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7 Charlotte Square After Dark: Celebrating Halloween at The Georgian House in Edinburgh

After last week's thrilling adventure on The Ghost Bus, we decided to continue our celebration of the spooky season and Halloween in Edinburgh by visiting The Georgian House at 7 Charlotte Square. This wasn't our first visit to the historic Georgian townhouse, but this time we experienced it in a whole new light—or rather, the lack of light. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we toured the house by candlelight, adding an eerie ambience to our exploration. Join us as we visit ‘7 Charlotte Square After Dark’!

 


Our adventure began as soon as we entered the house with mysterious lighting to guide our way.



Ghostly Tales in the Parlour

 

We started in the Parlour, where we gathered round to hear the tale of Deacon Brodie, a man whose life was incredibly duplicitous. By day, he was a respectable cabinetmaker and locksmith, but, by night, he was a thief! The unsettling atmosphere was heightened when we saw a set of keys reputedly belonging to Brodie himself, a testament to his notorious life (as a brief side note, join us on one of our Edinburgh walking tours to hear more about Deacon Brodie and how he inspired one of the most famous fictional stories of all time).

 


Additionally, on display in the parlour was a copy of the 1772 poem, ‘Hallow-Fair’ by famed Scottish poet, Robert Fergusson (we’ll tell you more on the history of Halloween in just a bit when we get to kitchen).



Portraits of the Departed

 

Moving on to the Bedroom, we encountered a fascinating yet macabre tradition of the Georgians—the commissioning of portraits that included deceased family members alongside the living. We stood before one such painting with the sadness of the loss of a child juxtaposed with its creepiness.



The Bedroom also played host to the grim tale of the serial killers, Burke and Hare, infamous for their grisly trade in bodies for medical research.


A 'victim' of Burke and Hare

Intrigues of the Dining Room

 

In the Dining Room, we ‘saw’ James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose with some dinner companions.



The Georgians were known for the rich, heavy foods that they ate as evidenced in this sample dinner menu.


A painting of James Graham, the Marquis of Montrose

The Marquis of Montrose's complicated life was filled with battlefield stories of betrayal and loyalty (depending on which side you were on). In the end, he faced (some would say unjustly) the hangman’s noose and was hanged in Edinburgh in 1650. After he was hanged, his head was put on a spike at the Old Tolbooth, next to St. Giles Cathedral. However, his limbs were sent to be put on display in Dundee, Glasgow, Stirling, and Aberdeen. The candlelight flickered as we examined the gruesome pictures of the remains of his arm and hand holding his sword.

 


Phrenology and Robert Burns' Skull

 

The Drawing Room introduced us to the world of phrenology and phrenologist, George Combe. Combe was a prominent 19th-century Scottish lawyer and writer who became well-known for his advocacy of phrenology, a pseudoscience that gained popularity during his time. Phrenology posited that the shape and size of various areas of the skull could determine a person's character, personality traits, and intellectual capabilities. Combe believed that by studying the bumps and contours of the skull, one could gain insights into an individual's mental faculties and moral disposition.

 


Related to the above, we examined a cast of Robert Burns' skull and its bizarre connection to phrenology. In 1815, Burns’ body was exhumed for the construction of a new mausoleum, and this provided an opportunity for phrenologists to study his skull. They aimed to uncover aspects of his character and genius by examining the shape of his skull.

 


Ghostly Encounters in the Wine Cellar & Kitchen

 

As our candlelit tour drew to a close, we descended to the ground floor, where we encountered a ghostly butler haunting the wine cellar.

 


In the kitchen, our guide told us of her own as well as other supernatural encounters staff have had in the Georgian House. She also shared with us the origins of Halloween. You see, Halloween has its roots deep in ancient Scottish traditions, primarily stemming from the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced ‘sow-win’). Celebrated on the night of October 31st, Samhain marked the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter, a time when it was believed the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was the thinnest. This festival was characterized by bonfires, feasting, and rituals meant to honour the spirits and protect against malevolent forces.

 


Over time, these customs evolved, blending with Christian traditions to form what we now recognize as Halloween. In fact, the name Halloween comes from a Scottish shortening of All Hallows’ Eve. Pictured below is Robert Burns' poem, "Halloween," a literary homage to the customs and superstitions of old.



Related to Halloween customs, many people don’t realise that the tradition of trick-or-treating originated in Scotland as ‘guising’. Scottish children traditionally donned costumes and pretended to be malicious spirits as they went ‘guising’ around the local streets. It was believed that, by disguising themselves, they would blend in with any wandering spirits and remain safe from harm. After performing tricks or songs, guisers were given gifts to help ward off evil. The tradition eventually made its way to North America, and it eventually morphed into trick-or-treating. With all this in mind, it seems that kids have it a lot easier nowadays!

 

Scots would also carve turnips into lanterns to ward off evil spirits (pictured below). This tradition later transformed in North America to carving pumpkins (which grow well there and are much easier to carve than turnips) and has now started to become popular in Scotland. It’s fun to see how customs originate, morph, and sometimes make their way back to the place they started.


 

Walking through The Georgian House after dark was an absolute delight and the perfect way to embrace the Halloween spirit. While we thoroughly enjoyed our spooky evening, we highly recommend visiting The Georgian House during the day to fully appreciate its historical beauty. But beware—you never know what ghosts might be lurking in the shadows, waiting to share their stories with those who dare to listen.



Until next time- Explore & Discover!



 


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