Maryculter House Hotel
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.