register for free
View our sister sites
Our sister sites
Our sister sites
Our sister sites
Moobli
Dogsey Veteran
Moobli is online now  
Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
Female 
 
20-09-2014, 02:24 PM

The Goblin Ha'

One beautiful day in syummer after walking the gang by the reservoir early on, Zak and I went exploring to a place I had wanted to find for a while.

"Of lofty roof and ample size,
Beneath the castle deep it lies;
To hew the living rock profound,
The floor to pave, the arch to round,
There never toiled a mortal arm;
It all was wrought by word and charm.

- Sir Walter Scott, Marmion."

Just outside the village of Gifford lie the ruins of Yester Castle within quiet woodland. The castle has a supernatural history. Legend has it that below the castle lies a subterranean chamber, known as the Goblin Ha’. It’s called that because the castle was allegedly built by goblins after the powerful warlock Hugo de Giffard made a pact with Satan himself.

The castle isn't signposted so it took some wandering and exploring the surrounding woodland before I came upon it. Thankfully there was also a river running through the woods so Zak could keep cool.

A bit of history ...

Hugo De Giffard built Yester Castle in the 13th Century. He was widely regarded by the locals as having magical powers. When his daughter Margaret decided to marry Broun of Coulston, Hugo gave her an enchanted pear. “Keep the pear safe” he told her, “and no harm will come to your husband’s family.”

Margaret and her new husband locked the pear in a silver box and the family prospered for a couple of hundred years. Then in 1692 George, the heir to Coulston House, was preparing to marry his fiancee. Obviously he forgot to tell her about the pear because she found it, and it looked so ripe and delicious that she took a bite.

The pear instantly turned to rock, and the Brouns soon found themselves drowning in debt. George sold the house to his brother, but his line was wiped out en route to Edinburgh when the River Tyne burst its banks. George died penniless and without an heir. The pear, bite-mark and all, is kept in Coulston House to this day.

Now for the photos .... (I took them on my iPhone so will add them separately).

For anyone interested this website shows more photos of the ruins and the Goblin Ha' itself.

Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha' | Stravaiging around Scotland
Reply With Quote
Moobli
Dogsey Veteran
Moobli is online now  
Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
Female 
 
20-09-2014, 02:25 PM
The photos ...

Beautiful woodland





First we found this ... the remains of a barrel vaulted cellar



Zak watched through the window slit for any incoming enemies :laugh:



High curtain wall



Zak looking in to the Goblin Ha' from the outside



The entrance to the Goblin Ha' ... would you have gone in?

Reply With Quote
Moobli
Dogsey Veteran
Moobli is online now  
Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
Female 
 
20-09-2014, 02:25 PM
This is how Yester Castle would have looked




And this is how it looks inside the Goblin Ha' (not my photos! )



Reply With Quote
tawneywolf
Moderator
tawneywolf is offline  
Location: Bolton
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,075
Female  Gold Supporter 
 
20-09-2014, 03:20 PM
It is amazingly well preserved really isn't it. I'm quite into medieval history, so anything like that near me and I would be there all day
Think of the times it has seen and the history behind it, fascinating
Reply With Quote
Moobli
Dogsey Veteran
Moobli is online now  
Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
Female 
 
20-09-2014, 07:43 PM
It is very well preserved. I have promised myself I will go back with a torch and probably some other human company and go inside next time.
Reply With Quote
Moobli
Dogsey Veteran
Moobli is online now  
Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
Female 
 
14-06-2016, 09:02 AM
Just to add to this ... I have been back a few times since and have been inside. It is quite eerie but fascinating. The kids loved it too - especially with stories of wizards, ghosts and goblins.
Attached Thumbnails (Click to enlarge)
Click image for larger version

Name:	goblinha7.jpg
Views:	128
Size:	69.1 KB
ID:	5071   Click image for larger version

Name:	goblinha8.jpg
Views:	138
Size:	47.4 KB
ID:	5072   Click image for larger version

Name:	goblinha9.jpg
Views:	147
Size:	54.5 KB
ID:	5073   Click image for larger version

Name:	goblinha12.jpg
Views:	183
Size:	41.8 KB
ID:	5074  
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Goblin Combe bri66 General Dog Chat 2 06-06-2007 03:24 PM

© Copyright 2016, Dogsey   Contact Us - Dogsey - Top Contact us | Archive | Privacy | Terms of use | Top