Lore Podcast Episode Summary: "Auld" (Episode 282) Host: Aaron Mahnke Release Date: June 16, 2025
Introduction to Edinburgh's Haunted Past
Edinburgh, Scotland, renowned for its rich history and architectural beauty, harbors a darker side filled with ghostly legends and tragic tales. Aaron Mahnke sets the stage by exploring the contrasts that define the city—"New and old, above and below, rich and poor, Edinburgh had become a city of contrasts, of polar opposites existing uneasily side by side." The city's ancient origins, from the Gaelic Din Edin meaning "fort on the hill," to its evolution into a bustling metropolis, provide a backdrop for the eerie stories that unfold within its streets and buildings.
The Case of James Stansfield [01:03 - 04:25]
In 1688, James Stansfield was found dead in the River, his death suspiciously marked by the absence of water in his lungs, facial bruises, and a deep cut across his throat. Authorities, lacking modern forensic techniques, employed the "beer rite"—a medieval method where a suspect's guilt was determined if the corpse began to bleed upon touch. "It was believed at the time that a dead body could consciously make itself bleed as a means of communicating and thus pointing out the killer." Stansfield's son, Philip, inadvertently triggered this rite, leading to his immediate arrest and execution for his father's murder, highlighting the superstitious practices of the era.
Lauriston Castle: Echoes of the Past [04:26 - 12:15]
Lauriston Castle, now a museum owned by the City of Edinburgh, is steeped in paranormal activity. Aaron describes it as an austere stone manor with a "Prophet's Chamber"—a secret room accessible through an ordinary-looking window shutter. This chamber features a narrow stairway leading to an empty stone room with a spyhole that allowed unseen observation of the castle's main apartment. Despite being a museum today, visitors report mysterious occurrences:
- John Fairley’s Encounter [07:45 - 11:30]: The 1900s curator experienced unexplained footsteps and a heavy picture crashing down, which he attributed to old house noises despite witnessing ghostly apparitions.
- Hauntings and Ghost Stories: Visitors frequently hear rustling silk, phantom footsteps, and the eerie shuffle of a former butler's spirit, adding to the castle's haunted reputation.
Edinburgh's Divided Legacy: Old Town vs. New Town [12:16 - 15:45]
By the 1800s, Edinburgh's Old Town, plagued by smoke and pollution, was nicknamed Ald Reekie, while the affluent New Town, known as Ald Greeki, became a center for philosophy and culture. This division not only separated the rich from the poor but also set the stage for numerous ghostly legends intertwined with the city's socio-economic divides.
Tolbooth Tavern and the Dark History of Canongate [15:46 - 24:30]
Located in the Canongate area, the Tolbooth Tavern serves as a testament to Edinburgh's grim past:
- Historical Function: Originally a civic building serving as a courthouse and prison, it occasionally housed severe criminals, including witches.
- Sir Lewis Bellenden's Exorcism [18:10 - 20:50]: An infamous incident where Bellenden attempted to exorcise a witch, resulting in the woman's death from terror-induced fear within the very walls that now host the tavern.
- Ghostly Apparitions: The tavern is reputed to be haunted by various spirits, including a weeping woman with an eyeless face and a telephone ring correlating with sudden deaths.
Banshee Labyrinth: Scotland’s Most Haunted Pub [24:31 - 29:50]
Adjacent to the former residence of Lord Nicoll Edwards, the Banshee Labyrinth thrives on its haunted legacy:
- Lord Edwards and Witchcraft [26:00 - 28:15]: Once home to Lord Edwards, a notorious figure who tortured accused witches, the pub now stands where his opulent house once did.
- Spectral Sightings: Patrons have reported encounters with the Banshee—a female spirit indicating impending death—alongside other apparitions like a faceless man and Old Jock, a ghost who slams doors.
- Eerie Tales: During renovations, workers witnessed a weeping woman whose face morphed into a corpse, accompanied by ominous telephone rings foretelling death.
The White Hart Inn and the Haunting Legacy of Burke and Hare [29:51 - 33:40]
The White Hart Inn, operational since 1516 and located in Edinburgh's Grassmarket, carries the dark history of infamous murderers William Burke and William Hare:
- Criminal Activities: The duo murdered 16 people to sell their bodies to medical students, targeting the vulnerable populations.
- Ghostly Residents: The inn is haunted by:
- The Woman in Red: A former sex worker whose fate remains unclear.
- Shadowy Specter: A mysterious figure often seen near the cellar.
- Cellar Ghost: A pair of legs that appear in the cellar, adding to the inn's haunted atmosphere.
- Major Incidents: Doors slamming, barrels rolling, and taps turning on themselves create a chilling environment for both staff and visitors.
Major Thomas Weir: From Angel to Devil [33:41 - 36:50]
One of Edinburgh's most notorious ghost stories revolves around Major Thomas Weir:
- Reputation and Double Life [34:20 - 35:30]: Once beloved as "Angelical Thomas" for his pious life and community dedication, Weir's confessions revealed heinous crimes, including incest and bestiality, leading to his execution in 1670.
- Final Words: "I will not. I have lived as a beast and I must die as a beast."
- Haunting Legacy: His ghost is said to roam Bow Street, riding a headless horse engulfed in flames and boarding a spectral coach bound for hell.
- Cultural Impact: Weir's tragic story is believed to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," embodying the allure of dual lives and hidden evils within seemingly respectable individuals.
Maggie Dixon: The Half-Hanged Ghost [36:51 - 40:30]
The tale of Maggie Dixon adds another layer to Edinburgh's haunted lore:
- Tragic Circumstances: In the early 1700s, Maggie was wrongfully convicted and hanged for the supposed murder of her stillborn child. However, she was discovered to be alive post-execution.
- Supernatural Survival: Maggie's miraculous rise from the coffin led to her release, as Scottish law considered her sentence executed despite her survival. She lived another 40 years, bearing a stiff neck and the nickname "Half Hangit Maggie."
- Haunting Presence: Maggie's ghost is said to inhabit the area around the Grassmarket Gallows, embodying the suffering and injustice that marked her brief departure from life.
Conclusion: Edinburgh's Eternal Allure [40:31 - 37:21]
Aaron Mahnke encapsulates the enduring fascination with Edinburgh's haunted history by highlighting the city's blend of superstition, tragedy, and the supernatural. "Cities like Edinburgh, a city of opposites, will always keep us coming back for more. We can't walk away from the possibility that everything we thought we knew might just be a lie." The layered stories of ghosts, curses, and historical injustices continue to make Edinburgh a compelling destination for those intrigued by the macabre and the mysterious.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- James Stansfield’s Case: "But if the corpse doesn't bleed, then you're in the clear. But if it does, well, then there's trouble." [02:45]
- Lauriston Castle's Prophet's Chamber: "Through this spy hole, anyone in the Prophet's Chamber could hear and see directly into the castle's main apartment." [06:30]
- Sir Lewis Bellenden on Exorcism: "How? Why, with an exorcism, of course." [19:10]
- Major Thomas Weir’s Final Words: "I will not. I have lived as a beast and I must die as a beast." [35:00]
- Edinburgh's Dual Nature: "Cities like Edinburgh, a city of opposites, will always keep us coming back for more." [36:10]
Production Credits
- Produced by: Aaron Mahnke
- Written by: Jenna Rose Nethercott
- Research by: Jamie Vargas
- Music by: Chad Lawson
Supporting Content
While the episode intricately weaves historical facts with legendary narratives, it also touches upon broader themes such as the thin line between life and death, societal divisions, and the human fascination with the supernatural. Through detailed storytelling and evocative quotes, Aaron Mahnke invites listeners to delve deep into Edinburgh's haunted corridors, uncovering tales that blur the boundaries between history and folklore.