The above was written by an early member of Queensferry History Group. Date unknown. © Queensferry History Group
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(The following tales are an account (brought to you by permission) by the author, (a local man) as told to him by local residents. Where Queensferry History Group can provide supporting, conflicting or clarifying information, a link is provided or added in italics. Images have also been added by the blogger) “What is the explanation to the hundreds and thousands of experience, visions, unexplained phenomena that happen every day? All I know is there is a romance to it all, which may sound strange but I would like to think that the unexplained and those things which sceptics do not believe through lack of evidence or proof, are all true”. * The White Lady Myth has it that this ghost frequents the east end of the town, where the Forth Rail Bridge crosses above the old railway line. One possible explanation for the White Lady is she was killed on the old railway line on her wedding day. Did she jump from the Rail Bridge on to the old railway track? There may be more to this tale than just the unfortunate and tragic death of a young lady. * Ghost Monkey of Loan House A monkey living in the attic of Loan House was teased cruelly by one of the house’s servant girls. One night it escaped from its cage and is said to have ripped out the throat of its tormentor. Its ghost is said to have remained in the house ever since. * The Haunted House Scotstoun House situated in Scotstoun Estate, is now demolished and rebuilt as the building that houses Ove Arup (Engineering Consultants). The old house was supposedly home to a gentleman who one night killed himself in his bath and thereafter haunted the house. * The Ghost of Covenanters Castle The area now known as The Binks was once occupied by Covenantors. There was a castle which was an Inn (pictured above) (now demolished) and the Priory church which is said to be the earliest stone building in Queensferry (which is still standing and in use today). On one occasion (in 1680) one of the Covenantors (Henry Hall) was murdered, stabbed through the heart as he was descending the stairway from the castle and his blood dripped on the stairs and regardless of how often the stairs were washed, the bloodstain would remain. It is said that a ghost figure remained here with sightings of the ghost up to the times when the gasworks were here in the 1940’s to 1960’s. You can read more about the Covenantors under 'Queensferry History' archive 12/2016 Also more about The Priory Church in the same archives dated 07/2015 * The Cold Room in the Newhalls (Hawes) Inn The Haws Inn has one room which is said to house a ghost or a number of spirits. The history of the Hawes only creates questions as to whom the ghost may be. The Hawes has one room in particular which is said to house a ghost whose breathing can be heard by patrons throughout the night. The same room – it is said, is difficult to heat up and it is as if something is preventing this from happening. Temperature is an almighty giveaway for a spirits presence – it’s like having a bad camouflage –and detection of a ghost when you feel suddenly and eerily chilled on a warm evening probably happens to more than people realise. Do you ever switch the heating on during mild days? You can read more about Newhalls Inn (Hawes Inn) under 'Queensferry History' archive dated 10.2017 * The Hound of Barnbougle The ghostly hound whose pitiful howling is said to be heard along the shoreline of Lord Roseberys Estate. It is said that if the howling is heard this heralds the misfortune or even death of a member of family who owns Barnbougle. Dalmeny estate has said there had been no personal experiences recorded by present owners. Perhaps the original proprietor Sir Roger Mowbray had been the only unfortunate soul. You can read more about the Hound of Barnbougle under ''Queensferry History archives "Snippets" dated 07/2016 You can also read more about Dalmeny House and Barnbougle under 'Surrounding Areas' (found in 'More'), archives dated 12/2016 * The Flotilla Club Ghost The Flotilla Club Ghost is supposed to be the ghost of a young sailor who frequented this old social club. One night he was found hanged in the club, and his spirit has remained. It is not known if he is a friendly spirit, we have not heard and have no reason to believe that he has a dark presence. No adverse sightings have been recorded but it is advised by many townspeople who have used the hall thereafter that it is indeed a very spooky place and in fact feels as if a dark presence is there constantly. (The Flotilla Club, a former ex service club at Port Edgar - HMS Lochinvar - which closed as a Naval base in 1975. It was demolished around 2006 and now houses the Castle Rock sheltered housing complex on Shore Road). * The Ghost of East Terrace It is believed that along the ‘Terraces’ a young woman once took her life, the circumstances in which she passed are unclear (or not known) However rumour has it that she never left the flat in spirit, only in body. Apparently the flat has been up for sale a number of times and has proved difficult to sell. * The Cloaked Lady This was recounted by a local resident and judging from his remarks something he is never likely to forget - “While walking from HP Social Club (which was at the time of recounting Agilent Technologies - and is now, in 2008, Station View Housing Estate), I saw a figure standing halfway between where the last houses of Atheling Grove stand and the HP boundary (along Lovers Lane). The figure looked like an older woman in a long coat. She was standing in the middle of the path looking North as I walked towards her. As I looked away momentarily then looked again along the path, she was gone. There was no way that the woman could have left the path in the time that passed so I took a look around the place where she had been. Searching the undergrowth and hedgerow in the wooded area both sides of the path thinking she must have fallen down – I was unable to find anything. There was no explanation – nothing. I was so convinced though with what I had seen that I went straight to a friend’s house to get them to come back with me to that place to continue searching. On reflection there was a feeling that she wasn’t really there, almost like I imagined the whole thing, but I didn’t …….” © Queensferry History Group 2018
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