Leith Hall

Leith Hall is a country house in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was built in 1650, on the site of the medieval Peill Castle, and was the home of the Leith-Hay family for nearly three centuries. Since 1945 it has been run by the National Trust of Scotland (NTS). Leith Hall is set in a 286-acre (1.16 km2) estate with scenic gardens.[1][2]

For the theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland, see Leith Theatre.

West front of Leith Hall

History

The north wing of the house was constructed in 1650, on the site of the earlier Peill Castle, by James Leith of New Leslie (see Castle Croft). The east wing was added in 1756, and the south wing was built in 1797 by General Alexander Leith Hay. The west wing, containing the entrance front, was added in 1868 to complete the courtyard.[3]

In 1745, Andrew Hay of Rannes hid at Leith Hall after the Battle of Culloden where he fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie, later escaping to France.

During the First World War it became a temporary Red Cross hospital and housed over 500 patients. In 1945 the house and grounds were presented to the NTS.

The writer Elizabeth Byrd rented 14 rooms with her second husband, Barrie Gaunt in the 1960s. In The Ghosts in My Life and A Strange and Seeing Time, Byrd describes the paranormal occurrences she and her husband experienced while living here.[4][5]

The gardens and grounds are open to the public all year round. After several years' closure the Hall was re-opened by the NTS in 2013.

Leith Hall was featured on the paranormal investigation show "Most Haunted" during their third series. The episode aired on Tuesday 28 October 2003 on Living TV.[6]

Description
Leith Hall gardens

The house contains fine china, family portraits and tapestries and some interesting clocks. The hall is noted for its gardens, set in stages with each sheltered by a wall or hedge and each with its own special character.[7] The gardens contain flowering trees and shrubs, roses, fruit, vegetables and ornamental grasses.[8] A little stream winds its way through the gravel paths and stone crevices and at the top of the garden, near the 18th century curved stables, is the circular "Moon Gate" leading to the old turnpike road, once the main thoroughfare to Aberdeen.[7] There are also two nature trails, each about one and a half to two miles (3 km) long.[7] The gardens also contain two ponds and a birdwatching site.[9]

Ghostlore

In the context of ghostlore, one notable ghost associated with this castle is believed to be that of Laird John Leith III. He was shot in the head after reacting angrily to a fellow diner who accused him of adulterating the grain sold from this hall.[10][11]

The ghost of John is said to appear in great pain, with a dirty white bandage over his head and covering his eyes. He is often described as wearing dark green trousers and a shirt. In 1968, Novelist Elizabeth Byrd reported waking during the night to see John in highland dress, his head covered in bloody bandages, standing at the foot of the bed.[12][11] Other apparitional figures have also been sighted at this location.[12][11][10][13]

See also

References
  1. "Property Details for Leith Hall Garden & Estate". Nts.org.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  2. "Leith Hall on". Aboutbritain.com. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  3. "Leith Hall". Canmore. Historic Environment Scotland.
  4. Leith, Audie Dallas (14 October 2011). White Indian: 1755 The True Story of John Leith. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781465376565.
  5. Holzer, Hans (1989). Yankee Ghosts: Spine Tingling Encounters with the Phantoms of New York and New England. Yankee Publishing, Inc. ISBN 9780899091471.
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4664366/?ref_=ttep_ep17
  7. "Leith Hall & Gardens (Scotland)". Gardens-guide.com. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  8. "Leith Hall garden, Kennethmont, Huntly, Aberdeenshire - Gardens". Britainsfinest.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  9. "Leith Hall & Garden, an Attraction in Huntly, Grampian. Search for Grampian Attractions". Information-britain.co.uk. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  10. "Scottish ghost stories – witches, murder and folklore (Part 2)". National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  11. "Leith Hall Ghosts". aboutaberdeen.com. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  12. Smith, Emma (11 August 2013). "Our intrepid reporter spends the night in Scotland's spookiest castle.. and lives to tell the tale". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  13. "Trees of grief". Gothic Nature Journal. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2023.

57°21′22.52″N 2°45′53.11″W

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