Ethie Castle

Near Montrose, Tayside

Probably the most well known person to have lived at Ethie Castle was David Beaton, Abbott of Arbroath, who moved into the castle in 1524 and spent much time having it extended into the great house as it is today. He loved Ethie and he and his beautiful wife had seven children there. David Beaton was to be murdered at St. Andrews on 29th May, 1546.

Shortly after his death his ghost was seen at Ethie and even now, although on much rarer occasions, his ghost has been seen, mainly on a narrow staircase that leads to a secret doorway in his old bedroom. A dragging noise and unexplained footsteps have been heard on regular occasions.

A new governess arrived at Ethie and was given a room in the older part of the house, an area which had been unoccupied for some considerable time. After her first night there she complained of being awakened by the sound of a child running in a room above her bedroom, accompanied by the sound of what appeared to be a wheeled toy being pulled along the floor. What was more disturbing was the sound of a child sobbing. Finally, after the governess had complained several times, investigations were carried out and it was discovered that the door to the room immediately above the governess' bedroom had been bricked up and panelled over. When the wall was broken down the skeleton of a child was found lying on the floor close to the remains of a little wooden cart. After the bones had been buried, the sounds ceased completely.

Ethie Castle is also haunted by the ghost of a woman, sometimes seen in the high-walled garden. Her appearances are said to warn of a death in the family.

From Graham Adams: I read with interest your article on the "ghost" at Ethie Castle. In the 60s and 70s, the castle was owned by an "Aunt" (a good family friend). I recall an incident when my older brother and I sneaked into an old room whilst exploring the castle, finding and passing through an old doorway (blocked off by a wardrobe) and venturing to the top of a staircase. This part of the castle was supposed to have been blocked off and boarded up. We were surprised to hear a sound of someone moving around and to see a flickering light at the bottom of the staircase. I suspected my brother was trying to scare me but it was clear it was not him making the noises or the light. Having (run very fast!) back to the drawing room in the habitable part of the castle, and having regained my breath, my Aunt said we had probably heard Cardinal Beaton - a ghost who could be heard padding about the castle wearing only one (clerical) slipper. My Aunt and Uncle heard the ghost on several occasions but I do not recall if they ever saw it.

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