The formidable and substantial remains of Yester Castle, which were constructed by warlock and geomancer Lord Hugo de Giffard, can be found not far from Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.
M J Richardson / The ‘windows’ of Goblin Ha’
Among the tangled forest the castle is said to be the result of a satanic pact between the owner, Hugo de Giffard; known as the wizard of Yester, and the devil himself.
The castle is said to have been constructed in the 13th century with the assistance of a group of hobgoblins.
The castle’s remains are obscured by thick undergrowth, making them difficult to locate and rarely visited.
The infamous Goblin Ha’ or Hall, which is located deep within the interior of the castle and is mostly ruined, has one of the oldest surviving Gothic stone arched ceilings. It was built in 1267 with the help of demonic forces.
The subterranean Goblin Ha’ or Hobgoblin Ha’ (Goblin Hall) is the only complete structure that is still standing.
Brendandh, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland designated it as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Sir Hugo de Giffard, also known as the “Wizard of Yester,” was a powerful necromancer and warlock.
It was believed that he practiced sorcery in the castle’s undercroft.
The large cavern in Yester Castle, thought locally to have been formed by magical artifacts, is mentioned by the 15th-century chronicler Walter Bower.
According to legend, Hugo made a deal with the Devil that allowed him to create a magical army to help him and use them to do what he wanted.
Helspence, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Yester Castle was thought to have been constructed by this hobgoblin army.
King William the Lion gave Sir Hugo de Giffard the barony of Yester in the 12th century, and the first stone keep was built in 1267.
According to legend, when Sir Hugo’s daughter got married, he gave her a hand-picked, perfectly ripe pear that was to be kept safe with her new family to keep them safe.
He warned that calamity would ensue if anything happened to the fruit.
Helspence, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The fruit was kept safe by the family in a silver casket until 1692, when a descendant opened the casket on her wedding night and took a bite, finding the fruit still fresh after 300 years.
The family’s wealth was lost to gambling, and several family members died in a short period of time.
The pear was returned to its silver casket after the family realized what had happened to them.
The apple is still kept in Coulston House in nearby Haddington, despite being dry and wise.
