This Saturday night, the atmospheric setting of Threave Garden will host a brand new storytelling tour led by award-winning guides – Mostly Ghostly Tours. Working in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, Mostly Ghostly have created a walking tour showcasing the legends, history and folklore surrounding Castle Douglas. History, Hauntings and Horticulture! Will explore the darker side of the local area with plenty of ghost stories to add an eerie chill to the warm summer evenings…
Sharinging her views on the new venture, Team Founder Kathleen Cronie said:
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with our friends at Threave Garden and love the idea of guests having this wonderful location all to themselves. The tours are exclusive, taking place after the garden has closed, creating a rare and intimate experience.”
Given the proximity of nearby Threave Castle, former stronghold of the Black Douglases, the castle’s colourful history will be a key theme of the tour.Kathleen said:
“Threave has witnessed some grim episodes in its time including a brutal beheading and various executions on the infamous ‘Gallows Knob’. The Douglases boasted that it was never without a tassel!”
Another dark event involves the betrayal of the sixth Earl and his brother at Edinburgh Castle and in terms of its haunting side, many eerie encounters have been reported…
This will be the first Mostly Ghostly Tour to feature the fascinating history of plant use in local customs, medicines and witchcraft and the team have discovered some interesting examples.“Unfortunately if you were a healer in the 17th century, you could find yourself being accused of witchcraft as a lady called Janet Miller found out. Hers is one of the dark tales we explore on the tour and shows how good deeds can be twisted with devastating results.”
A special treat is in store for guests with a visit to Threave House, a spectacular 19th century Baronial mansion. The house was designed for Liverpool merchant, William Gordon and was passed on to the National Trust for Scotland by his grandson, Major Alan Gordon in 1948. The house will create an atmospheric backdrop for the tour climax.
And does Threave House have a haunting reputation?
Team member John Hill tells us more:
“Our research has uncovered some curious reports from past occupants: footsteps are a recurring feature along with moving objects and a mysterious sense of presence. We’ve also collected some intriguing tales from the locality covering everything from phantom voices to buried cars, crying children to the Grey Lady of Greenlaw Mansion.”
Giving his views on the new venture, Richard Polley, General Manager for the National Trust for Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway said,“My team at Threave Garden is delighted to be working in partnership with Mostly Ghostly. This group has brought out some fascinating facts about the gruesome history of the local area, as well as ghost stories and information about the use of medicinal herbs and plants. It is a wonderful experience to be guided around beautiful Threave Garden in the evening and listen to such great storytelling outdoors, and ending up in Threave House. This is an evening not to be missed!”
Summing up, Kathleen said:
“We’re very excited about welcoming our first guests to History, Hauntings and Horticulture! This is a great opportunity to encourage new and past visitors to Threave Garden, helping to raise the profile of the local area and inspiring people to explore Dumfries and Galloway.”
• Contact Info: Mostly Ghostly – [email protected] – www.mostlyghostly.org
• History, Hauntings and Horticulture! launches on Saturday 9th June at 8pm, Tickets available from Midsteeple Box Office, Threave Garden and online at Ticketsource
• Established in 2008, Mostly Ghostly are award-winning creators of a range of ghost and local history tours including; Dumfries Ghost Walk, Haunted Theatre Tour, Deadly Dumfries and Secret History of Closeburn Castle. Dumfries & Galloway People of the Year Awards 2012 & 2014 Tourism Champion
• Threave Garden and Estate: Threave’s wonderful garden has been created over the years by students of the NTS School of Heritage Gardening – and is a fine example of landscaped beauty. At the centre stands Threave House, designed in the Scottish Baronial style in 1871 for the Gordon family. Many of its rooms are displayed as they were in the 1930s.
