Vampire of Lochmaben Castle

The Brus family built Lochmaben Castle in the 13th century. The Brus were the Lords of Annandale and ancestors of Robert the Bruce. During the First Wars of Scottish Independence, Edward I of England captured and strengthened the castle, building a new peel fort at the current site.

 

The Scots retook the castle in 1301 and burned it to the ground. The English would retake the castle sometime after 1333 and hold it for 50 years.

By 1364, Lochmaben was a stone castle. The castle changed hands often as it was at an important location near the border with England. It was eventually abandoned in the 1700s and fell into ruin, with much of the stonework being reused in local buildings in Lochmaben.

The castle is located down a small farm road near Lochmaben, surrounded by woods. When visited, it has a lonely feel. But perhaps that is more evil than lonely. A vampire seems to lurk around the castle and in the adjacent woods.

In 1991, Tom Robertson, a paranormal investigator, was asked to investigate the castle ruins by locals who told him a creature was spotted creeping around the castle, along with animal carcasses, which had been drained of blood.

Tom decided to spend the night in his car next to Lochmaben Castle with his wife, who stayed in the car as Tom explored the nearby woods when he saw his "vampire."

Tom said, "Just about 15 feet or so away stood the most hideous sight – a walking decomposing corpse. Its face was as grey as granite, its eyes black as coal. The skin seemed transparent, except for the purple veins protruding from the creature's dead, withered tissue. It was tall but round-shouldered, and a hood was pulled over its head, dressed in sacking. The creature suddenly took flight, springing up onto a branch and gliding from tree to tree."

Tom returned to his car and sped off with his wife. About 8 years later, he returned to Lochmaben Castle, where he saw the vampire again.

He said, "I camped out in the woods. It was nearing dawn. I had seen nothing. I walked some distance. Then, I noticed a shadow. It was the vampire – stooped over like a hunchback. It stopped and turned its head towards me. It glared at me with evil intensity. The grotesque beast looked like it had crawled out of the grave."