The History of Maryculter House Hotel
The Legend of the Knights Templar (1225 AD)
Although there are few documentary references surviving about the Templars, there is one legend that survives. One of their number, a local man called Godfrey Wedderburn, was left for dead on the field of battle in the Holy Land. However, although seriously wounded, he was still breathing and was found by a very beautiful Saracen woman. She tended his wounds and before long nursed him back to full health.
Before Godfrey left to return home, she presented him with a charm of rare beauty, consisting of a plain gold circlet in which was set a gem of great brilliance. She told him that the charm was proof against the dangers of war and disease but could only be worn by those of spotless purity and unsullied honour. On arriving home, Godfrey was received with great rejoicings by the Knights who had thought him dead.
One Sunday morning, many years later, as the Knights were passing into the chapel for early Mass their attention was attracted by the figure of a closely veiled woman standing near the door who scanned the features of every passer-by. When Godfrey approached she tore of the veil and rushed forward putting her arms around his neck and kissing him. She was the Saracen lady who had saved his life.
The Master of the Templars demanded an explanation from Godfrey but did not believe him and questioned his honour. At this Godfrey flew into a terrible rage and struck the Master to the ground.
So terrible an insult was this that it was only punishable by death, but in consideration of his notable career, Godfrey was allowed to die by his own hand. As Godfrey plunged a dagger into his own heart, a piercing scream resounded in the woods and valleys around Maryculter. The Saracen lady then appreared and, snatching the charm from the dead Knight’s neck, she dared the Grand Master to put it on and prove whether an injustice had been done. Contemptuously the Grand Master placed the charm around his neck. As he did so there was a blinding flash from heaven - a blue bolt of fire struck deep down into the earth where the Grand Master stood and he was seen no more. When the Saracen lady saw what had happened she shouted for joy and snatching the blood-stained dagger from Godfrey’s body buried it deep in her own breast. The Templars fled in fear and when they returned the next day they found the bodies of Godfrey and the Saracen but no sign of the Grand Master. Nearby they found the charm and fearing to keep it, they flung it into the fields, where, it is said, on the anniversary of the terrible tragedy, it shines with a pale blue light.
Today you can see a deep depression in the ground at Templars park known as the Thunder hole which, it is said, is the exact spot where the Grand Master met his fate. It is also said that if you are there at the midnight hour you may see a fully clad and armed Knight Templar galloping across the fields while near at hand the shadowy figure of a dark complexioned lady is said to glide through the neighbouring woods.
