The other day, I was searching for information about brownies – the little people kind, not the delicious, gooey, chocolate kind – and I happened across the story about the Cauld Lad of Hylton, and then I went down a rabbit hole. So, welcome to my rabbit hole.
According to the Sunderland Echo website, the Cauld Lad of Hylton Castle is Sunderland’s most famous ghost. “In the 16th or 17th century, we can’t be more precise, a stable boy at the castle called Robert Skelton was caught carrying out one of two possible misdemeanors. Either he had failed to prepare the horse of his boss, the thoroughly unpleasant Baron Robert Hylton, who needed the mount for a journey, or he had been caught in a romantic tryst with Hylton’s daughter.
The more we discover about the baron, the more we hope it was the latter—or, better still, both. Whatever the transgression, Robert Skelton was going to be punished.
Fortunately for the youngster, his master was in a good mood, and he got away with merely being run through on the spot with a pitchfork, or possibly battered to death with a riding crop, or decapitated with a sword.
If it was indeed a pitchfork, the implement was then put to a more legitimate use. Hylton temporarily hid the body under some straw before later dumping it in a pond or maybe down a well. It was discovered months later.
The baddie Baron was eventually put on trial for murder but managed to produce an alibi. A farm hand claimed Hylton had ordered Skelton to remove a tool from the top shelf in the barn; the youngster fell and seriously injured himself. Hylton claimed he attended to the casualty himself but to no avail.”
There are actually records from 1609 that show an inquest where Barn Hylton was alleged to have killed someone with a scythe. The record also shows that Robert Hylton, 13 Baron Hylton, was pardoned.
That couldn’t have sat too well with Robert Skelton, the murdered lad, and soon afterward, strange things started to happen at the castle. According to Wikipedia, “Soon afterward, strange events began to occur in the castle. The kitchen would be tidied at night if left in a mess or messed up if left tidy. An unseen person would take hot ashes from the fires and lie on them, leaving an imprint of a body. Chamber pots were emptied on the floor.
After a while, a cook stayed up until midnight to see who was causing the mischief. He saw the ghost of a naked boy and heard him crying, “I’m cauld” (“I’m cold”). The cook and his wife left a warm cloak for the ghost, and the next night, they heard, “Here’s a cloak and here’s a hood; the Cauld Lad of Hylton will do no more good.” The ghost disappeared, and the strange occurrences ceased, though even now, people claim to have heard the ghostly cries of the Cauld Lad.”
The Shadowlands website adds some final information to the story. “There is also a curse to Hylton Castle:
Woe woe to Hylton line, Woe be yours forever more,
Ne’er in warfare shall you shine, But oft in murderspill your gore.
Fallen strangers take your lands; You’ll be stranger o’er the sea,
For with blood you’ve stained your hands, Now with peace and wealth shall flee.
Hylton’s line dishonored falls, Your course of crime the house appalls,
Your strong walls shall broken lie, From their deep holes the owlets cry,
Ghosts and harpies walk your grounds, Making dismal cries and sounds.
Now the house inglorious falls;
Strike to earth her ancient walls;
Brave the heart that now shall dare, Make his habitation there.
Ghosts and goblins dance around; peace no more shall their abound.”
On top of the castle, stone-carved gargoyles depict devils and goblins; it is said that the Cauld Lad often sits up there with the figurines, watching the world go by.
I hope he’s still not cold.
Happy Friday!!!