Show Notes
Jenny and Annie visit Edinburgh for this Samhain special, in search of a haunted Halloween. We explore the life and legend of Bloody George MacKenzie, a notorious figure in Scottish history. What was the Covenanter’s Prison, and why do people say that spirits could still haunt it to this day? What draws so many people to this famous Scottish graveyard, and what scares so many away?We learn about how Greyfriars Kirkyard in Scotland’s capital city became a centre for paranormal tourism. We discuss plague, political turmoil, punishments, and the poltergeist lore that surrounds this major Edinburgh landmark.Does Jenny really believe she was haunted by the ghost of Bloody MacKenzie?You can support Stories of Scotland on Patreon! www.patreon.com/storiesofscotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Stories of Scotland
Hello, Jenny here, introducing my new show, The Scottish Folklore Podcast!
Like all adventures, after five wonderful years, Stories of Scotland is coming to an end. Join Annie and Jenny in this last episode as they revisit where it all started, the humble bothy, and tell some final stories of Scotland.
Join Jenny and Annie at dawn, as we dive into the dangerous world of Scottish duelling! We explore the history, laws, and legendary figures of Scottish duelling. First, we break down what duelling is and trace its evolution from medieval trial by combat to private duels of honour. We uncover fascinating Scottish duelling laws and share the blood-soaked tale of the Battle of North Inch, also known as the lethal Battle of the Clans. Next, we meet Donald McBane, an 18th-century Highlander with a notorious reputation as one of Scotland's greatest swordsmen. His life story is packed with duels, battles, and even some dirty tricks. We discover dastardly duels of the wealthy, including a Jacobite spy. Finally, we sprinkle in some folklore fun, then tell the story of the last fatal duel in Scotland. Join us as we parry, lunge, and uncover the hazardous history of duelling in Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We journey to the cold waters of the North Sea for Jenny to tell the famed story of the Nuckelavee as captured by farmer and folklorist Walter Trail Dennison. The nuckelavee is a skinless horse who haunts Orkney’s coasts, terrifying travelers. He also brings blight and plague to crops, livestock and even humans with his terrible toxic breath. Meanwhile, Annie will do anything to avoid the nuckelavee, including summoning the ancient Sea Mither to ensure the nuckelavee is trapped for summer.
Annie and Jenny return to their beloved bogs to have a look at human bodies that have been buried and preserved in peat. From Bronze Age mummies, to the Gunnister Man’s unique knitted garments, we examine the human remains and artefacts that have been excavated from bogs. We tell the tragic history of Betty Corrigall, a young woman buried on the boundary between two parishes. Thanks to Orkney Archives and the National Museum of Scotland for answering some strange questions about bog bodies. Come and see Annie’s play! The Wound, the Rag and the In-Between follows a Highland journalist as she unravels a Victorian death. She exposes secrets that had been buried for generations. By the clootie tree, in a place meant for recovery and wellbeing, tragic forces are looming, ever-present. Book online at: https://eden-court.co.uk/event/the-wound-the-rag-and-the-in-between Independently made in the Highlands, Stories of Scotland is gratefully funded through listener support on Patreon.www.patreon.com/storiesofscotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.