From the London Tower to stately Fyvie Castle, ghosts lurk in the halls of history for the British Isles. Myths, legends, and tragedies surrounding these sites are explored in a series of episodes chronicling the history of haunted castles across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Narrated by Shakespearean actor Robert Hardy (also known as Cornelius Fudge from the Harry Potter films), his voice lends a rich and playful commentary as the series explores the spooky legends and the modern-day state of the British Isles's most haunted estates. From lighthearted legends to tales of dark forces at work, the DVD documentary offers prime entertainment for history buffs and ghost story lovers.
Dark Forces and Deadly Signs
Dark tales surround several legendary and obscure castles in the Celtic Isles, linked to tragedies, deceit, and horrifying crimes. As Hardy strolls through foggy scenes and introduces viewers to dark hallways and dim corners, the tales of grim ghosts unfold through dramatic re-enactments of supposedly-true legends from castle history.
The weeping stones of Fyvie Castle is a prime example of dark forces at work in Scotland's castles. Cursed by the wizard who was insulted at its gates, the doomed family would loose its firstborn male heirs generation after generation under tragic circumstances; unless, that is, the family can find and restore the missing three boundary stones of its estate.
The legend of tragic death in Ireland's Glin Castle manifests itself as a noisy poltergeist and a strange frayed rope seen hanging from the ceiling. A more disturbing tale involves a lonely Irish manor known as Leap Castle, a dilapidated structure haunted by a gruesome presence and a chilling reputation for paranormal encounters.
Helpful Hauntings and Friendly Souls
Not all tales of haunting spirits are the stuff of nightmares. Several tales involve friendlier spirits who desire to help or protect the homes they haunt. The legend of the Piper of Dunkirk, for instance, involves a harmless poltergeist whose legendary presence lingers faithfully after his brave death at Scotland's Duntrune Castle.
Another story involves the missing will that jeopardized the ownership of the Irish family estate Castle Leslie; until a ghostly presence intervenes on their behalf. England's Sudeley Castle is haunted by the presence of a strict housekeeper, who scrutinizes female visitors to make sure they fit her "standards" for female servants.
Ghost of Noble Blood
The castles of Britain's royal family are not exempt from paranormal activity. Hardy's narrative journey takes him to infamous sites like the Tower of London, haunted by the ghosts of two young princes, supposedly murdered by Richard III, playing games within the tower. The headless presence of Anne Boleyn wanders the tower after dark.
From horrors to harmless tales of poltergeists, the dramatized documentary is both charming and creative television from the The Learning Channel's documentary series. Barring primitive special effects (and sometimes lackluster performances in dramatizations), the effect is surprisingly spooky as the history of these incredible castles unfolds beneath Robert Hardy's perfect commentary.
Resources:
Castle Ghosts of the British Isles. KULTUR Video, 2009.
Sarah Briggs - For the last two years, I have designed primitive dolls and folk art sculptures (such as Edwin Drood and the Ghost of Marley) for Cordwood ...
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