Hauntings

The Covetous Lady of Littledean Tower

Littledean Tower, near Maxton

Undated; recorded in the 1800s

Henderson's account, as quoted by Mysterious Britain, says the ancient tower of Littledean on Tweedside had long been haunted by an old lady, once its mistress, who had been covetous and oppressive to the poor and, tradition said, could not rest for the money she had amassed. The laird and his family lived there without much concern for her.

One Saturday evening a servant girl cleaning shoes alone in the kitchen saw an elf light on the floor. It vanished and an old woman in a brown cloak stood there, muttering that she was cold and asking to warm herself. The girl saw her wet shoes and blue toes, and offered to dry and clean them. Touched, the old lady admitted she was the ghost and said her gold lay under the lowest step of the tower stairs. The laird was to dig it up and split it in two. One share he could keep, the other he was to divide again, half for the girl and half for the poor of Maxton, the old folk and the fatherless. Then, she said, she would rest and trouble the house no more.

Next morning the girl took the laird to the spot. The stone was lifted, the treasure was found and divided as instructed, the girl soon married well, and the tower was never troubled again.

Littledean Tower is a ruin on private land beside the A699.
Evidence
Long-standing local tradition
Access
No public access
Location
55.574, -2.584 (Sited to the building or field)

Sources: Mysterious Britain & Ireland, "Littledean Tower" [other]

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