Tags
Aberdeenshire, Catherine Cavendish, Edinburgh, Flame Tree Press, Fyvie, ghosts, Gight Castle, Horror, Lord Byron, New book, The Haunting of Henderson Close
Gight Castle and the Lost Gold of Hagberry Pot BY CATHERINE CAVENDISH
CATHERINE CAVENDISH —(Please insert pic 1)
Ghosts aplenty haunt the towns, cities and countryside of Scotland. Near the town of Fyvie in the Grampian region,
stands the ruin of Gight Castle – once the home of the Gordon family whose most famous son was the infamous ‘mad, bad and dangerous to know’ Lord Byron. Gight was his childhood home – he and his mother being the last of the Gordons to live there.
Throughout its history, it was the scene of hardship, financial disaster, murder and untimely deaths. Byron’s mother – Catherine Gordon – had to sell the castle to distant relation the third, Earl of Aberdeen in 1787 to pay off the considerable gambling debts run up by her husband.
Local 13th century poet and prophet, Thomas the Rhymer foretold, ‘At Gight three men by sudden death shall dee. And after that the land shall lie in lea’.
In 1791, George Gordon, Lord Haddo son of the Earl of Aberdeen, fell off his horse and died.
The castle was no longer lived in after that but at its Home Farm a couple of years later, one of the servants met a similar fate to that of the unfortunate Lord Haddo. Then a farmworker, who was working on demolishing one of the farmhouses, remarked that at least Thomas the Rhymer’s prophecy hadn’t been fulfilled, as only two people had died. The words were barely out his mouth before a wall fell on him, crushing him to death. The land was turned into lea. Now the prophecy was fulfilled.
The famous Ghost of Gight is said to be a piper who was working underneath the castle and was sent to investigate an underground passageway and never returned. The sound of his pipes can be heard among the ruins.
But there’s more. Indeed, there may be gold nearby. Legend has it that the seventh laird of Gight hid his treasure in the near bottomless pit that is Hagberry Pot, a short distance away on the River Ythan. He secreted it there during the Covenanters’ Riots in in 1644. After the rebellion ended, the laird tried to retrieve his treasure and sent a diver down to its murky depths to locate it and bring it up. The diver resurfaced, scared out of his wits. The Devil himself was guarding it, he said.
The laird was having none of it and forced the poor man to go down again. A few minutes ticked by and then the lifeless body of the diver floated up to the surface. The body was not intact. Something – or someone – had severed it into four parts.
It is said the laird’s gold and jewels remain down there – if you have the courage to go diving for it.
Legend also has it that some of the Gordons dabbled in sorcery and black magic and that the devil himself still visits the castle ruins.
For evil of a different kind, here’s what to expect from The Haunting of Henderson Close:
Ghosts have always walked there. Now they’re not alone…
In the depths of Edinburgh, an evil presence is released. Hannah and her colleagues are tour guides who lead their visitors along the spooky, derelict Henderson Close, thrilling them with tales of spectres and murder. For Hannah it is her dream job, but not for long. Who is the mysterious figure that disappears around a corner? What is happening in the old print shop? And who is the little girl with no face? The legends of Henderson Close are becoming all too real.
The Auld De’il is out – and even the spirits are afraid.
The Haunting of Henderson Close is available from:
About the author:
Following a varied career in sales, advertising and career guidance, Catherine Cavendish is now the full-time author of a number of paranormal, ghostly and Gothic horror novels, novellas and short stories. In addition to The Haunting of Henderson Close, Cat’s novels include the Nemesis of the Gods trilogy – Wrath of the Ancients, Waking the Ancients and Damned by the Ancients, plus The Devil’s Serenade, The Pendle Curse and Saving Grace Devine.
Her novellas include Linden Manor, Cold Revenge, Miss Abigail’s Room, The Demons of Cambian Street, Dark Avenging Angel, The Devil Inside Her, and The Second Wife
She lives with her long-suffering husband, and a black cat who has never forgotten that her species used to be worshipped in ancient Egypt. She sees no reason why that practice should not continue. Cat and her family divide their time between Liverpool and a 260-year-old haunted apartment in North Wales.
You can connect with Cat here:
Aside from the fact that this informative post was a pleasure to read, the line, ‘In 1791, George Gordon, Lord Haddo son of the Earl of Aberdeen, fell off his horse and died’ captured my imagination. As to exactly why, I’ll never likely know. Whatever, thoroughly enjoyable and best wishes to both Ms.S & Ms Cat.
I love Cat’s ghost posts. She gets all the interesting stories of hauntings. It is quite a line that. I am sure you will do something with the idea. Glad you enjoyed Mike/. xxxxx
Whether it be the shortest story ever; a conclusion to a tragedy or a comedy in waiting or perhaps the end of an affair I seriously liked that sentence. Genuinely, Ms S. A fine way to start the day ’twas when I spotted your post.
Well a post is only ever as good as the guest. And of course, the dudes do have it in for Cat, she is their special ‘fiend’ but this time their little whiskers were well and truly tied. xxxxxx
Thank you so much, Mike and Shey. I love digging up a good ghost story!
A good ghost story represents classic darkness. The darkness that has that important ingredient, namely more that just a smidgen of reality, in a way, say, ‘vampires’ and their modern equivalents can never do. Keep up the fine work, Ms Cat.
Cat’s fiction is always nicely gothic.
Thanks, Cat and Shey. You bring us so many fascinating tales from across the border that we would otherwise never hear. I wish the book great success, Cat, xx
Thank you, Kate. Really appreciate your kind wishes 🙂
I love Cat’s tales too. I wish she’d write a non fiction with them all … Tie them up to all her wonderful books xxx
one day maybe…one day…
OOh. Cat you should. You know so many stories x
real life ghost
buster 🙂
Yeah! Cat knows a good ghost story. x
🙂 Thanks for dropping by, smilecalm!
Ah, this sounds like another winner of a story, one not to read at night alone! I wonder if The Dudes have ever heard the Thomas the Rhymer story about the meddlesome hamsters who . . . oh never mind. Why stir things up?
We haf nivir hird this story… Mebbe you wid come soon to our blog and till us it. And we will chew it ovr…
the dear little dudes……
Ah, you scoundrels. Plausible deniability. Brilliant maneuver. 👏🤓😍
Yeah Pam…watch them. They are more than likely to chew you and me over… x
iz? Whin we ir the picture of innosinse? Good sinse too.
The dudes
Uh… oh, now you’ve set them off. The Rhyme of the Meddling Hamster. I was trying to play that one down. If they ever get to read that…well,I for one will be heading to the Alps!
And Cat I am going to help you up there truly….What is more I will tell them nothing xxx
PS getting the thermal jackets, hats, gloves, mountain boots, crampons, ice -picks the lot ready as we speak… )
😂😂😂 Well, who doesn’t enjoy a good rhyme, meddling or not.👏
Great post, Loved the link bwetween Thomas the Rhymer and Byron’s family & estate and (unlike the dudes) I am always happy to see Cat cavendish. PXX
I thought you would like Thomas when you saw this, especially as you have written a book featuring him. It is always good to see Cat and she always bring a good scary story . Good to see you too Paul x
Most kind of you, Paul. Thank you 🙂
Great post. Love the story of the missing treasure. I can just imagine that being told at the fireside with candle-light flickering. Nice lead up to The haunting of Henderson Close.
I loved that story Cath. It was the business of the pieces floating to the surface. xxxxxxxxxxx
The spirit of M.R. James is alive and well… Thank you, Cath
Love this Shey and Cath, the whole ghosts and prophecy thing is right up my alley, pardon the pun with regards to the Haunting of Henderson Close, which is now on my tbr, list. Oh and ehrm, the Maid of Fyvie O, yes, we had to sing that at a school concert and I can still be heard humming it yet. Why can’t the dudes from Russia do the dance? xxxx
Cos they are in big trouble for being horrible to each other and suitably banned from doing anything except having their number one enemy over to blog and that kind of thing. Yes Cat writes a good gothic story. And this one is set in Scotland which yes should be right up your street x
Excellent. xxx
xxxxx
If corse we wir not horrible. Shey is horrible. Now she win’t let iz dance.
the poor dudes.
-plays Boney M Rasputian-
there lived sich dudes in rushia long ago
Thank you, Adele. Oh dear. The dudes are upset. i sense trouble ahead…
Uz? Cause trouble? Nivir
The peaceable dudes
I heard the story about the Gordon’s family and the horse accident from a tour guide in Edinburgh.We will never know if a hamster run across the road in front of him and scared his horse. Only the ghosts of the past know the truth.
I look forward to reading the book. xxxx
OMG Inese, I justt about fell off my seat reading that line…we will never know if a hamster ran across the road.. You should be writing ghost stories . You always do great mischievous bits on your blogs. But I just this vision of one of them darting out. I’ve started Cat’s book and already it’s …..heating up ain’t quite the word with all the chills about but you know what I mean.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that a hamster had intervened in the history of the humankind. They have that potential, you know.
Lol. Love it. I remember reading somewhere that their hoarded berries and nuts once kept a village from starving … xx
Thank you Inese. You may just be right – they are into everything these hamsters. They are quietly taking over the world, one accident at a time…
🙂
We tild you we wid, We hiv just ben unlucky hir lately
the dudes
Great share! Lovely! Cheers 💐
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Ravindra. Nothing like a good Scottish ghost tale x
Beautiful ❤️ loved to explore Scottish ghost tale🌿🍀🌠🎋
Yay xxx
Many thanks, Resa!
Many thanks, Ravindra!
My pleasure always friend 💐
I adore this post, the hamsters and Cat Cavendish. You are both very prolific authors.
I, don’t know if you got the comment I left on Carolee’s blog.
I’m doing an Art Gowns Update post in a week(ish). As the last post was dedicated to you guys, I want to do an update on your new books. It won’t be a spotlight, like on the Contessa Fiori post, but an update to promo your new book since then.
Let me know if this is okay by you! _Resa
Oh I never got that update Resa and I would LOVE that. Thank YOU…. I may well have clicked it yes but my net collapses constantly and that is how I then miss things. It is perfect and so kind of you. I do have a re-release of Lady Fury coming up and YES…that banner is part of the cover. Fury’s ex was a pirate and she has had a checkered past. I will be doing a blog and proper cover reveal tomorrow..AND YES there is a gown… x
Yay! It’s about 3 days away from posting. I’m etching the post in. Right now I have His Judas Bride cover & will add the re-release of Lady Fury with new cover. I can hardly wait to see the gown!!!!! Very exciting!
OH, and what is that new header about? Are you doing a pirate story? 😀
I did six years ago and the header is from the re-release with a GOWN… Tomorrow I post,, OOh AND it is Lady Fury and pirates xxxxxx
P S. I am reckoning that the dudes calling her Lady Furry ….. we are okay there
Okay. post is up! I hope you like what I did!!!
Heading right over xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ah, this place is darkly haunting, indeed! Thankful the hamstah dudes allowed Catherine to share some history with us. x
Thank you, jean. Yes I did get off lightly this time 🙂
Catherine did get off lightly cos their little paws were nailed to the floor. She always shares some wonderful stories. It was time to hear some. x