On the 24th August 1669 Janet Dalrymple, daughter of Sir James Dalrymple, married David Dunbar, heir of Sir David Dunbar of Baldoon. The events that followed were later to inspire Sir Walter Scott when he wrote The Bride of Lammermoor.
Janet and David's marriage wasn't a love match but an arranged marriage and Janet, being in love with Archibald , third Lord Rutherford, had told her brothers that she didn't want to be with David. No one is actually sure what happened on the wedding night as neither party ever spoke about it but as Sir Walter Scott describes in his Bride of Lammermoor book:
“The door of the bridal chamber was broken down after hideous shrieks were heard from within and the bridegroom was found lying across the threshold, dreadfully wounded and streaming with blood. The bride crouched in a chimney corner, her white nightgown splashed with blood, grinning and muttering and quite insane.”
Some say that the devil had entered the bridal chamber nearly killing David Dunbar and tormenting Janet into insanity. Others that Janet's true love attacked David then ran away and some say that Janet herself stabbed her husband. Whatever the truth Janet never recovered her sanity and died a few weeks later on 12th September.
On the anniversary of her death, the ghost of Janet Dalrymple has been seen to roam the ruins of Baldoon Castle, she is wearing her blood stained nightgown.
Image: © Copyright Andy Farrington and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Other September hauntings:
Ghost of King Edward II Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire
The Grenadier Pub, Wilton Row, London
The Ghost of Annie Chapman, a September Haunting
The ghost of Amy Robsart wife of Sir Robert Dudley, a September Haunting
Sarah Preston the ghost of Boston Stump a September Haunting
Ghosts of the Lost Ninth Hispana Legion in Dunblane a September Haunting
Haunted Newark Castle, Selkirk a September haunting
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