Tag: Aberdeenshire

Categories
Disasters Folklore Supernatural

Swallowed by the sand

  • Post author By
  • Post date

In August 1413, a 9-day windstorm smothered the village of Forvie under massive sand dunes, leaving only the kirk visible. Eventually abandoned, Forvie was said to have been cursed by three sisters who were sent off to die in a leaky boat in 1391.

Image


Yf evyr maidenis malysone
Did licht upon drie lande
Lay nocht be funde of Forvy’s glebys,
Bot thystle, bente, and sande.

(translated)
If ever maidens accursed,
Do alight upon dry land,
Let nothing be found in Forvie’s fields,
But thistles, marram, and sand!

The Curse of Forvie
References

Anderson, W. (1873) Howes o’ Buchan: being notes, local, historical, and antiquarian, regarding the various places of interest along the route of the Buchan Railway. Sentinel Office, Peterhead pp.96-97

Sherriffs, E. (2017) Life in medieval Forvie. Foveran Community Newsletter. Issue 148. pp. 26-27

Categories
Rural Life

61 minutes an hour

  • Post author By
  • Post date

Since 1812, a minute in Crimond, Aberdeenshire has been about 2 seconds shorter than the rest of the world’s. The church clock keeps 61 minutes in an hour. The face and mechanism was corrected in 1948, but angry locals soon had their own time zone reinstated.

Image
Photo credit: Anne Burgess, https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/186217

The clock was paid for and donated to Crimond by James Laing of Haddo, a slave owner, who made his money in the West Indies.

References

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/903312617

Categories
Uncategorized

Dracula in Cruden Bay

  • Post author By
  • Post date

Bram Stoker holidayed in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire while researching and writing Dracula, and used New Slains Castle as the inspiration for Dracula’s castle, including the Count’s octagonal room. Pictured here is the Octagonal Hall at Slains.

image creds: Mikey Shepherd (lower), Colin Smith (upper) both CC.