The White Lady of Baldoon
HIDDEN in the trees by the River Bladnoch is a bloody secret of love and heartbreak that lead to the insanity of a once beautiful young girl...
One still, summer's day in 1669, a quiet and sombre bridal procession left the Dalrymple home of Carscreugh Castle near Glenluce.
The bride, a young and pretty girl in her teens, did not have a face full of excitement and anticipation but one of distraught heartache and reluctance at the prospect which lay before her.
Janet, the youngest child of the Dalrymples of Carscreugh (and the bride-to-be) allowed her family to lead the way to the wedding she feared having been worn down by their persistent objections to her love of a local, penniless rogue.
Having spent months sneaking out on the moors and meeting in forests, Janet and her true love Archibald Rutherford were torn apart by the wishes of her parents to marry David Dunbar, oldest son of the Dunbars of Baldoon.
Having said her vows but not meaning them, Janet followed her husband to the bridal chamber of their new home at Baldoon Castle - unbeknown to her having been watched by her beloved Archibald.
The events which followed are little recorded - because David refused to talk about them for the rest of his living days, going cold at the thought and a pained, deep look filling his eyes.
What is known is that at some point during the first hours of the couple's wedded life together, something happened resulting in Janet's death and a wounded husband refusing to tell the story.
Many have said that during his sleep, David would mutter sketches of the night to the effect that Janet lost her mind and became so consumed with heartache that she tried to kill her new spouse.
Being unable to bear the pain of a broken heart, she stabbed David before turning on herself in a fit of screams and rage.
Others speculated for years afterwards that Archibald hid in the chamber until the couple settled themselves for the night before breaking out and stabbing David. Realising her love would be killed for his actions, Janet stabbed herself rather than watch that happen.
However it happened, Janet soon died from her degrading psychological state, spending her last hours whimpering and grinning in turn, huddled in a corner.
Arhcibald was never able to find love again, and died alone in 1685.
David quickly used his good looks to find a second wife and married the daughter of the seventh Earl of Eglinton, eventually dying from a fall from his horse in 1682.
The castle was left to fall into disrepair and a new house, Baldoon House, was built as its more modern replacement.
However, the castle remains as a shell on land at Baldoon and locals say the ghost of Janet can still be seen, howling in the ruins with her blood-stained wedding dress still on... especially around the anniversary of her death on September 12th.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
