Angus Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
Lady Lindsay
Location: Edzell - Edzell Castle (ruins)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Lindsay fell into a coma but was thought dead - she awoke in the church as the parish sexton tried to cut off her finger to steal a ring. He fled the church, leaving a cold and weak Lindsay who tried to walk back home to the castle but failed - she died just outside the door. Her shade has been reported at the castle, the church, and in-between, and is said to smell of death.
Lady in Green
Location: Ethie Maines - Ethie Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A mistress of Cardinal Beaton, both her and her lover can also be heard moving around the castle. The sobs of young children have been reported, as have eerily dragging sounds.
Guardian Beast
Location: Fern - Castle of Vayne (ruins)
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Protecting a wealth of gold and jewels, this monster tends to remain hidden unless threatened by treasure hunters. Nearby, in a rock comprised of sandstone, there is said to be the imprint of a kelpie's hoof, and the demon horse itself is said to live in a nearby pool.
Murdered Labourer
Location: Fettercairn - House next to the village inn (both are no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Eighteenth century?
Further Comments: A house in the village was haunted by the ghost of a builder who was killed during a fight with a work colleague, and the corpse concealed under the base of the building's staircase. The haunting stopped after the murderer confessed fifty years after the crime, and the hidden body removed and given a decent burial.
Man Warming his hands and Feet
Location: Fettercairn - Small cottage, situated next to the old gardens of the Big House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1999-2001 (and other dates)
Further Comments: This witness, who lived in the building, reporting coming downstairs one night into the lounge area and seeing the figure of a man warming his hands and feet, sitting by the fire in the dark. The entity appeared to be wearing gamekeepers or gardeners clothing. Although the witness could not physically move, he reported an amazing feeling of peace. Finally, the observer made a dive for the light switch, and when the room was illuminated, the ghostly figure disappeared.
Poor Thief
Location: Finavon - Finavon Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Caught breaking into the castle grounds to steal food and firewood, this man was hanged and left as a warning for anyone else who would try the same crime. There is also a local rhyme that states when the castle is reduced to dust, the world will end...
Fisherman
Location: Forfar - Stag Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2018 (poltergeist)
Further Comments: It was reported that there is a ghostly figure of an old fisherman who sits in corner of restaurant with his back to the kitchen wall. Poltergeist activity has also been observed - in 2018 CCTV caught a cup and milk jug as they flew off a kitchen shelf (on the wall which backs on to the phantom fisherman's favourite corner). At other times, objects which have been left on shelfing has been found relocated to the floor.
Smoker
Location: Forfar - Private residence, Glenclova Terrace
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 1990
Further Comments: The living room of this property was invaded for a few moments by a strong smell of tobacco smoke. The family dog was also visibly upset, hackles up and growling at the corner of the room. Within moments, the smell vanished, and the dog's demeanour returned to normal.
Drowning Figures
Location: Forfar - Loch
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: When the loch freezes over
Further Comments: A ghostly party of men have been seen in the ice; only from the waist up, they look as if they have fallen through and are slowly dying. The surrounding area is also haunted by a beautiful woman who was buried alive after being unfaithful to her lover who killed himself when he discovered her betrayal.
Grey figure
Location: Glamis - Malcolm's Stone (tombstone)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This ghost has been observed around this ancient headstone.
Construction of Gallows
Location: Glamis - Glamis Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1880 (Gallows heard)
Further Comments: Not shy of more than a few hauntings, Glamis can claim the following... The sounds of a set of gallows being constructed, Lady Glamis drifting in mist around the clock tower, the unknown ghost in the 'Haunted Room' which caused a previous owner to faint when he went to investigate the mysterious sounds contained within, a white lady that drifts the corridors, 'Jack the Runner' who's long legs carry him down the same corridors, a black page boy that quickly appears and disappears near a sitting room, a pale girl who is dragged away by an invisible force in the courtyard, a giant in armour that stands over and looks down on people in bed, and a re-enacted murder in the parlour.
Piper
Location: Glen Esk - Waters of Lochlee
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: 19 June (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A great and popular piper was once taken by little folk donned in green across the waters here - once a year we mortals have the chance of listening to his tunes.
Black Cat
Location: Glen Prosen - Wooded hill in the area
Type: ABC
Date / Time: June, mid 2000s, 15:00h
Further Comments: Disturbed by a loud scream, two walkers looked around and spotted a black cat, around four foot long with a long thick tail and shoulders that were higher than its body. The cat looked at the walkers then disappeared into the bushes. Dogs could then be heard barking in the distance from several directions.
Sir John Ogilvie
Location: Inverquharity - Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This castle's ruin is blamed on the Sir John's terrifying ghost that walks the area. Sir John raped and murdered two girls, and then hanged their head of the household. After committing such a heinous crime, the village priest prayed for vengeance, and Sir John dropped dead while hunting.
Bedtime for Children
Location: Kincardine - Tulliallan Castle; Tulliallan Police College
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: February 1978
Further Comments: A witness staying at the police college recalled hearing children laughing along the corridor outside her dorm, before the sounds moved into the room. Although alone in the dorm, the witness heard all the beds squeak as if people where climbing into them, including her own. A chair also in the room moved slightly across the floor.
Dead Dragon
Location: Kirkton of Tealing - Martin's Stone
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A stone in the area marks the place where a local man named Martin killed a dragon which had eaten nine sisters who had gone to fetch water for their aging father.
Drummer
Location: Kirriemuir - Cortachy Castle
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Drums before a death in the family
Further Comments: Caught having an affair with the wife of the castle's owner, the drummer was placed in his own drum and rolled out from a tower. On the verge of dying, he staggered from the drum, and cursed all future generations who would live there. Another version of the story states that the drummer was a Campbell, sent to the castle (owned by the Ogilvy family) offering a truce. The Ogilvy's murdered him and left his drum and his body dangling from a window. His ghostly drum can be heard beating before a death in the family.
Footsteps
Location: Liff - Staff Housing at Royal Liff Hospital
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1973, around 23:00h
Further Comments: Two witnesses heard footsteps ascending the staircase and coming to a halt on the landing. The witnesses investigated and found no one there. The building was locked up with no way in. A similar incident also took place at the house next door.
David Beaton
Location: Mains of Melgund - Melgund Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Built by Cardinal Beaton in the mid-sixteenth century, his ghost took a liking to the property after the death of the flesh.
Shouting Man
Location: Montrose - Lunan Lodge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Several entities are reported to haunt this manse, including a loud man in plus-fours and a flat hat, a maid, a stable boy and an unknown presence which manifests on the stairs.
Two Metre Tall Neck
Location: Montrose - Just over a kilometre offshore, 16 kilometres southeast of town
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1903
Further Comments: The crew of the Rosa reported this monster's appendage which rose from the sea by their boat. It looked around before diving again.
Trainee Pilot
Location: Montrose - Former RAF Montrose
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century, and 2010
Further Comments: This World War I trainee died while out on his first solo flight - his ghost appeared in the base commander's room three times, before the room was locked up and no longer used. He was also seen flying around in his biplane, up until the end of the Second World War. A phantom Second World War RAF Officer was seen around the base during the latter years of the conflict. It was thought that he was killed when a mechanic with a grudge tampered with his aircraft's engine. In 2010 it was reported that an old radio set at the heritage centre continued to pick up Second World War transmissions, including Churchill speeches.
White Figure
Location: Newtyle - Bulb Farm (no longer standing, replaced by housing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 02 June (reoccurring), or thereabouts, after sunset
Further Comments: A white figure, thought to be decapitated, was said to move slowly around the area, as if looking for its missing body part. Groaning is also heard in the area.
Captured Kelpie
Location: River North Esk - Ponnage (aka Pontage, aka Ferry) Pool
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A mortal managed to catch a water spirit by using a magical bridle and forced the creature to move stones to Morphie to assist in the building of a castle. One day the bridle was accidently removed; the kelpie escaped, shouting a curse which resulted in the castle being demolished.
Well Monster
Location: Strathmartine - Nine Maiden's Well (now buried, exact location not known)
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dragon which guarded a well managed to eat nine maidens who came one by one to draw water. It was finally slain by a man named Martin who was to be married to the youngest girl.
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