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.
The Preceptory of the Knights Templar (1225 AD)
On the south bank of the River Dee, about six miles from the City of Aberdeen, lies Maryculter House Hotel. The hotel can trace its name directly back to the First Crusade and the Knights Templars.
The Knights Templar were founded in 1119 to protect Pilgrims making their way to and from the Holy Land. The popularity of the Templars spread rapidly throughout Christendom and by the 13th Century, under lavish patronage by the Crown and the nobility, they had risen to a position of wealth and power throughout Europe. Having been introduced to Scotland by David I (1124-1153), they were granted lands in the parish of Culter by his grandson William the Lion (1165-1214) in 1187. However they already had a presence in Aberdeen, a chapel on the north side of the Castlegate (roughly where St Peter’s Chapel is now).
Subsequently, through the generosity of Walter Bisset of Aboyne, a settlement was established on the lands in Culter about 1225. The site selected by the Templars’ was a level terrace overlooking a wide sweep of the Dee about a mile below the Roman ford at Tilbouries.
The establishment of the Templars chapel led to a dispute between them and the monks of Kelso (who held the rights to the lands in Culter) over the Templars’ right to have their own chapel within the parish. The dispute went all the way to the Pope and was eventually settled in favor of the Templars. This led to Culter becoming two parishes. The lands on the north bank of the river remained with the monks of kelso. As their patron saint was St peter, these lands became known as Peterculter. The lands on the south bank, belonging to the Templars, became known as Maryculter as the patron saint of the Templars was the Virgin Mary.
As the Templars grew in wealth and power, jealousy and rivalry were aroused against them and in 1312 the Order was abolished by Papal Bull. Little documentary evidence of the Templars survives, but in one document of November 1319 reference is made to William de Middleton, of the “tempill house of Culther”.
The Templars were succeeded by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and on deeside reference is often made to the “Sanct Johnis landis in the barony of Marecultir”. With the coming of the Protestant Reformation, they too were banned and the lands eventually came into the possession of the Menzies family of Pitfodels in 1618. In 1745, all six sons of the laird at that time fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie. In 1811 they were sold by John Menzies of Blairs to William Gordon of Fyvie in whose family they remained until 1935 when the estate was broken up. The last Gordon laird,Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, was one of the few male passengers who survived the titanic disaster. Maryculter House and policies were acquired by Commander J W Guy Innes while his Homepark, now called Templars park, was acquired by the City of Aberdeen Boy Scout’s Association as a camping ground.
For over 300 years the two famous orders of Chivalry - first the Templars, white cloaked and displaying the scarlet cross of their order, then the Hospitallers, in black with their eight-pointed cross in dazzling white - were a familiar part of Deeside scene.
Of the buildings only the fragmentary ruins of St Mary’s chapel survive, and what is believed to be the vaulted basement of the Preceptor’s lodging incorporated in the 17th century Ha’Hoose of the Menzies family, now Maryculter House Hotel. However it is also claimed that there are still stones to be found in the area with Templar crosses inscribed on them, probably marking the old boundaries of their lands.
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