In 1546, Sir William Bruce innovated in a new mansion near Leuchars, a small town in the county of Fife, along the east coast of Scotland. The castle was named “Earlshall”, the name the Bruces had used for their land and lineage since the previous century.
Earlshall Castle offered great hunting opportunities and impressive gardens, and even Mary, Queen of Scots visited there in the 1560s. But its current fame is probably the belief that a ghost named “Bloody Bruce” haunts the halls.
As his nickname suggests, Bloody Bruce is a member of the Bruce family: Sir Andrew Bruce, who occupied Earlshall in the 17th century. At the time, a faction of Presbyterians called covenanters was in the midst of a decades-long conflict with the monarchy, which it said was encroaching on the religious freedom of its citizens. Andrew supported the monarchy and did his best to outsmart (or kill) the Covenanters at every turn. Some believe he earned his macabre nickname after beheading Covenanter leader Richard Cameron at the Battle of Airds Moss in 1680; though it’s also possible that it stems from his general reputation for bloodlust.
Either way, Bloody Bruce is looking for a new roommate. As the New York Post reportsEarlshall Castle is for sale by Savills real estate agency. You have to submit a request to find out the price, but it’s safe to assume it won’t be cheap. The nearly 8,400 square foot chateau features 10 bedrooms, six bathrooms and eight reception rooms; and it sits on 53 acres of land that includes three cottages, a five-car garage, and a walled garden filled with topiaries. Plenty of room to avoid any murderous ghosts that may be floating around.
[h/t New York Post]
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