Catherine woke him up. The sleepy scientist was unable to pinpoint either the place where she came from or the place where she disappeared. “Half of the visitors to the castle with whom I talked experienced strange sensations,” the scientist noted. “But I haven’t found any evidence of the existence of her spirit.” According to Richard Weissman, evidence of the ghost's closeness to humans is, in particular, that "we feel intense cold, difficulty breathing and pressure on the chest." But the director of the museum, under the pretext that research could scare away ghosts, put a quick end to Weissman’s nightly vigils.

The same Richard Weissman and a group of 9 scientists conducted research in Edinburgh Castle, rich in its bloody history. For ten days, 240 volunteers from all over the world tried to catch ghosts, holed up in basements famous castle, where a prison for captured French soldiers was set up in the seventeenth century, and in ancient dungeons located in the medieval “Old Town”. The Edinburgh dungeons have interested scientists, primarily because it is here, according to hundreds of reports, that tourists and local residents met ghosts. The volunteers' task was to wander the corridors, basements and attics of the castle at night in search of spirits. At the same time, everything that happened in the castle was recorded by sophisticated equipment capable of sensing electromagnetic changes, detecting air currents, temperature changes, geomagnetic fluctuations, ultrasounds, etc. Among them, the main role was given to a digital scanner costing 50 thousand dollars, which is usually used by police to search for people. The ghost hunters paid special attention to the area around south bridge a castle where, according to tradition, the ghosts of people buried there alive during the plague appear. Besides these unfortunates, there are other ghosts in the castle - a ghost playing the bagpipes, a mother with a stillborn child and other spirits. “We want to establish whether all this is an illusion or true,” Richard Weissman explained the purpose of the experiment. - In any case, it will not be a waste of time. Experience will allow us to understand the mechanism that leads people to believe in spirits.”

“The results were not quite as expected,” reports the English press. - Half of the participants in the experiment (presumably these were people lacking imagination) did not experience anything unusual, the rest experienced something like that, but for the most part it was not terrible - such as an unexpected and sharp drop in temperature, an unpleasant draft that came from God knows where, or the feeling that someone is watching you. However, several subjects took away more ominous impressions from their underground vigils: one felt as if something hot was being applied to his hand, another fell into a real panic, driven out of control by the sounds of someone's breathing in the corner of the room. Someone was touched on the face and the edges of their clothes were pulled; and one of the volunteers saw a certain person in a huge leather apron. The strangest thing is that the person in the apron, according to reports, was repeatedly met in the same place, and the volunteer had never been to Edinburgh before and about national characteristics I knew nothing about the Edinburgh ghosts.

To the surprise of the researchers, who, being true scientists, did not give a damn about ghost stories and in fact were just looking for a rational explanation for “meetings with ghosts,” most of the strange sensations occurred precisely in those dungeons that were already notorious. In those places that, despite their ominous appearance, had not previously been visited by ghosts, the number of recorded oddities turned out to be significantly less. And this despite the fact that, according to the conditions of the experiment, the volunteers were not told anything about the exact place in which they would be vigil and what its “ghost” history was.

After the experiment with volunteers, they examined the basements of Edinburgh using a wide variety of scientific equipment, measured temperature, humidity, magnetic fields, etc., but did not notice any deviations from the norm.

CHAPTER 3. MYSTICITY AND SECRETS OF BRITISH CASTLES.

In the meantime, I want to tell you about the famous castles of Great Britain, the history of which is connected with legends and stories about ghosts that often appear there.

1. Blickling Hall Castle, Norfolk -Norfolk manor house Earls of Buckinghamshire from the family Hobart , erected under the kingJames Ifor the ancestor of the family, the supremeHobart judges . It is believed that the building was designed by the same architect asHatfield House. Previously, when Tudors, Blickling estate was owned byBoleyns.

Blickling Hall is famous for its ancientlibrary and exemplary garden, the improvement of which has been the focus of many generations of estate owners. Among the gardeners involved in the development of the territory was the famousHumphrey Repton. During battle of englandBlickling House, like many other country estates, wasrequisitionedfrom the owners and was used for the needs of the state. It is currently managedNational Trust.

The castle ranks first in the “ghost” rating. Here appears the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, who was beheaded on May 19, 1536 on suspicion of adultery and high treason. The ghost of the inconsolable queen is often seen sitting in one of the bedrooms, with her severed head resting peacefully in her lap. Sometimes the queen walks decorously through the rooms of the castle; in this case, the unfortunate woman holds her head in her hands. The castle is inhabited by two more “tenants”: the spirit of a good-natured comrade-in-arms of Henry IV - knight John Fastolf, whom the great Shakespeare wrote into several of his plays (“The Witchwomen of Windsor”, “Henry IV”, “Henry V”) as Falstaff, and the ghost of the arrogant Sir Henry Hobart, killed in a duel in 1698. Some eyewitnesses claim that at midnight before the full moon, all three ghosts gather in the large hall in front of the old fireplace and drink traditional English tea with scones and butter.

2. Leeds Castle , Kent - located on two islands of the River Len. This - medieval fortress one of the most beautiful castles in the world, and its name comes from the name of the Saxon nobleman Ledian, who built the first wooden fortress on this site in 857. A stone castle was later built, which was once again reorganized and turned into a royal residence by Edward I Longshanks. Leeds was royal palace, which belonged to the crown from 1278 to 1552. It is also known as the Ladies' Castle because many queens of England lived there. Leeds ceased to be royal property in 1552. Since then, Leeds Castle has been privately owned.
Currently, the castle houses a magnificent collection of paintings, furniture and tapestries, antique dog collars from the 15th-17th centuries; there is also vegetablelabyrinthout of two and a half thousandyewtrees; an aviary where you can see about a hundred rare and exotic birds.

The castle is haunted by the ghost of a large black dog. Although animal lovers will undoubtedly wonder what's so scary about a big black dog? This dog appears as an omen of death. There is a story about how this ghost once saved the life of a woman. She was sitting in the bay window when she saw the ghost; frightened, she jumped far from the window, and within a few seconds the wall with the window collapsed and its fragments fell into the moat! It's not certain that this actually happened, but it's a good story anyway.

3. Windsor Castle, county Berkshire.

The magnificent Windsor Castle located in Berkshire is the oldest and most active castle in the world. For over 900 years, it has towered over the surrounding landscape, embodying a symbol of royal power. Today the castle is one of the Queen's three official residences, along with Buckingham Palace and the Palace of Holyrood House.
William the Conqueror, taking measures to establish control over the western approaches to London, chose this strategically important site, located high above the Thames, to build a new castle. It was also only a day's journey from the capital and another Norman stronghold, the Tower of London. Windsor and the Tower were the first two castles built by the Normans immediately after their successful invasion of the British Isles, to provide defenses for the conquered territory.

The castle's royal apartments were first opened to the public in 1845 during the reign of Queen Victoria. Today, thousands of tourists visiting the castle can admire the wonderful works of art exhibited there, including masterpieces by such great masters as Rembrandt, Rubens, Holbein and Van Dyck, as well as magnificent collections of French and English furniture and priceless collections of unique porcelain.

At Windsor, the Queen often receives state visits from foreign monarchs and heads of government. Foreign guests of honor arrive at the castle by horse-drawn carriage through the George IV Gate onto the quadrangular palace square, where they are greeted by a guard of honor.

Royal Windsor Castle has its own ghosts. The restless ghost of the Duke of Buckingham wanders through the halls of Windsor Castle, whom the court astrologer summoned at the request of his son, but forgot to bring back. But, most often, the castle is visited by King Henry VIII. The creaking of his wooden leg fills the corridors and enfilades at night. And the royal family, and the servants, and the guards suffer cruelly from the ghosts that plague them.

4. Hughenden Manor Castle , Buckinghamshire,occupies almost 1500 acres. It arose in the 11th century. as the possession of William, son of Odo, bishop of Bayeux. In 1848, the castle was purchased by Benjamin Disraeli, the future Lord Beaconsfield and English Prime Minister, for £25,000 (current £1.5 million). In 1862, he and his wife Mary Anne remodeled the house using Gothic motifs. On the initiative of Lady Beaconsfield, a small garden with flower beds and sculptures was laid out on the estate. After the death of the Disraeli couple, the mansion passed to the owner’s brother, Ralph, then to his son, and from 1949 to the National Trust, which organized a house museum here.

The ghost of politician and writer Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield, sometimes greets guests on the grand staircase. A snow-white snowdrop always sticks out of his buttonhole. April 19, the day of the Lord's death, is celebrated in Great Britain as “Snowdrop Day” (during his lifetime, the snowdrop was his favorite flower).

5. Dunster Castle , Somerset County.

On the territory of the Western Cape of Somerset, running along Bristol Bay and passing into Exmoor, only one family clan dominated at all times. First from the time of the Norman Conquest until 1376 it was the Mohuns family, and then from 1376 until the present day their successors were the Luttrells, who owned it for 600 years until 1950. It is perhaps no longer possible to find a castle like Dunster in England (with the possible exception of Berkeley), which has changed hands only once since its construction. It is worth adding that it is also difficult to find a castle that fits so harmoniously into the forest natural landscapes. The graceful silhouettes of the towers and pediments look great against the background of the northern sky. A particularly effective view of the castle is not from the river or lower meadow, but from the main street of the quiet town leading to the castle entrance.

The castle is inhabited by the restless soul of the “man in green,” who freely walks around the rooms of the castle, passes through the walls, and plays pranks in the museum shop.

6. Stirling Castle - located in Scotland in area Sterling. Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally. The castle is located on the top of Castle Hill. The castle is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs, creating a strong defensive position. The first mentions of Stirling Castle appeared in the 12th century. Most of the main buildings of the castle were built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Only a few buildings from the 14th century survive, while the outer fortifications date back to the early 18th century. Several Scottish kings and queens were crowned at Stirling Castle, including Mary Stuart in 1543. The castle was besieged at least eight times, including several times during the War of Scottish Independence. The last time the castle was besieged was in 1746, when Bonnie Prince Charlie tried and failed to take it.

The castle is surrounded by many legends. According to one of them, King Arthur’s Camelot, the world famous knightly round table, was located here. Historians do not have documentary evidence to say this for sure, but many Scots and visitors believe in this legend. Sterling doesn't get by like anyone medieval castle Scotland, without ghosts. The “most famous” ghost of the castle is the spirit of Mary Stuart’s maidservant. According to legend, a fire started in Sterling, which almost took the life of a royal person. The maid saved her mistress at the cost of her life and, according to rumors, her spirit still wanders within the walls of the castle.

7. Glamis Castle, Scotland.

The castle first belonged to the family of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and from 1372 was a royal residence. Queen Elizabeth was born there. Now the castle is the property of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn. Once this castle was just a hunting lodge for the kings of Scotland. It was here that King Malcolm II of Scotland died from wounds received in battle. In 1372, the house was transferred to the ownership of the family of the Earls of Strathmore. Since then, Glamis has been the ancestral home of the Bowes-Lyons, the Scottish Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, now the Queen Mother, grew up in this house. Princess Margaret was also born here. Glamis Castle itself became a castle in the 17th century, when it was thoroughly rebuilt. And, like any British castle, it immediately became haunted. There is Chamber of Secrets, located in the thickness of the wall. Its windows are visible from the courtyard; there is no entrance to the room. According to legend, the Earl of Strathmore and his friend are doomed by the devil to play cards there forever because they dared to take up gambling on a Sunday. If you go to the wall in the place where the room is located, then on the night from Saturday to Sunday you can hear a conversation between two unfortunate people.

For several centuries, Glemis has been haunted by the ghost of Lady Janet Douglas, accused of witchcraft by King James V and burned alive. The ghost of the Gray Lady, about whom nothing is known at all, often appears in the castle and its surroundings. The spirit of a little page boy often appears in the Queen Mother's drawing room, where she sits quietly awaiting orders. An unknown knight dressed in full armor looks into the faces of sleeping guests at night.

One of the rooms of the castle - Duncan Hall - is considered to be the place that inspired Shakespeare to describe the scene of the murder of King Duncan by Macbeth in the tragedy "Macbeth".

Despite the gloomy legends, Glamis itself is very picturesque. There are several gardens around the castle, including an Italian park with hedges and beech alleys. Many representatives of the royal families of Scotland and Great Britain stayed here. The rooms contain collections of antique furniture and works of art. The dining room has preserved the decor of the mid-19th century. In the living room there are magnificent paintings and sculptures, in the library there are rare copies of books. The castle is surrounded by Dutch and Italian gardens with beautiful trees, shady alleys, rose flower beds.

8. Lanhydrock Castle, Cornwall.

Surrounded by magnificent gardens containing rare species of trees and shrubs, and a beautiful park with an area of 450 hectares, the most beautiful estate in Cornwall, Lanhydrock, is located. This stunningly beautiful Victorian castle was built in 1630 by the Roberts family. Representatives of this family lived in it for more than two and a half centuries. But in 1881, a fire broke out in the house, which not only destroyed most of the house, leaving only its northern wing intact, but also became a black page in the family’s chronicle.

Like almost everyone ancient castles Great Britain, Lanhydrock, has its own ghosts. An old woman dressed in gray is often seen in the gallery. And it looks quite real. But as soon as you get closer to her, the figure simply melts into the air. We also saw a middle-aged gentleman in the castle. If you believe the archives preserved in the castle, during the Civil War the royalists hanged a stranger right at the gates of the estate, who, judging by the description, looks exactly like a ghost wandering around the castle. Sometimes laughter can be heard in the nursery and the servants' room, and the smell of cigars can be heard from the smoking room. In short, the ghosts clearly love the beautiful castle.

9. Powis Castle , County Powys.

The castle was originally a fortress on which the power of the Welsh rulers rested. In 1286, the last Crown Prince of Powys renounced his royal title in favor of the English King Edward I, who annexed Mid-Wales to his possessions. In return, he was granted the title of Baron de la Pole. Territorial affiliation of the barony de la Pole, corresponds to English word Poole, because in the old days the town of Welshpool, where Powys Castle is located, was often called "Poole" for short.

The castle is famous for its world famous garden. With its huge trimmed yew trees and collection of rare and whimsical plants. The history of the garden dates back to the reign of the Welsh kings of the 12th century; later, in the 18th century, the garden was repeatedly changed in the Italian and then in the French style. The foundations of the garden are laid on four terraces, a worthy equivalent of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Bright green lawns, clipped yew, hedges, “hot” floral borders, ancient trees, moss covering – the classics. This is a worthy example of a British garden.

In the darkness of the corridors and passages of the palace, visitors often see the “lady in black” and feel the touch of her cold hands.
10.Belton House Castle , Lincolnshire.

Belton House Castle was built in the late 17th century. The British themselves consider it one of their most beautiful and harmonious castles of the Restoration period. Nowadays the castle belongs to the British organization National Trust, which is involved in the preservation of historical architectural objects. The film "Pride and Prejudice" was filmed here latest version Jane Eyre.

There are rumors that a ghost is walking through the castle - a mysterious "gentleman in black" strolls majestically near the Queen's bedroom, whistling an old Scottish song.

Such an abundance of ghosts in the country, oddly enough, does not interfere with to the British live peacefully. With their characteristic stiffness, they take care of all the “ghostly” places. This is not surprising: crowds of tourists come every year to see the ghosts. Here ghosts are elevated to the rank of national treasure and treated as such.

I told you about the ghosts of some castles in Great Britain, and now you can freely choose which ghost you would like to see yourself.

CONCLUSION

This work only briefly outlines the most popular legends about ghosts in Great Britain living in the country's castles.

In my research, on the one hand, evidence of the existence of ghosts was presented, and on the other hand, for those who do not believe in the presence of otherworldly forces, these facts were presented as phenomena characteristic of the human psyche. And when reading the historical explanation of the presence of certain visions and ghosts in the castles of Great Britain, everyone can choose for themselves whether they believe in ghosts or not. Thus, information about UK castles helps expand the horizons and knowledge of people interested in the history and culture of Great Britain, and also attracts people who have never been interested in it. Which confirms the hypothesis of my research. We can say that the goal of the work has been achieved.

LIST OF SOURCES AND REFERENCES USED

LITERATURE

1. Zaporozhtsev M.A. Castles of Britain. In the Company of Kings and Their Ghosts: A Historical Guide. – “Veche”, 2009. – 320 p.

2. Donskova I.I. Scotland. The mystical country of the Celts and Druids: A historical guide. – “Veche”, 2008. – 218 p.

3. Robin Eagles. History of England. A detailed guide to history. – “Astrel”, 2010. – 294 p.

INTERNET RESOURCES

4. Medieval castles and fortresses of the world. [site] URL:www.allcastles.ru, free.

Donskova I.I. Scotland. The mystical country of the Celts and Druids: A historical guide. – “Veche”, 2008. – 218 p.

The British take their traditions and culture seriously. It is customary here to organize costume parties dedicated to historical characters of the distant past. The English queen and the most famous ghost, Anne Boleyn, is no exception.

When the shadows of the past come to life

In this country, courts are seriously considering applications from homeowners demanding tax cuts, since some haunted houses and castles in England are difficult to find tenants. There are real estate offices here that specialize in selling haunted properties.

Before buying and selling, genealogies are carefully researched, reliable sources from the archives are studied... And only if the existence of a ghost is proven, the building is put up for auction.

Here is an advertisement in an English newspaper: “A 16th-century castle in a quiet area of Sousek County is for sale, complete with furniture and a ghost that harms no one. It is guaranteed that it will not leave the castle even in the event of its possible reconstruction.”

A purely English crime

The favorite in the ranking of English ghosts is the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, who lives in Blicklint Hall Castle in Norfolk. The queen, accused of adultery and high treason, was beheaded on May 19, 1536.

The ghost of Anne Boleyn is often seen sitting in one of the bedrooms of her ancestral castle, with her severed head lying in her lap. Sometimes the queen walks through the rooms holding her head in her hands. There are also more terrible visions: the headless Anna rushes in a carriage...

In addition to her, two more noble ghosts wander in the castle - knight John Falstaff, comrade-in-arms of Henry IV, and Sir Henry Hobart, who died in a duel in 1698.

All three would not have been real British ghosts if they had not met for traditional English tea, not at 5 pm, but at midnight before the full moon. In any case, it is at this time that they are seen in the large hall in front of the old fireplace.

By the way, Anna’s ghost generally likes to wander around places memorable for the queen. For example, he is often seen in the Tower, where Boleyn was imprisoned before his execution. This is not surprising: for ghosts there is no time, no distances, no walls...

They say that a certain gentleman in the 16th century simply tortured the architect who built his castle with his nagging. For which he paid: a terrible ghost appeared in his castle. The truth was revealed only centuries later.

It turns out that the architect took revenge on the owner by making special “singing” niches under the windows. The wind howled so terribly that the owner of the castle soon went crazy. A purely English crime.

The British also say: my home is my fortress. And if love reigns in this fortress, evil ghosts will bypass such a house.

The sound of chains and the smell of sulfur

The most original attractions in Great Britain are ghosts. Here they are not only believed in, they are proud of them, they are searched for, counted and classified.

In Britain there are societies “Ghost Hunters”, “Club of Ghost Experts”, “Scientific Society of Spiritualistic Ghosts”. Most ghosts of aristocratic origin live in castles. The villains and their victims, animals, as well as the entourage of old crimes - furniture and so on - become ghosts.

The largest international gathering of ghost hunters takes place in England on Halloween, the ghost festival at Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire takes place in May, and the ghosts themselves appear in public whenever they please.

There are about 230 castles and mansions in England that are haunted. Ghosts are also encountered on the roads, in parks, subways, and even in the holy of holies - the National Bank. In Kent, there is even a special ambulance service dedicated to catching ghosts.

By the way, if a ghost does not howl or jingle chains, you can recognize its arrival by a sudden feeling of cold, the smell of sulfur, restlessness of pets, or malfunction of electrical appliances.

edited news elche27 - 1-05-2011, 23:06

Scotland is famous for its medieval castles, palaces and forts, which preserve the history of the country, in which the spirit of knights and kings, beautiful ladies and ghosts of the past roam.

Edinburgh Castle (Edinburgh Castle Rock) rises in the center of the Scottish capital on a crater extinct volcano. This ancient fortress on Castle Rock, larger than a small medieval town, has a very rich history, which is full of bloody and tragic events. Mysterious murders and insidious conspiracies, hundreds of prisoners tortured in the dungeons of the castle gave rise to many legends.

The ghost of a bagpiper who disappeared without a trace, who was sent to look for a way out, wanders through the huge mysterious dungeon of the castle. What happened to him is unknown.

And the headless ghost of a drummer, who beats drums when danger approaches, can be seen in the pre-dawn hours in the castle courtyard. According to legend, it was this soldier who, during his lifetime, warned of the offensive of Oliver Cromwell’s troops and was executed in the castle.

The spirits of prisoners, plague sufferers, an old man in a leather apron, and even the ghost of a dog from a nearby dog cemetery live here. From the dungeons of the castle, where French prisoners were imprisoned during the Seven Years' War, strange sounds are sometimes heard and translucent silhouettes are visible. Visitors to the castle have also reported unnatural temperature fluctuations, breathing sounds coming from nowhere, and invisible creatures touching their faces. And on the slopes of the volcano, sentries sometimes see the ghost of a poor man who tried to escape from prison, but by an absurd accident was thrown alive from a cliff. Edinburgh Castle is the most haunted place on Earth.

Stirling Castle is located in the city of the same name, Stirling, and is considered one of the most important and largest castles in Scotland. For many years, this castle was the residence of the rulers of Scotland. He was besieged 8 times and was never conquered.

Like all medieval castles, Stirling is shrouded in secrets and legends. And ghosts live here, and the most famous is the Green Lady - the ghost of Mary Stuart's maid, who at the cost of her life saved the queen from the fire that happened in the castle. A foggy green figure appears in the most unexpected places, each time foreshadowing some kind of danger for the inhabitants of the castle.

In numerous passages of the ancient castle and even on the fortress walls, a human figure in armor is often seen. He wanders around the castle, muttering unintelligible prayers, and disappears at the first attempts to approach him.

Duntrune Castle, located in the west of Scotland, was built in the 12th century by the MacDougall clan, but later came into the possession of the Campbell clan. In 1792, the Campbells sold the castle to the Malcolm clan, and to this day Duntroon belongs to the family. It is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited castle in all of Scotland. Rising above the bay, among piles of rocks, it is adapted to repel attacks from the sea. Duntroon Castle has been involved in many battles over the years, mostly between clans for power.

There is a legend that the ghost of an armless bagpiper lives in Duntroon, who saved the owners of the castle by notifying them of the ambush. He paid for his devotion with a terrible death - both his hands were cut off so that he could never play. The musician bled to death and died from his wounds. However, his spirit never found peace. He is often greeted by the inhabitants of the castle, and sometimes the sounds of bagpipes are heard as if from nowhere.

In 1880, during renovation work, workers discovered a human skeleton with missing hands. Despite the fact that, at the insistence of the owner of the house, the remains were buried in a proper manner, strange things continue to happen from time to time. There were knocks on doors with no one behind them, then pictures falling from the walls for no apparent reason, and once all the pewter was thrown to the floor by an invisible hand. It is believed that the reason for the ongoing unrest is that the piper was a Catholic and perhaps the Protestant rite in which he was buried did not pacify his soul.

Meggernie Castle was built in the 17th century on the banks of Loch Tay in Central Scotland. At first, the castle was owned by the Gregor clan. Today it belongs to textile magnate J. Bullock.

The ghost of the wife of the cook Menzi Klan lives in this castle and she behaves very unusually. They say the woman was very loving and flirted with every man in a row. The husband, being angry at this behavior, killed his wife and cut the body into two parts before disposing of it. Since then, the lower part of the woman’s body wanders around the lower floors of the castle and basements, and her upper part is upstairs, where the men sleep.

The medieval Glamis Castle, located in the Angus region, is home to several ghosts. It is home to one of the most ancient ghosts of this country - King Malcolm II of Scotland, who died of wounds in 1034.

According to legend, the ghost of Count Glamis, who loved to play cards, also lives in the castle. One Saturday he got so into it that he stayed up until midnight. And when it was hinted to him that gambling on Sunday was a great sin, the count declared that he was ready to play with the devil himself. The devil immediately materialized and very quickly won everything from the count and his partners, including their immortal souls, which remained forever in the very room where the game took place. And now in the castle you can sometimes see a luminous window, behind which, judging by the sounds, they are playing cards.

The ghost of Lady Janet, Countess of Glamis, who was burned at the stake in 1537 after accusing her of witchcraft and attempting to poison the then reigning King James V, loves to wander the corridors and often prays in the castle chapel. In the same corridors you can find the ghost of a woman with a bloody mouth and clothes. This is a maid whose tongue was cut out so that she could keep what she saw a secret. The castle was also favored by a certain knight who looked into the faces of sleeping guests at night. And in the dungeons of the castle a man appears with a terribly mutilated body. He was probably tortured to death there.

Crathes Castle in the Aberdeenshire region was built in the 16th century on the site of an older fortress located on an island in the middle of a swamp. The castle belonged to the Barnett of Leys clan for 400 years, and this moment is the property National Trust Scotland. On the territory of the castle there is a large Botanical Garden with manicured lawns and red gravel paths.

The most famous ghost of the castle is the Green Lady. According to legend, this spirit belongs to an unfortunate servant who lost her newborn child, was rejected and killed by her lover. Since then, the ghost of a woman in a green dress has been seen in the castle tower, moving around the room to take the ghost of a child with her, and then disappearing into the fireplace. During renovation work in the 18th century, the skeletons of an unknown woman and child were found under the floor near the fireplace, but even after burial, the ghost still haunts the castle.

The dilapidated Hermitage Castle is considered one of the most terrible and sinister castles in Scotland. It is believed that the name of this castle comes from the Old French word l’armitage - “bunker”. The most old part The castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century.

There are several ghosts in the castle. One of them is the ghost of Sir Alexander Ramsay, Sheriff of Tewithdale. In 1342 he was lured to the castle under the pretext of meeting an old friend, Sir William Douglas. The sheriff was captured and thrown into prison, where he was left to die of hunger and thirst. When at the beginning of the 19th century they demolished the wall covering what was once a dungeon, they discovered a skeleton and a rusty sword. Sometimes you can hear heartbreaking cries for help from the dungeon.

Another inhabitant of the castle is the ghost of Lord Suli, who practiced black magic and used it to commit crimes. They said that he kidnapped babies whose blood he needed for witchcraft rituals. Lord Suli's outrages knew no bounds. According to legend, the lord was executed by being thrown into a barrel of boiling lead. The ghost of Lord Suli, together with his faithful servant Robin, was seen many times, and at night they heard demonic laughter in the uninhabited ruins of the castle.

One of Scotland's most famous castles, Eilean Donan Castle, is located on the small rocky tidal island of Donan, lying in the Lough Duich fjord in Scotland. The castle was built in the 13th century, during the reign of King Alexander II. In 1263, Alexander III gave the castle into the possession of Colin Fitzgerald as a reward for his valor during the Battle of Largs. Colin's descendants took the family name MacKenzie. From then on, Eilean Donan remained the most important fortress of the Mackenzies until 1719, when the castle was destroyed. In 1911, John McRae-Gilstrap bought the castle and began restoration. After 20 years, the castle was restored according to old plans kept in Edinburgh. The reconstruction also included the construction of a stone bridge connecting the island with the lake shore. To this day, the MacRae clan lives in six rooms set aside for them in the castle.

There are two ghosts in the castle. One of them is a Spanish soldier killed during the capture of Eilean Donan Castle in 1719. He is believed to carry his head under his arm and appears in a gallery dedicated to the history of the castle. Another ghost lives in one of the bedrooms - this is the spirit of the murdered Lady Mary, who knows when and by whom. It has not yet been possible to figure out who she is. Some believe that this is the spirit of Mary Stuart herself.

The small hunting castle of Huntingtower in Perth, once known as Ruthven Castle, was built in several stages starting in the 15th century.

The castle tower is said to be haunted by Lady Greensleeves, a young woman named Dorothea, who was the daughter of the 1st Earl of Gowrie. Legend has it that she was in love with a young man from the castle's servants. The couple met secretly at night in the eastern tower, where the servants' quarters were.

One day the Countess, the girl’s mother, learned about this relationship, which dishonored the family. From the family apartments in the western tower, she crossed the bridge to the eastern one to catch the loving couple. Dorothea heard her mother's steps on the bridge. The way back was cut off, and she climbed out onto the roof. In desperation, the girl decided to jump onto the western tower and miraculously landed safely, jumping over the battlement. The girl managed to return to bed, where her mother found her. The next day, the lovers secretly escaped from the castle. Their further fate unknown.

The tall figure of a young woman in a green dress was noticed many times near the castle, often at dusk, but sometimes in daylight. Her appearance is rumored to be a bad sign and warns of troubles in the future. In the 1930s, a traveler spent the night at the castle and saw Lady Greensleeves in the corridor. The next day, while crossing the River Tay on a ferry, he fell into the water and drowned.

In the region of Argyll and Bute in Scotland, near the town of Oban, Dunstaffnage Castle is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland. It is located on a narrow spit of Lake Etive and is surrounded on three sides by water. Previously, even before the arrival of the Romans, the Dal Riatan fortress, built earlier than the 7th century, was located on this site.

The castle is famous for its ghostly woman, called Elle Maid. Sometimes she is dressed in white, and sometimes in green. Nobody knows the reason for the appearance of this ghost. Previously, when the Campbell clan owned the castle, the ghost showed signs of sadness when one of the Campbells died, and joy when some happy event happened in the Campbell family. The ghost also likes to annoy people by pulling the sheets off their beds and waking up family and guests with loud stomps on the stairs. Elle Maid takes particular pleasure in teasing children lying in bed by pulling their hair, arms and legs.

Elena Krumbo, especially for the “World of Secrets” website

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