The Green Lady of Stirling Castle

Stirling is one of Scotland's great castles, architecturally and historically.  It dates back at least a thousand years, with reports as early as the 1100's of Alexander I endowing a chapel there.  Standing at a crossroads, it has been the site of many battles, and has associations with such great figures in history as Robert the Bruce, several Jameses, and Mary, Queen of Scots.  A tour of the castle includes the beautiful Unicorn tapestries, the chapel, palace, regimental museum, the Douglas gardens, and more.

But perhaps the most intriguing stories of all are not the greats who once dwelt there, but those lesser known, who refuse to leave.  Stirling has several, at least.  (One site says there are over 1,000.)  Most often mentioned are the Green Lady, the Pink Lady, and the Highland Ghost, who likes to pose as a tour guide.

green lady of stirling, ghost, ghost stories, Scotland, legends, Blue Bells of Scotland
Most famous among them is the Green Lady.  She has haunted Stirling for several hundred years, and seems at times to become quite engrossed in, almost entranced by, watching the daily activities of people now living, but at other times appears sad. 

She has a habit of appearing at unexpected times, in unexpected places.  In one famous incident, dinner failed to arrive for the army officers then stationed at Stirling.  Apparently, the Green Lady was fascinated with watching the chef prepare dinner.  Sensing he was being watched, he turned and saw her, a misty green figure, engrossed in his cooking, and he promptly fainted.

It is not known who she was in life, but two theories are put forth.  Some believe she was the daughter of Stirling's governor, betrothed to an army officer stationed at the castle.  In an accident which is not described, her father killed the officer.  She, in turn, threw herself from the battlements and died on the rocks 250 feet below.

A more detailed story tells of an attendant of Mary, Queen of Scots.  One night, the attendant dreamed that the queen was in danger.  She jolted awake and rushed to the queen's chamber to find the bed curtains on fire, and Mary sleeping soundly inside.  She rescued the queen who later recalled a prophecy that she would be endangered by fire while at Stirling.  It is suggested that this attendant remains at the castle as the misty green figure still seen today.

Tales from the Stirling Ghost Walk elaborates on the story, saying that the maid died of injuries received in rescuing her queen, and that she wore a green gown that night. 

(There is a part 2 to this video.)

Today, she is often feared, as her appearances, in particular, the ones in which she appears sad, frequently precede some kind of disaster, including several fires.  As a result, reports of her appearances are taken seriously and all documented.  If this is indeed the ghost of the brave attendant, I prefer to think that she is offering warning, and still trying to save people.

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Just for fun, tell other readers where you'd love to vacation this summer.  My answer, of course, is Scotland, ghosts and all!

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Comments

  1. thanks for the giveaway
    Follow on GFC
    Like your FB page
    jenhedger at hotmail dot com

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    GFC follower Spaz
    http://www.facebook.com/steve.zielinski

    zsaz1029(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    Follow on GFC
    Like your FB page
    tirachii(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. Thanks for this generous giveaway. GFC follower and like your FB page. I'd love to vacation in Monaco this summer.
    kr_moreau at doglover dot com

    ReplyDelete
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    I follow your blog via GFC (Veronica)
    I also "like" your facebook page

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    julie.a.lindsy at gmail dot com

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    Like you on Facebook-Rae Pavey

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  8. Thanks for hosting this giveaway and giving all a sweet opportunity at a book of their choice. Your blog is beautiful. I love Scotland, and wished I could go there. Its beauty, lore, and old castles has alway intrigued me.

    GFC follower- Joanna Ward
    I liked you on FB.
    Email: joanna9273[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. GFC is Krystal Larson
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  10. Scotland is my dream place, too! Oh, the castles!

    I followed using my blogger dashboard thingie because the GFC frame wouldn't load for me, hope I show up - Leah Miller

    Followed on FB - Leah McPhearson Miller

    motherlovinbooks at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
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    Sophia L.
    sophiayunjin at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. My husband and I rented a flat in Edinburgh Scotland for a week. One of the best vacations I've ever had and I would totally go back. So much I didn't get to see and do over there!
    Kim
    bookbutterfly9 at gmail dot com
    GFC: Kim Pickett

    ReplyDelete
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    Liked you on Facebook


    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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    GFC = Amy (ArtsyBookishGal)

    FB= Amy Sondova

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    Survivorluvr33@hotmail.com

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    GFC - Memrie
    Like - Memrie Harris
    I would love to go Paradise Island, Bahamas & stay at Atlantis.

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    Memrie

    ReplyDelete
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    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am a GFC follower and an FB liker.
    rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC follower = Juana Esparza

    I Liked you on FB = Juana Esparza

    My dream vacation = Egypt.

    jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. GFC Follower: SpadesHighReads
    Liked Facebook: SpadesHigh Reads

    I wanted to say Scotland but since you said ghosts - neeevermind! I chicken (figuratively) and I'd have a heart attack. So i choose New Zealand ^_^

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway and for participating in Splash Into Summer Giveaway Hop!! Nice to meet you!!

    SpadesHigh @ http://SpadesHighReads.blogspot.com
    TValeros18 @ gmail [dot] com

    Im a new follower !!! =) If you wouldnt mind, would you follow me as well? ^_^

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway =D too cool! really enjoying this blog hop! so fun!

    liked your facebook, Tiffany Falick
    follower through GFC, tfalick
    tfalick(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I would love to spend my summer in Ireland! that's my dream! one day, I WILL GO!

    ReplyDelete
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    GFC follower - Sherry S.
    Facebook like - Sherry Strode

    sstrode at scrtc dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I follow on GFC - Mary Ellen Thompson
    I like on Facebook - Mary Ellen Thompson

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    m.rameyATymailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  25. GFC Follower: Anita
    Facebook Liked: Anita Morgan

    I am leaving on my summer vacation next Monday (7 days!!!!) on a cruise! Very excited!

    morgan.anita (@) sbcglobal (.) net

    ReplyDelete
  26. LOVE,LOVE,LOVE Scotland!!

    I've done both

    Follower: Toni Steiner
    tsteinerid(gmailcom)

    ReplyDelete
  27. GFC Follower: Sakira
    FB Liker: Kris Summers

    I would love to vacation in France!!

    Kris
    elfdrop AT gmail DOT com

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    GFC follower as SiNn

    facebook Beverly Gordon

    mortalsinn@yahoo.com

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    FB: Aprille Shadowspeak
    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

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    Im a GFC follower/latishajean
    Like on facebook/latisha D
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the great giveaway and for participating in this blog hop! I already follow via GFC (MamaHendo3) and FB (Laura G. Henderson). Scotland has always been on my "bucket list". I ♥♥♥ the castles and the stories that go with them!

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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    PS I am already a FB and GFC follower

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    ReplyDelete
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    bittenbooks@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Done x2. :)

    GFC: heykiddego

    heykiddego (at) gmail (dot) com

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  37. GFC Anne38, FB Anne M.

    I've actually been to Stirling Castle and no one bothered to mention the ghost! Bummer. I don't usually travel in the summer cause I don't like the heat. When I was in Sotland and ireland, it was one of the hottest summers ever ( of course, cause I was there!).

    acm05atjuno.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ok I have done both those things. GFC is Elle
    Facebook is Sherry P.

    elleberra at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
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