DUMBARTON’S haunted past has been described in detail as Hallo’ween this year takes on a different look due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Trick or treating will be all but put on hold this Hallo’ween as lockdown restrictions mean both parents and children will be stuck indoors on the spookiest night of the year.
And there’s plenty to be spooked about in Dumbarton and the Vale, with ghost stories of witches, wizards and haunted castles being passed down through the years.
Cara Hamilton normally leads the Dumbarton Ghost Tour with her colleague David Lees, an annual night of intrigue and frights as thrill seekers take to the streets with Cara tutoring all about the haunted past of Dumbarton.
The tour has been cancelled this year as a result of the pandemic, but Cara is still keen to keep Dumbarton’s lore alive.
Cara said: “As Count Dracula said in Bram Stoker's book, Transylvania is very old and there are many strange things. Dumbarton is very old.
“Older than most towns or cities in central Scotland. In fact, it was our capital. The historical Magician Merlin and William Wallace were incarcerated in Dumbarton Castle. In the dark you can feel the history in the town's stone.
“But one aspect of the tour does send a distinct chill that is particular to Dumbarton. One story of an apparent Witch in the 1600’s who implicates others in the town centre is particularly shocking. It reminds the audience of an average town scene that became a crazy witch hunting frenzy.”
Mclean Place at Dumbarton Sherrif Court was the site of eight women who were executed for witchraft.
Pleading for their lives, the women were denied food and water in a bid to make them confess to the Provost, magistrates, churchmen and teachers.
And when they were found guilty they were burned at the stake in front of a baying mob of townsfolk. Accused of magic, Sir John Colquhoun of Luss and his German manservant escaped and were never seen again.
Many others were not so lucky, and the last witch executed in Dumbarton was an Old Kilpatrick woman just 310 years ago in 1695.
Visitors to the tour have spoken in the past to Cara about the spine-tingling experiences they felt on the walk.
“After every tour at least one person talks to us about their experiences. Dumbarton always has a number of experiences which range from poltergeists to ghost sightings.
“One particular experience recounted was of a poltergeist that threw paintings off walls and spoke to a couple's young child. When they finally traced the former owner of the tenement flat and visited the grave out of a clear blue winter sky came a flurry of snow and shiver up the spine.
“If I were to speak of actual experiences of the tour, I would have to say my favourite part is actually a slow burning aspect of the whole tour. Most people go on the tour to hear some of the history of their town and knowing they go away with this knowledge and a chill is most gratifying.”
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