Tag Archives: Europe

Ukategorisert

Chilling Legends of Ham House, London’s Most Haunted Mansion

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Ham House in England is said to be the eternal home to no more than 15 ghosts, at least! From the ambitious Duchess to former servants and even pets, the spirits of the old mansion far outweighs the living. 

London is a city with a rich history full of tales of intrigue, mystery, and the paranormal. One of the most intriguing places in the city is Ham House, located in Richmond upon Thames. Ham House is a beautiful mansion that has been around for over 400 years, and it is known to be one of the most haunted places in London. 

The chilling legends that surround this mansion have made it a popular destination for ghost hunters, paranormal enthusiasts, and curious visitors alike and has been dubbed the mansion with most ghost stories in the country. From the ghost of a woman dressed in white wandering the halls to the eerie sounds of children crying in the night, there is no shortage of spine-tingling stories to be told about Ham House. 

The Ghostly Legends Surrounding Ham House

Ham House is a beautiful mansion that has been around for over 400 years. Built in 1610, it is one of the finest examples of 17th-century architecture in England. However, the mansion has a dark and mysterious history, and it is said to be one of the most haunted places in London with reports of at least 15 different ghosts.

Mysterious footprint appears in the dust of the staircase and the upstairs floors when no one has walked there. There is a wheelchair in the house kept in one of the servants’ rooms at the top of the house that are said to move around and appear when no one intends to put it. 

There are many ghostly legends surrounding Ham House. Some of the most famous include the ghost of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, the ghost of the Green Closet, and the ghost of the Lady in White. These ghosts are said to haunt the mansion to this day, and many visitors have reported seeing or hearing them.

The Ghost of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale

Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, was a powerful and influential woman who lived in Ham House in the 17th century. She was the daughter of William Murray, the whipping boy to King Charles I that gifted the house to him when they grew up. 

She was married to John Maitland, the Duke of Lauderdale, who was a close friend and advisor to King Charles II. Elizabeth was known for her beauty, her intelligence, and her strong personality. Some even think that she murdered her first husband to marry the Duke.

The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale: Elizabeth Murray had strong opinions and was also political active. One of the more darker rumours surrounding her was that she poisoned her first husband who only was a Baron to climb the social ladder by marrying a Duke.

Legend has it that Elizabeth haunts Ham House to this day. In her later years she was known to have been walking with a cane, and many claim to have heard the tapping of her cane upstairs, and on the Grand Staircase of the mansion.

Visitors have reported seeing her ghostly figure wandering the halls of the mansions. Some have even claimed to have seen her reflection in the mirrors in her old bedchamber were she died. 

People that have stayed in the room have reported about an oppressive force in the room and the smell of roses, something she was known for smelling lingering in the air. The staff have been known to say: Good afternoon your ladyship, before entering just for good measure. 

One of the most famous haunted objects in Ham House is the portrait of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale. Legend has it that the portrait is haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth herself. Visitors have reported seeing the portrait move or change expression when they are alone in the room.

The Lady in Black Pushing People on the Stairs

Elizabeth Murray: Countess of Dysart, later Duchess of Lauderdale (1626-1698)

As mentioned, people have reported about the sound of the Duchess cane tapping by the grand staircase. They have also reported about seeing a lady in black they think must have been the Duchess haunting the mansion and seeing who comes and goes in her mansion. 

What is scary is that one of the tour guides told a story about standing on it during one if his tours and suddenly felt like someone gave him a push and almost came tumbling down the stairs. 

Several of visitors have also claimed to have a feeling of being pushed when walking up and down the stairs.

Visitors are advised to not use the third step and it is often marked with something to remind people. There are many theories as to why this step is said to be haunted and one of those stories is that this is where the Duchess decided to poison her second husband as well. Or was it perhaps the first?

The Haunted Staircase: Beware the third step of the stairs, as it is said to bring the ghosts forth and give people a puh.

The Hag in the Wall

One of the enduring legends and mysteries is whether or not the Duchess really did kill her first husband. According to one story there used to work a butler that had his 6 year old daughter living there with him. She kept complaining about scratching on the walls of her room, and an old hag that kept visiting her at night. 

When they investigated the wall, they found a hidden panel. There were the documents that proved that the Duchess really did kill her first husband. But what butler, when or behind what panel has never been pinned down, and is now one of the many legends of the house. 

The Servant on the Terrace

There used to be a servant called John MacFarlane that worked in the mansion. He was said to be very young, around 17 years old. In 1790 or 80 he fell in love with one of the kitchen maids. She rejected him however and her refusal made him suicidal. 

According to the legend he scratched his name on a window panel, or in some version in a pane of glass upstairs before he jumped to his death. According to legend, he is now haunting the terrace underneath the window. 

Countess Charlotte Walpole

The Countess of Dysart used to live in Ham House and used to love it. Charlotte Walpole was the youngest of the three illegitimate daughters of Sir Edward Walpole. In 1760 she married Lionel Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower, son of the 4th Earl of Dysart (1734-1799), who wed her in secret without the knowledge or consent of his father.

After her death it has been said that she has haunted the upstairs chamber and has happily been waving at visitors. Seeing this has been thought to be a good omen. 

Charlotte Walpole: The Countess of Dysart (1738-1789) is said to be a happy ghost and a good omen if seen at Ham House.

Prince Charles II

The Murray family that Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale was a daughter of, was loyal royalists during and after the English Civil War. They used to be members of a secret society known as the Sealed Knot that supported Charles II who was in exile. 

When he was given the throne, he awarded the Duchess for her and her family’s loyalty. He visited the Ham House many times during his lifetime, and according to the legend, he still visits, even in his afterlife. 

Many people claimed to have seen the ghost of Charles II in the gardens, or even smelled the tobacco he used to smoke in the hall. 

Coronation portrait: Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1661.

The Christmas Haunting

No mansion ghost story is complete without its Christmas Haunting. At Ham House there is a cottage that used to belong to the driver to the 9th Earl of Dysart. 

It is said that it is haunted by a 19th century house and every Christmas Eve or Day, people staying in the cottage can hear the sound of a walking stick over the cobbled path to the cottage. 

It is said that every year he brought presents over to the cottage. He died in 1935, but apparently his nice yearly gestures seem to continue. 

Have a look at more Christmas Hauntings

Ghost Stories of Christmas Hauntings

Christmas Christmas is supposed to be the merry season with joy and light in the darkness. But many places is haunted by ghosts and paranormal activity in during this time. In fact, many of these ghost stories are haunted especially around Christmas. Here are some of the ghost stories that are told during Christmas times.

The Ghost Pets

Another curious ghost supposedly haunting the house is that of the pet dogs the Duchess used to keep. 

Visitors have been confused as to why they are not allowed to bring their dogs, when there clearly are dog prints in the dust and the faint barking indoors of one. Except it isn’t. It is believed that it is a King Charles spaniel.

They found the bones of it in a basket in the kitchen garden. The ghost dog is seen running on the first floor with its tail disappearing behind doorways and jumping at unsuspecting guests.  

The Haunted Ham House

Ham House is one of the most haunted places in London, and its ghostly legends have captivated visitors for centuries. And it is said when the darkness comes over the house, especially during the Christmas season, the eternal residents of Ham House comes out. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

England’s Haunted Ham House: The Complete Guide 

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/haunted-mansion-richmond-home-16-13758122

My night locked inside a house haunted by its gout-suffering mistress, suicidal servant and a dog 

Ukategorisert

The Haunted Townhouse of 50 Berkeley Square in London

Leave a comment
Advertisements

One of the most haunted houses in London was 50 Berkeley Square, which according to the stories had a dangerous ghost that could kill the people staying in the attic. 

Once there was a house that was thought to be London’s most haunted house. The Georgian townhouse was located on 50 Berkeley Square in upmarket Mayfair. 

Back in the 18th and 19th century the place was linked with many horrific deaths and mysterious things happening. Residents as well as guests claimed to have seen ghosts in the house before they themselves were found dead. Their mouths and eyes wide open as if they died of pure fear. 

In 1879, reports of the house were published in Mayfair Magazine, telling about a maid who stayed in the attic and was found mad and died in an asylum the day after. In the same article there was also said a nobleman spent the night in the same attic and by morning he was found paralyzed, so scared that he couldn’t even speak. Also he died shortly after.  

The Victorian Christmas Deaths

Britain is known for its ghost stories tied to Christmastime, and this is one of those. One of the more haunted happenings in the house is said to have taken place on Christmas Eve, at least it was published in the magazine as it. 

This is what happened on Christmas Eve in 1887 when two sailors came to London. Blunden and Martin were on leave from HMS Penelope from the Royal Navy and walked through the dark and foggy winter streets, trying to find a place to stay for the night. 
If they were allowed to come in for the night or if they broke into the house is unclear, but they at least settled for the night in the attic. 

What they didn’t know at the time when they found lodging at 50 Berkeley Square when they stumbled upon it, happy to find someplace warm in the cold night, was all the haunted rumors and that the previous occupants of their room had been found mysteriously dead in the very room. 

During the night, Blunden felt uneasy and unable to fall asleep. Something wasn’t right in the house. He woke up Martin when he saw a ghost hanging over him. Blunden acted quickly and went for his weapon to protect them. The ghost came toward him as Martin managed to get out to the streets and found a policeman. 

Martin came back with the bobby and went inside of the house. They found Blunden at the bottom of the stairs, dead. His neck had been broken, probably because of the fall from the stairs. His eyes were wide open, as if from pure terror and fear. 

The Woman in the Attic

The most told legend is that the house was haunted by the spirit of a young woman who killed herself in the attic. After being abused by her uncle for a long time, she is said to have thrown herself out from the top-floor window in the attic. 
She is said to be the one behind the strange deaths as well, as her sight is so frightful people have died from fear of it. Depending who you ask, her spirit takes mostly form as a brown mist or a white ghostly figure.

The Starved Man

Another version of the haunted legends of the house is that there once was a man who was locked in the attic room and was only fed through a hole in the door. His brother, Mr. Du Pre of Wilton Park had to lock him inside because of his violent madness. In some versions he wasn’t mad to start with, but he eventually went mad and died. 

After his death he became a ghost and his moans and screams haunted the whole neighborhood. 

The Strange Thomas Myers of 50 Berkeley Square

So who was haunting the house that in modern times were owned by the Maggs Bros, Antiquarian Booksellers? Most stories are thought to have come from one of the peculiars occupants, Thomas Myers. He slept during the day, and in the night he made strange noises that many believed became exaggerated later. 

He moved into 50 Berkeley Square in 1859 after having been rejected by his fiancee according to the stories. He lived there alone and was said to be slowly getting mad as he locked himself in all day until he died in 1874 at 76. 

When he stayed there, the house with the sweeping stairs, high plaster ceilings and marble floors slowly started decaying more and more and rumors about it being haunted started to form around this time. 

When he was summoned to court for not paying his rates of 50 Berkeley Square, the magistrate excused him because they all knew he lived in a haunted house. So what came first? Thomas Myers or the hauntings?

The Haunted House

The spirits of the house at 50 Berkeley Square are said to be so strong that you only need to touch the Gregorian exterior of the house to feel the shivering hauntings that have infected the house. 

In modern times, we don’t really hear much about any more of the haunted incidents as before, and owners have refuted that the building is haunted. 

So the question is really, was the strange behavior of Mr. Myers the cause behind all of the haunting in the house, or did he see something that made him so?

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

50 Berkeley Square – Wikipedia

https://web.archive.org/web/20140122120101/http://www.walksoflondon.co.uk/37/50-berkeley-square-the-mo.shtml

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/50-berkeley-square-the-most-haunted-house-in-london/

Ukategorisert

The Deacon of Dark River – An Icelandic Ghost Story

1 Comment
Advertisements

Djákninn á Myrká meaning the Deacon of Dark River is an Icelandic folk tale that have been passed down for generations now. It tells the story of the ghost of a man trying to make his girlfriend join him in death. 

Once upon a time in Horgardalur not far from Akureyri in Iceland a deacon lived on a farm called Myrká. He was riding his trusted horse called Faxi to meet up with the woman he loved named Guðrún. It was the day before Christmas, a stormy and cold winter night. 

It was a long ride to her farm called Bægisá. On the way to her he had to cross the river Hörgá, but he fell into it. He ended up drowning and only his horse survived the night. He was found the next morning by a farmer and laid to rest, but Guðrún didn’t get the message and she waited for her loved one to come and pick her up.

So when she got a visitor in the darkness she believed it was him and went with him. He was behaving strangely though and kept calling her Garún. In Icelandic folklore, ghosts are unable to utter the word for God, which Guðrún is compiled of. 

It wasn’t before the raging wind blows off the large hat on the visitor she realizes it isn’t her boyfriend alive, but a skeleton. She also saw an open grave in the graveyard the skeleton tried to pull her towards.

The ghost skeleton of her boyfriend keeps pestering her and he wants her to join him in death so they can be together. Guðrún finally breaks free from the ghost and gets the help of a sorcerer. The sorcerer traps the ghost on unholy ground outside the graveyard belonging to the church at Myrka. 

He places a large and cursed stone on it that still holds the ghost of the priest’s apprentice. You can still see it today on the unholy ground, still waiting for his girlfriend to be together forever. 

Advertisements

More like this

Newest Posts

References

Most haunted place in Iceland

Djákninn á Myrká – Wikipedia

Ukategorisert

Royal Christmas at Haunted Sandringham House

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Every year the British Royal family celebrates their Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England. Stories say that the place is particularly haunted during the Christmas season both for the royals and their servants.  

One Christmas in 1996, the footman, Shaun Croasdale made his way down to the wine cellar to pick out some wine for the royals that had come to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham House. With wine bottles in his hand, he suddenly saw one of the favorite servants of the late Queen, Tony Jarred. 

Perhaps this is nothing to worry about, except that Tony Jarred had died the previous year after almost 40 years in service for her majesty. The footman dropped the bottles and ran screaming from the cellar. No one was really surprised at this however, as it was Christmas time, and Sandringham House is notoriously haunted every year. 

Ghost of Christmas Pasts at Sandringham House

England has its fair share of ghostly history and Christmas time is no different. Each year, English haunted buildings come alive with stories of ghosts, spirits and shadows of the past. From extravagant castles to medieval manor houses, spooky apparitions haunt the grounds and make their presence known during the winter season.

Many people believe that these ghosts are lords and servants who once inhabited these old buildings, now returning during Christmas to either fulfill a task or simply bring good cheer and memories to those they left behind. Moreover, Christmas ghost stories have become a beloved pastime among many Brits who can be found throughout England’s haunted buildings searching for their own spooky mysteries.

Sandringham House, located in Norfolk, England, is the private residence of the British royal family and has been since 1862. Every year, the Queen and her family spend Christmas at Sandringham House, a tradition that dates back over a century.

In the later years though, it has also been known as an annual haunting, starting most often at Christmas Eve and lasting for a few weeks.

History of Christmas at Sandringham House

The tradition of spending Christmas at Sandringham House began in the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII, purchased the estate. Since then, the royal family has spent every Christmas at Sandringham House, with the exception of a few years during World War II.

The Queen and her family typically arrive at Sandringham House a few days before Christmas, and spend the holiday period together. The festivities include a number of traditions, such as the exchange of gifts on Christmas Eve and a formal dinner on Christmas Day.

Christmas at Sandringham House Today

Today, Christmas at Sandringham House is a highly anticipated event, both for the royal family and for the public. Members of the royal family attend a Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, which is located on the Sandringham estate. Crowds of well-wishers gather outside the church to catch a glimpse of the royals as they arrive and leave.

In addition to the church service, the Queen and her family participate in a number of other holiday traditions. These include a Christmas Eve dinner, where the family exchanges gifts, and a Boxing Day pheasant shoot.

Ghost Haunting SAndringham House

So who is it actually that haunts Sandringham House, even in the place of the royals?

The Victorian residence has been said to have some sort of poltergeist-like activity, especially in the servant quarters of the house where blankets are pulled off the beds. They hear mysterious footsteps in the dead of night and the doors are closing and opening by themselves. 

The most haunted place is the sergeant footman’s corridor where the maids only go in pair or groups. The lights turn on and off and there have also been said to be a heavy and haunted breathing from the empty rooms in the service corridors, and at one point, servants were refusing to go into certain rooms as they thought the heavy breathing was the ghost of a former footman. 
Christmas cards move around and are thrown all over the floor on Christmas Eve. 

Even the Royals have Noticed the Hauntings

It is not only the servants that have said they have felt the haunting presence, but even the King himself is said to have noticed. 
Ken Stronach, the valet of King Charles said in an interview that:

 “Everyone believes there are ghosts because so many have -experienced them, ¬ including Prince Charles. There are old parts of the house where nobody wants to go or be alone,”

The valet also talked about an incident in the mid 80’s where they also had an experience of a drop in temperature and that they both were convinced that someone was there in the room with them. 

The uncle of Prince Phillip, Prince Christopher of Greece claimed to have seen the head and shoulders of a woman in a mirror when he was staying in Sandringham. Later he saw a portrait of the woman that he claimed it was of. Her name was Dorothy Walpole, and has been called the Brown Lady as she has been frequently seen haunting her old home in Raynham Hall in Norfolk. 

Read More about: The Lady in Brown at Raynham Hall

The Haunted Library Making Sure Staff is Working

Also the library in the house is said to be one of the more haunted rooms in the house. A servant was once napping in the room when being woken up by the books flying off the shelves. The hands of an old clock are also said to be moving by themselves, not following the time at all. 

Queen Elizabeth had an Exorcism?

One of the more surprising things that happened though, is when the late Queen Elizabeth II had a ritual in one of the rooms because of the ghosts they believed resided in there. 

The room in question belonged to the Queen’s late father, King George VI on the ground floor they used for him before his death, and it was said it was so haunted that the staff refused to work there. 

According to reports, a person came to hold a service to, as quoted, “not exactly of exorcism, but bringing tranquility.”
The service was to hola a congregation where they took the Holy Communion and said some special prayers. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

Christmas at Haunted Sandringham – Paranormal

The ghostly history of Sandringham House where the Royal Family will be spending Christmas – MyLondon

Ukategorisert

The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Dressed in rags in the cold Christmas season, the ghost of the children from the haunted Bramber Castle haunts the roads, begging for food as they starved to death on the King’s order. This is the eerie Christmas tale of The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber. 

It has always been said that the English are obsessed with ghosts and other mysterious happenings, and this is especially true at Christmas time. With old castles and lordly manors dotting the country there are more than enough haunted places for stories to come alive. 

Read more about: Christmas Hauntings Ghost Stories of Christmas Hauntings from the world, but mostly England.

England is filled with tales of Christmas hauntings, where ghosts roam about the old buildings telling their stories of days gone by. This is also the case about the horrible and tragic legend of The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber.

The Ruins of the Bramber Castle

For centuries Bramber in Sussex, England was owned by the powerful de Braose family who were lords of Bramber and had their seat at Bramber Castle that dates back to 1070 overlooking the River Adur. 

The ruins of Bramber Castle: Part of the remains of Bramber Castle.//Source: Marathon/Wikimedia

The House of Braose was a prominent family of Anglo-Norman nobles that grew powerful under King John in particular. 
Now there are only ruins left of the Bramber Castle with only the Gatehouse Tower remaining, and the Bramber family are only ghosts. A white horse without a rider has been seen many times, but the place is mostly remembered for its annual Christmas hauntings of starving and bony children begging for food. 

The Lord that fell out of the King’s Favour

In the early 13th century, William was the 4th Lord of Bramber. This Lord of Bramber is Infamous for the Christmas Day Massacre of Welsh Princes at Abergavenny Castle in 1175. Under the pretense of peace and ending the year with a new start, he lured three Welsh Princes and Welsh leaders to their death as they were seated for the feast in the Great Hall. 

He was even so cruel, he hunted down one of their sons and slaughtered him in cold blood so there would be no one from the bloodline claiming the right to their fathers claim in Wales. The child was seven years old, and one can wonder if he was thinking of his children that would share a similar fate. 

Because of this, he was hated by the Welsh and was called the Ogre of Abergavenny. 

He fell out with King John. Why is a bit of a mystery, but many said his lavish lifestyle upset the King who envied him. Perhaps he grew too powerful? Perhaps he grew to hate the country by all of his massacres and scheming.   

The King followed the Lord of Bramer all over the country as well as Ireland and Wales to make an example out of him to the other Barons. His lands, his castle as well as his entire family were seized and handed over to the crown in 1208. 

The Starved Children on the Roads in Bramber

According to the legends of The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber, William’s children were held as hostages by the king at Windsor Castle, or in some version of the story, Corfe Castle. But no one came to free them and they ended up starving to death in captivity. How many of them is unclear in the legends. In historical data though, it seems like it was the younger William who was held with his mother and starved to death. 

Read also: Another castle that claims you can hear the sound of starving children is in the Corfe Castle were it is also said they were held:. 

The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber

According to the local legend though, the children finally returned to Bramber, even if it was as ghosts. The Ghosts Children Begging in Bramber allegedly haunt the road of Bramber Village in the dark, all dressed in nothing but rags as they run after people passing by trying to get food. 

Every Christmas, a boy and a girl of the ghost siblings are seen as they watch in sorrow the ruins of their former home, Bramber Castle, now in ruins. Their father was massacred on Christmas and they died because of his actions. Now, the season is time for them to return to their home and haunt as they die, starving. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Haunted Castles Type: Best Sorted by Country

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

Bramber Castle | English Heritage

NOSTALGIA: Ancient echoes of the Ogre of Abergavenny’s atrocities | SussexWorld

Ukategorisert

Oskorsreia – the Wild Hunt in the North

Leave a comment
Advertisements

The wild hunt is a supernatural ghost ride in the sky during the dark winter days. In Scandinavia this hunt is called Oskorsreia, often a hunt led by Odin himself that could be dangerous for people to get entangled in. 

The sound of rumbling thunder, horses tramping in the pitch black night sky, and the screams of the hunters making their way through the sky is a familiar picture for many Europeans. The idea of the wild hunt that can take you away is a frightening one. Especially in the northern part of the world, where the fear from the hunt was real. 

Loudly through air at night they haste,
An uproar on wild black horses!
As a storm the wild crowds travel by
With nothing but clouds for foothold.
Over the valleys, the woods and meadows –
Through darkness and weather, they never heed.
The traveler throws himself frightened to ground.
Listen… what clamor! It’s the forces of Asgard!
— Åsgårdsreien by Johan Sebastian Welhaven (english translation)

The time of Christmas is a cozy one for most people today. Many of the traditional customs however, have a much darker backstory than many know today. From the evil Krampus in Germany, the horse skull of Mari Lwyd in Wales to the wild hunt of Oskorsreia in the north.

Read more about ghost and hauntings during Christmas time: Ghost Stories of Christmas Hauntings

Especially in the northern part of the world, the idea of Christmas and winter have much more sinister connotations than elsewhere in the world. The days are shorter here, and the nights are much darker with more dangers lurking in the stormy winds, cold and snowy landscapes where the sun only peaks over the mountains a couple of hours each day. Christmas times are around the darkest time of the year and winter solstice has been celebrated and often feared as well as the time where the wild dark forces get unleashed into the world. 

The Wild Hunt in Europe

The idea, the fear and the legends about The Wild Hunt is found in many places in European mythologies. To the Germanic stories about the wild hunt between the Christmas weekend and new years weekend and the phenomenon was popularized when the brothers Grimm brought it up in their writings.

The Wild Hunt: Die Wilde Jagd, a German interpretation of the wild hunt by Johann Cordes from 1856. Almost every part of Europe have their own version of the wild hunt and there are many different historical, mythical or godly persons leading the hunt.

There are a lot of variations of the legends like Oskorsreia and the wild hunt, but mainly, it is the stories about restless spirits riding through the night sky. Often it is historical figures, like King Valdemar stalking a woman in Denmark, Theodoric the Great in Italy.

In Scandinavia they called it Oskorsreia and Wild Hunt was not only connected with the restless spirits in the sky, but also to the Gods and it was told before Christian times, it was believed it was Odin himself that led the hunt, the leader of the Norse Gods. 

Oskorsreia in Scandinavia

The Wild Hunt of Asgard raids the county
Whilst fall and winter at stormy nights.
But it favors to travel at Yuletide…
They feast with trolls and giants;
they closely ride by meadow and path
And pass the fearful nation.
Then, – take care farmer! Keep all in order!
As the wild hunt of Asgard may visit your home!
— Åsgårdsreien by Johan Sebastian Welhaven (english translation)

Oskoreia, or Åsgardsreia as it was later called by the 1800s national romantics as a connotation to Åsgard, where the norse Gods resided, was in Scandinavian lore restless spirits riding in the sky in the night. This happened especially around christmas time, or yule, called Juleskreia. Oskoreia was the older world for it, from a time when even Christmas hadn’t reached the icy tips of Scandinavia. 

Oskorsreia was often in folklore about making sure you were ready with the preparations for Christmas and not being outside when the hunt was on. If you were not prepared and out and about when they came riding, chances were high that you would be carried along with them. 

Julereia: Jul, meaning Yule or Christmas was also a version, sometimes used in stead of the more godly ride we oten connect Oskorsreia with. It was a group of goblins, witches, trolls, elfs and other obscure creatures, travelling around during christmas time in order to cause chaos and havoc.//Picture: Nils Bergslien 1922.

Oskorsreia was supposedly dangerous for humans to get entangled with the hunt, as it would tear at your soul and carry you so far you might not get home. Many sagas tell about people taken from their homestead and are let down in an unfamiliar place. 

To stay safe against the Oskorsreia hunt, people painted crosses of tar or chalk on their doors both for humans and animals in the more Christian area. They also placed sharp steel over the doors to protect both the people in the house as well as the horses in the stables. If you were already out when you heard the ghost riders coming, your only hope was to throw yourself on the ground, arms and legs spread out and just hope that the riders would pass you. 

The Danger of Oskorsreia

As through the air in the dark came a thunder,
– a howling horde on ferocious horses,
It raced over woods to the wedding house,
Intended to visit the bloody performance.
Then horns blew, and an awesome noise
From bells and riding-gear resounded.
Now it was close – it came over the hill –
There was an outcry: The wild hunt of Asgard!

There was a tempest in Heaven and Earth,
That hurled a horror in every heart,
It blasted along in growing circles,
It punched with wings and grabbed with arms.
Then Wolf was dragged away by his hair,
thrown up in the air and taken away,
Yes, taken away over woods and mountains,
He was never seen or heard of again.
— Åsgårdsreien by Johan Sebastian Welhaven (english translation)

Over time when there was a mysterious death no one could explain, it was often blamed on the Oskorsreia, especially during Christmas times. There are many folk tales from Scandinavia where they tell about someone trying to celebrate Christmas, but an unknown corpse appears on the farm, in the woods or close to the house no one knows where it came from. Then it was thought it was a person who got tangled up in the ride, was taken away and dropped down from the sky again. 

In the 1800, Oskorsreia and The Wild Hunt was a popular motif for the Germanic painters, poets and sculpture, and today we have many pieces of art depicting the hunt. But it is not the only place we can see the remnants of people’s fear of the wild hunt. 

Back in pre Christian times the hunt was either a ride of witches through the night, meaning Gandferd. Gand was originally the word for a pointy staff the witches used, and this witch ride is one of the origins stories of why we think witches ride on brooms. 

Why the wild hunt like Oskorsreia was happening varied, but most likely it started as an explanation to the stormy weathers during winter times. Oskorsreia and the Wild Hunt was often thought to be a warning of a coming plague or war, and also more harmless reasons as to check on people if they were doing their Christmas preparations correctly. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References

Salomonsen konversasjonsleksikon om Asgaardsrei

https://snl.no/%C3%85sg%C3%A5rdsrei

Wild Hunt – Wikipedia

Complete translated poem of Åsgårsreia by Johan Sebastian Welhaven: http://www.odins-gift.com/pclass/asgardsreien.htm

Ukategorisert

Lady Ursula’s Ghost Walk at Madingley Hall on Christmas Eve

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Every year on Christmas Eve, the ghost of Lady Ursula is seen walking from Madingley Hall in Cambridge, unable to move on in the afterlife because of her son’s actions. 

And things are done you’d not believe
At Madingley on Christmas Eve.
– From Rupert Brooke, The Old Vicarage, Grantchester

England’s dark and mysterious past, full of brooding castles and unsettled spirits, makes it a place of fascination come the holiday season. Curious tales of Christmas hauntings at old castles and lordly homes throughout England have been around for generations, with local ghost stories passed through generations. Join us as we explore the mysteries behind these tales of longstanding hauntings by ghosts in England during Christmastime!

In Cambridge, England, there is a big conference center. It used to be the Tudor Madingley Hall, a grand estate owned by the Hynde family and built by John Hyde in the 1540s. 

Madingley Hall on Christmas Eve

Cambridge is a notoriously haunted place with its old history and a place where a lot of things happened. The university is said to be one of the more haunted universities in the world. Cambridge University took over the building known as The Shire Manor of Madingley they started talking about sightings of a ghost in the dead of the winter nights.

Read Also: Ghost Stories of Christmas Hauntings

Ghost Haunting the Madingley Hall Inside of the Tudor manor it is said to be heard an eerie music playing from nowhere and a group of women has been seen wandering around the grounds of the hall. Who are they? Some say that it is from Victorian times because of their clothing. There is also a ghost that makes her annual appearance we do know the name and history of. 

Madingley Hall: It is said that the hall is haunted by ghostly music, women in Victorian clothing and every Christmas Eve, there is a ghost that walk from the hall to the town every year.//Source: Bob Jones / Madingley Hall / CC BY-SA 2.0

Every Christmas Eve there is a ghost that walks between the hall and the location where there once was a church in Histon. She has been walking for many years now, and today she has to cross a motorway to get there. But still, every Christmas she haunts the place in anger for what her son ended up doing to her beloved church. 

Ghost of Lady Ursula Hynde

During Queen Elizabeth I reign, Sir Francis Hynde was an MP and he did several expanding of his hall that he took over from his father. Among other things, he demolished a nearby church in the nearby village of Histon that would be the building materials for his own home. 

Lady Ursula Hynde: It is believed that it is the ghost of Ursula hynde that is haunting Madingley Hall and takes her annual walks every Christmas Eve.

This time was a religious turnover in England as they turned from the Catholic church and several of the monasteries and churches were stripped from their wealth, and even the stone and timber they were built in wasn’t safe anymore. This was something that upset many of the English people still catholic at heart, and Sir Francis Hynde’s mother was one of those. 

Read Also: Haunted Monasteries and Churches

He demolished the church almost 40 years after the death of his mother, Lady Ursula. Sir Francis Hynde apparently had a deep hatred for the religious institution, unlike his mother, a devoted catholic to her death in 1555, and beyond if we are to believe the legend. 

The Ghost Walk on Christmas Eve

According to the legend, her spirit got angered by the demolition of the church that were used to expand her sons personal mansion and she has haunted the Madingley Hall ever since

People that claim to have seen her, say she is walking, wringing her hands in anguish almost in prayer and sobbing uncontrollably, heartbroken over her son’s desecrations of the church and opposition to her religion.

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

Lady Ursula’s Ghostly Christmas Walk At Madingley Hall | Spooky Isles

Ukategorisert

Hauntings at the Penkaet Castle in Scotland

Leave a comment
Advertisements

The Penkaet Castle in Scotland has its fair share of hauntings and is the home of not only one ghost, but several with its story of witchcraft, murder and royalty. 

Whether it’s a creaking door in an old castle or a cold chill down your spine in an abandoned building, many Scots have experienced paranormal activity during this festive season. As we explore Scotland’s age-old legends and curious customs this Christmas, let us not forget to look out for its ghosts too.

Penkaet Castle is a historic castle located in the Scottish Borders that is also known as Fountainhall near Haddington in Lothian, Scotland. The castle dates back to the 16th century and was originally built as a tower house by the Ker family. Over the years, the castle has been expanded and renovated, and today it stands inside in a walled garden as a magnificent example of Scottish architecture.

It also stands as a haunted castle and many have claimed to have heard screams and moans from voices in the corners and things being moved without any living having been there. 

History of Penkaet Castle

The Ker family were a prominent Scottish family who owned Penkaet Castle for many years. The castle was built in the 16th century as a tower house, and was expanded over the years to include additional wings and a courtyard. The castle was used as a residence for the Kers until the 18th century, when it was sold to the Pringles.

Penkaet Castle: The castle pictured from 1898 in Pencaitland in East Lothian in Scotland. It has several ghost stories attached to it.

The Pringles were another prominent Scottish family, and they continued to use the castle as a residence until the 20th century. During this time, the castle was renovated and updated to include modern amenities, such as electricity and running water. The castle was eventually sold to a private owner in the 1960s, and today it is a private residence.

Ghost of the Beggar that Cursed the Castle

One of the ghosts said to haunt the halls is the spirit of Alexander Hamilton. He was a beggar that was accused of witchcraft after the lady of the house, Lady Ormison and her eldest daughter died of a mysterious illness. 

It was believed that Alexander Hamilton had cursed them both after he was thrown off their property when he came to beg and had to go back empty handed. 

Because of how they had cruelly turned him away, it is said he returned and bound the gates with blue thread, which was some form of witchcraft he had used to kill the two women.  

Two days later the woman who turned him away died together with her daughter. An arrest order was put on Hamilton and he was caught and convicted. For this he was executed in Edinburgh on Castle Hill. 

Read Also: He is not the only convicted and executed on Castle. Read more about this is: Edinburgh Castle Ghosts and Legends and our stories about Witches

After his death, the ghost of Alexander Hamilton has been reported being seen close to the castle, perhaps vengeful of the family that sent him to his death and returned to the place of the crime. Question is, whose crime? His, or those who accused him for something like that?

The Murdered John Cockburn

A ghostly banging on the doors, moving of the furniture and strange footsteps are also thought to be the ghost of John Cockburn that once belonged in the house that har haunted by his bad conscience and then in turn, haunting the Penkaet Castle.

According to the legend, he killed his relative, John Deton and because of his bad conscience over what he did, he is still haunting the castle today. And people who have lived in the castle were often disturbed by a strange sound of something being dragged along over the floor. 

He has also been seen as the ghost of a man coming out from one of the cupboards and walking across the room before vanishing through the wall. 

When this was supposed to have happened is unsure, but it is said that a Sir George Cockburn of Ormiston sold the castle and the rest of the land to the Pringill family in 1635, so it must have been before this probably. 

The Ghost in the Fireplace

Sir Andrew Lauder’s family owned the estate from the end of the 1600s up to 1922. He claimed to have seen something that looked like a ghost upstairs by the fireplace when he was a child. 

He remembered the incident all the way through adulthood and thought the ghosts might have been one of his ancestors of the Lauder family. 

The Christmas Hauntings at Penkaet Castle

The legends about the castle being haunted really started getting attention when Professor Holbourn and his wife bought the Penkaet Castle in 1923. 

Many of the ghost stories from the room they called King Charles Bedroom comes from them, their family and the guests that had to stay the night at Penkaet Castle. 

It was said to have been haunted all year around, but there is in particular one Christmas in 1923, the Holbourn family remembered when a piece of wood carved with the family crest. They all saw it move on its own leaning away from the wall. It paused for a little moment before it returned to were it would be. Whatever happened that christmas is uncertain, but it led them to believe that the place was most definitely haunted.

The Haunted Bed of King Charles I

One of the rooms said to have an extra touch of hauntings is the room that has a bed King Charles I used. The bed is decorated with a copy of his death mask that was given to the owners in 1923 by his students. 

The King Haunting the Bed: One of the bed in Penkaet Castle they think is haunted with the death mask of King Charles I on one of the bed posts.

The story goes that the maid of the house would notice that the bedclothes of the bed would be found like if someone had slept in the bed, even though she knew very well no one hadn’t. The bed itself would move around in the room and sometimes people even claimed to have heard noises coming from the bed as if someone was actually sleeping there. 

In 1924 there was a guest coming to the castle that was put up in the room with the bed. When they entered it, the bed was already a mess, even though the housekeeper knew she had tidied the bed just moments before showing the guest in.  

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Penkaet Castle | Fountainhall | The Castles of Scotland, Coventry | Goblinshead

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

Penkaet Castle – Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Ukategorisert

The Tragic Tale of Miklabæjar-Solveig

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Probably the closest thing Iceland has to a gothic romance tale, the ghost story of Miklabæjar-Solveig was the story of a real woman that was said to haunt the village she killed herself in after an unrequited love for a priest. 

The story about Miklabæjar-Solveig turned into a mystery and there have been many legends about what really happened to her. 

She is perhaps best known in connection to a priest that disappeared that she used to work for and may have had an affair with before he cast her aside to marry another. Some even think she  came from beyond the grave and took him with her as he was never seen again.  

Miklabæjar-Solveig and her Tragic Death

Not much about Miklabæjar-Solveig’s life is known and even her full name is disputed and could have been Solveig Þorleifsdóttir, but we simply don’t know. She could have been from Hrolleifsdal, a valley on the eastern side of Skagafjörður on the northern side of Iceland. 

According to the stories, she was a housekeeper or maid for Odd Gíslason, the local priest in the village, before he got married. It is said that Miklabæjar-Solveig fell in love with Odd as a one sided crush, or was even his mistress for some time. But her feelings would have an unhappy end and he married Guðrúna Jónsdóttir in 1777, although he continued to have her working in his house.

Read More: Check out all of our ghost stories from Iceland.

This was too much for Solveig and it is said that she went insane, or at least fell into a deep depression and constantly tried to take her own life. The other workers in the house were put on watch to watch over her and prevent her from harming herself, one of them was Guðlaug Björnsdóttir, the sister of Sir Snorri á Húsafell, who slept by her side at night. It was also to prevent her from going upstairs to the reverend. 

Although they tried to keep her away from doing anything, she managed to slip away one night. On April 11th in 1778 she jumped out the window onto the grass and ran off. A worker named Þorsteinn saw her and ran after her, but it was too late. She was too quick, and when he finally reached her, she had already cut her throat and died. 

It is said that Þorsteinn said to her something of the likes of that the devil would take her. Miklabæjar-Solveig didn’t have an opportunity to answer, and died that night in 1778.

Þorsteinn came back with the news, her body and said that her final wish had been to be buried in the cemetery. They wrote to their superiors about this, but were denied. 

Miklabæjar-Solveig was buried outside of the cemetery, and her death was not recorded in the church book. This was the custom with people that took their own life, but her grave was there, just north of the cemetery. 

The Ghost of Miklabæjar-Solveig Returns

Then the rumors started and people started to whisper among themselves that her corpse was not lying still in the grave and that she was angry about not burying her in a consecrated ground.

It is said that the priest had dreams about her and about how angry was with him. She said to him that since he had refused to bury her in holy ground, he too would meet the same fate.  

People referred to her now as Miklabæjar-Solveig and talked about seeing her around the cemetery, the village as well as their dreams with blood gushing from her throat, angry at them. 

Miklabæjar-Solveig: According to the legend, Miklabæjar-Solveig continued to haunt the village after they refused to bury her on holy ground. She came back as a vengeful ghost that are said to have even dragged people down to her grave.

The Disappearance of the Priest

8 years went past and the ghost stories about Solveig were told among the locals. Then on October 1st in 1786 Odd Gíslason went to Silfrastaðir for mass not far from his home. He never returned from the trip. It is known that he did stop at Víðivellir to speak with the county commissioner Vigfús Scheving

From there it was only a kilometer to Miklabær and he was riding home alone in the dark, possibly very drunk. He usually rode with a companion because of how badly Solveig haunted him, but for some reason, this night he was alone. 

It is said that the locals of Miklabær heard someone coming to their windows knocking. But there was a sinister sound to it and they became afraid and didn’t want to check it out. It is said that the youngest son was sent to the door to greet his father. When he opened it though there was no one there. 

When they woke up the next day they found his horse not far from the town, but the priest had vanished into thin air. They searched for him for many days, but not a single trace of him was found. 

Miklabæjar-Solveig took him to her Grave

Soon the stories about Solveig and that she had something to do with his disappearance started to form. They thought that she had come out from her grave and dragged him with her and that his body was now in her coffin. 

Þorsteinn was not satisfied with leaving what happened as a mystery and made a resolution to continue to look for his master. 

Þorsteinn shared a room with Guðlaug, the one who had shared a bed with Solveig before she took her own life. Guðlaug was a clairvoyant and kept seeing the ghost of her former colleague. 

As an experiment, Þorsteinn put the priest’s clothes under his pillow and went to sleep. Guðlaug saw Solveig come into the room and towards them. Solveig reaches out her hand towards Þorsteinn’s throat. Afraid of what Solveig is doing, she wakes Þorsteinn and sees that Solveig has left a cut along his throat. 

In his sleep, Þorsteinn dreamt that he met Solveig were she told him that he would never find out what happened to his master and then motioned as if once again trying to cut her throat which she still blamed them for. When he woke up, Þorsteinn decided to end his quest and would let it all remain a mystery.   

The Truth About the Missing Priest

What really happened to the priest? The truth is up for debate now as there are many conflicting versions. For the longest time the villagers were left without a clue to where he had gone to and what happened to him, except from the rumors about Miklabæjar-Solveig. 

One letter that is found about this is from Ragnheiður Þórarinsdóttir that was written in 1789. She was the wife of the assistant bailiff, Jón Skúlason. In her letter she stated that they actually did find his body in the Gegni stream that ran below the village. This is also written up in Vatnsfjarðarannál the youngest. 

So why all the mystery surrounding his death? It seems that his burial was kept a secret from most of them. Everything indicated that he had passed away, and by his own hand, something that would make his property go to the king and that he would be refused a cemetery burial. Therefore his death and burial was kept a secret, although the talk about the ghost of Solveig had something to do with it wouldn’t let go and perhaps even fuel to cover up the truth. 

The Legend about Miklabæjar-Solveig Continues

Decades later most believed that his body was never found and was most likely in Solveig’s grave. Ghost stories about her rising from her grave with blood dripping from her throat were still told. 

From the Grave: In the grave they dug up they found these jewelry, that could possible have been hers.//Source: From
bygdasafn skagafjordur.

A story told about Hannes Bjarnason met Miklabæjar-Solveig in Djúpadal where she haunted the hill and stopped him from getting up to the town until someone came and helped him. Going into the 19th century though, the legend about Miklabæjar-Solveig died down until 1910.

In 1910 they expanded the cemetery and suddenly Solveig’s grave was inside of it. They dug up one of the graves in 1914 and found that the coffin was buried towards the south, the opposite of the customs and people believed that this was her coffin. When they moved the coffin it was destroyed and the bones buried next to the burial site. There was nothing unusual when they reburied her. 

Miklabæjar-Solveig was laid to rest like this until 1937 when she once again was exhumed and buried inside of the Glaumbær cemetery and not a whole lot has been heard from her ghost since then. Perhaps she finally was able to rest in peace?

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Miklabæjar-Solveig – Wikipedia, frjálsa alfræðiritið 

Tíminn Sunnudagsblað – 23. tölublað (05.08.1962) – Tímarit.is 

Miklabæjar-Solveig

Ukategorisert

The Myths and Legends of Frankenstein Castle

2 Comments
Advertisements

The historic building of Frankenstein Castle is now mostly in ruins, but is still a place for myths and legends to live on and inspire new horror. 

On a stoney hilltop amidst the dark forest there at the spurs of the low mountain range of Odenwald in Germany is an old medieval castle called Frankenstein Castle. 

The place itself with its narrow valleys and dark trees contains many legends and is heavy with myths of the past. The same can be said for the castle on the hilltop that has weathered many storms, legends and ghosts since it was built. 

The Frankenstein Castle or Burg Frankenstein was built sometime before 1252, the year of the first historical record, by Lord Conrad Reiz of Breuberg. Already then the place was filled with myths and stories about other older castles that had once stood there. 

The castle went through many modernisations and so did the Frankenstein family living there for over 400 years. They saw many things change during their reign as lords and knights and during the Reformation they were strong opponents to the Lutherans, being devoted Roman Catholics. 

By the 18th century the castle was used as a hospital and refuge until it fell into ruins. The two iconic towers that are seen today are nothing more than a restoration from the mid 19th century. And an inaccurate version of that. 

Myths and Legends of the Frankenstein Castle

Many strange things have happened near this place. Like in the 18th century when fortune tellers made everyone believe that a treasure was hidden close to the castle in 1763. Everyone started digging for it until local authorities had to ban people from gold digging altogether. 

Close to the castle you will also find magnetic stones on Mount Ilbes were compases don’t work properly. Many say that there is witchcraft practice at these stones on special occasions like on summer solstice. It is said that Mount Ilbes is the second most important meeting place for witches in the country after Mount Brocken, and visitors are advised to not disturb any ongoing rituals. 

Another mythical thing close to the Frankenstein Castleis the Sea of Rocks known as Felsenmeer, and believed to be a place where Siegfried the dragonslayer was murdered in the epic poem Nibelungenlied. 

This is also a place where you can see legendary creatures like water spirits that change into a fox. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

The Frankenstein Castle may or may not have been inspired by this historic castle when she wrote her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus in 1818. 

The meaning behind the name is the two words, Franks, a Germanic tribe, and Stein, meaning stone. And the name itself is actually a pretty common name for castles in this region. There is also the connection to Benjamin Franklin as an inspiration, so the name itself doesn’t necessarily prove anything. 

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Whether or not she really was inspired by the castle or the legends about the place is unclear. But there are myths about a scientist creating a monster with the help of lightening within the walls of Frankenstein Castle.

There is however no mention of the castle itself in the book and many researchers doubt Shelley’s connection to the castle as she herself never went. It is possible that she heard stories about it as the legends were quite notorious when she visited Germany. 

The biggest connection is the rumors surrounding one of the alchemists living in Frankenstein castle that the rumors said he also created a monster. 

The Alchemist and the Elixir of Life

Once there was a man named Johann Konrad Dippel (1673-1734) who was born in the castle. This man would later become a professional alchemist and he created an oil said to contain the ‘Elixir of Life’ meant to grant eternal life. 

The animal oil, which is known as Dippel’s Oil is a dark, tar like liquid with a horrible smell from distillation of bones. It was used mostly as an animal and insect repellent. In World War II it was used to make wells undrinkable.  Dippel tried to buy the castle in exchange for the elixir of life, but was turned down. 

Fountain of youth: Near castle Frankenstein you will find the fountain of youth. // Source: Pascal Rehfeldt

During his stay at Frankenstein castle there were many rumors going on about the man. He supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for secret knowledge. They also said he did not only practice alchemy, but also anatomy, a practice strictly forbidden more so than the magic of alchemy.

They said he performed experiments on dead bodies he dug up and took back to the castle. The local cleric warned his parish that Dippel created a monster that he brought to life with the help of a bolt of lightning. 

Although none of these experiments have been proven there are local people claiming to this day that this happened within the castle walls.  

This is not the only connection the place has with eternal life though, as it is said the place is also where you can find the fountain of youth. According to legend, on the first full-moon night after Walpurgis Night, which is on the night of April 30. Old women from the villages closeby went to test their courage. Those who succeeded would become as young as she had been on her wedding night. 

Lord George and the Dragon

According to legend, there lived a dragon in the garden of the Frankenstein Castle near the well in the 1200s. The villagers in the neighboring village Nieder Beerbach lived in fear from this monster who snuck into the village at night to eat them and their children in their sleep. 

The Gardens of the Castle: Nature is slowly taking over the castle. According to myth, there was a dragon near the well in the Frankenstein Castle garden// Source: Frank Vincentz

One day a knight named Lord George came by and the people were desperate for his help, which he promised. 

The very next day he put on his armor and got his shield and sword. He rode up to the Frankenstein Castle gardens, straight to the well where the dragon was resting in the sun. 

The battle that ensued lasted for hours, and Lord George nearly gave up from exhaustion while the dragon spat fire and steam. But Lord George managed at last to pierce the underbelly of the dragon with his sword, giving him a killing blow. But just as the dragon was dying, he clung to the knight with his poisonous tail and stung the knight, leaving them both to die. 

The villagers were relieved and happy though and gave the knight an honorable burial for his sacrifice. They took him to the Church of Nieder Beerbach, in a valley east of the Frankenstein Castle, making a tomb for him. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References