Knights Templar 'Thunder Hole' Legend - Aberdeen
In the late 12th century, William the Lion granted lands in Deeside, Aberdeenshire to the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar Preceptory was founded in the area by Walter Bisset, Lord of Aboyne between 1221 and 1236. The Knights Templar were believed to have built a chapel at this location, and dedicated it to St. Mary. In 1288, this chapel, became the parish church for Maryculter. The church remained in use until 1782 when a new parish church was erected. The site is located on the banks of the River Dee and in the grounds of Maryculter House.
There are several versions of an Aberdeenshire local legend of the 'Templar Thunder Hole.' The following legend centers around a Maryculter Templar Knight called, 'Sir Godfrey Wedderburn' and a beautiful Saracen Woman he was believed to have met whilst on Crusade to the Holy Land. According to authors Banks and Blackhall (2013), when Sir Godfrey, arrived in the East, he, 'marched across the searing desert with full armour and very little food and water.' He fought for many weeks in 'extreme conditions,' when he was seriously wounded, 'in the desert dunes.' (1)
Fate ensued and Sir Godfrey was rescued by a young, beautiful Saracen Woman who tended his wounds and ultimately nursed him back to life. The woman was believed to have been the daughter of a Saracen Leader with whom he had fought. Legend recounts that following this, they fell deeply in love, and before he left to return home she gave him a, 'charm of rare beauty, consisting of a plain gold circlet in which was set a gem of great brilliance.' (2) This charm was given to Sir Godfrey to protect him against the dangers of war and disease.
Sir Godfrey had to return to the Preceptory at Maryculter. A few years later, the woman longing to be reunited with Sir Godfrey, traveled to Maryculter searching for him. When she arrived in Maryculter the Master of the Templar questioned Godfrey's honour, and immediately flew into a rage. Godfrey struck the Master to the ground, and received the punishment of death. Eventually, owing to his notable service, Godfrey was given permission to 'die by his own hand.' (3)
Tragedy ensued and Sir Godfrey plunged a dagger deep into his heart. Piercing screams were heard from the forest, and the young Saracen Woman rushed forward and tearfully grabbed the charm from the dead Templar Knight's neck. She asked the Master of the Temple to put the charm around his neck to gauge if, 'an injustice had been done.' (4) As he placed the charm on his neck, the Master of the Temple was struck by a blue flash of thunder, and he disappeared never to be seen again.
The Young Saracen woman seized the dagger from the chest of her 'beloved Templar Knight,' and plunged it frantically into her chest. The Templar Knights fled in fear. Returning the next day, they found the bodies of Godfrey and the Saracen Woman, but not the Master of the Temple. In panic, the Templars threw the charm into a nearby field. Legend recounts that on their anniversaries, the blue stone shines forth with a pale light. In the grounds of Templars Park today, the site of the Master of the Temple's death is believed to be marked by a deep depression in the ground known as the 'Thunder Hole.'
Since that fateful day, folklore recounts that the ghost of a Templar Knight has been seen, 'galloping through the glen and over the hill of Kingcausie, his war cry rising to the moon.' At nearby Corbie Lynne, the ghost of a 'woman of great beauty is seen sitting mournfully on the rocks...singing in a low melodic vice a lament of unspeakable sadness in the Arabic tongue...' (5)
1. Aberdeenshire Folk Tales By Grace Banks, Sheena Blackhall (2013) The History Press; First Edition, First Printing edition (1 Nov. 2013)
2, 3,4 The History of Maryculter House Hotel & The Legend of the Knights Templar (1225 AD) - Maryculter House Facebook Post 2011
5 Aberdeenshire Folk Tales By Grace Banks, Sheena Blackhall (2013) The History Press; First Edition, First Printing edition (1 Nov. 2013)
The Templar 'Thunder Hole' Legend...
Fate ensued and Sir Godfrey was rescued by a young, beautiful Saracen Woman who tended his wounds and ultimately nursed him back to life. The woman was believed to have been the daughter of a Saracen Leader with whom he had fought. Legend recounts that following this, they fell deeply in love, and before he left to return home she gave him a, 'charm of rare beauty, consisting of a plain gold circlet in which was set a gem of great brilliance.' (2) This charm was given to Sir Godfrey to protect him against the dangers of war and disease.
Sir Godfrey had to return to the Preceptory at Maryculter. A few years later, the woman longing to be reunited with Sir Godfrey, traveled to Maryculter searching for him. When she arrived in Maryculter the Master of the Templar questioned Godfrey's honour, and immediately flew into a rage. Godfrey struck the Master to the ground, and received the punishment of death. Eventually, owing to his notable service, Godfrey was given permission to 'die by his own hand.' (3)
Tragedy ensued and Sir Godfrey plunged a dagger deep into his heart. Piercing screams were heard from the forest, and the young Saracen Woman rushed forward and tearfully grabbed the charm from the dead Templar Knight's neck. She asked the Master of the Temple to put the charm around his neck to gauge if, 'an injustice had been done.' (4) As he placed the charm on his neck, the Master of the Temple was struck by a blue flash of thunder, and he disappeared never to be seen again.
The Young Saracen woman seized the dagger from the chest of her 'beloved Templar Knight,' and plunged it frantically into her chest. The Templar Knights fled in fear. Returning the next day, they found the bodies of Godfrey and the Saracen Woman, but not the Master of the Temple. In panic, the Templars threw the charm into a nearby field. Legend recounts that on their anniversaries, the blue stone shines forth with a pale light. In the grounds of Templars Park today, the site of the Master of the Temple's death is believed to be marked by a deep depression in the ground known as the 'Thunder Hole.'
Since that fateful day, folklore recounts that the ghost of a Templar Knight has been seen, 'galloping through the glen and over the hill of Kingcausie, his war cry rising to the moon.' At nearby Corbie Lynne, the ghost of a 'woman of great beauty is seen sitting mournfully on the rocks...singing in a low melodic vice a lament of unspeakable sadness in the Arabic tongue...' (5)
References
1. Aberdeenshire Folk Tales By Grace Banks, Sheena Blackhall (2013) The History Press; First Edition, First Printing edition (1 Nov. 2013)
2, 3,4 The History of Maryculter House Hotel & The Legend of the Knights Templar (1225 AD) - Maryculter House Facebook Post 2011
5 Aberdeenshire Folk Tales By Grace Banks, Sheena Blackhall (2013) The History Press; First Edition, First Printing edition (1 Nov. 2013)
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