a ghostly story
I have written several posts about Ludlow Castle, but now that we are in the middle of the night perhaps it is time for a slightly darker tale?
The castle is reputed to be haunted by the twelfth century Marion de la Bruyere. Legend suggests that the fair damsel Marion, who lived within the castle walls, was besotted by a knight called Arnold de Lisle who was an enemy of the castle’s lord, Josse de Dinant. Although he had been captured together with Walter de Lacy during a previous attack on the castle, de Lisle persuaded Marion into giving him a piece of knotted linen which the men used to escape from their prison.
One fateful night some time later when de Dinant was absent, Marion sent Arnold a secret message saying that the castle was almost empty and that she would leave a rope dangling for him to climb in. De Lisle, who was more intent on capturing the castle than romance, gained access to the castle and left the rope for a hundred of de Lacy soldiers to climb in and capture the castle, murdering the sleeping garrison in their beds. Marion, whilst in the arms of her lover, was woken by the screams of the dying men and realised that she had been betrayed. She snatched her lover’s sword from the table beside her and ran it through him, then filled with grief and shame she threw herself from the Pendover or Hanging Tower.
Stories vary somewhat regarding the ghost itself. Some say if you visit the tower at dusk on quiet evenings her ghost can be seen, but if you go on the anniversary of her death you can hear her scream as she falls to the rocks below.
(Sorry Lisa, I struggled with this time period – but things can only get better…)
Lisa of the blog NorthWest Frame of Mind has decided to run a different project over the next 24 weeks. To try to show what is happening in different parts of the world (if you all join in) at a particular time of day. If you would like to participate you have until next Saturday midnight to post a photo or write about what is happening in your part of the world. This week is between 03:00 – 04:00. I hope you’ll join in! See links for more details.
Great ghost story this Jude
Haha, love the smiley Sherri! Ludlow has a few ghosts. And our house is built where the mortuary was. So go figure…
Haha…thought it fit the mood! Oh no, really? No trouble I hope… yikes!!
All’s well. I think. Though I do sleep dreadfully here, often not falling asleep until after 4 am. That’s not good. But I’m not sure it has anything to do with the house. Just my head 😉
Ahh…that’s not good. I fall asleep okay but then wake up about 3 am and can’t get back to sleep…perhaps we should blog about that time and see whose around? 😛
You could do a post for this project!
Haha – maybe 😉
What a spooky tale, Jude. Gave me the goosies. I also wouldn’t want to have a chance meeting with Marion at ANY time, let alone at 3am. 😯