The drumming sound of the so-called"drums of death" is believed to herald the deaths of the heads of the Ogilvy Clan, the Earls of Airlie, at Cortachy Castle, Kirriemuir, Scotland.<ref>O'Donnell, Elliot. Family Ghosts and Ghostly Phenomena (World Distributors; 1965) ASIN B0000CMJPP</ref><ref>Underwood, Peter. Dictionary of The Supernatural (London: Harap; 1978) ISBN 0-2455-2784-2</ref>
History
Cortachy Castle was built around a 15th century stronghold and has been the ancestral seat of the Earls of Airlie since 1473, although there had been a an earlier castle of the Earls of Strathearn dating from 1330 on the site previously. During the 17th century the castle was severely damaged by Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll when he attacked it in 1641. Just ten years later, Oliver Cromwell ordered it be burnt down because the Ogilvys had given shelter to King Charles II there.<ref>Topham, Ian. Cortachy Castle.</ref> Over the centuries, the castle has been rebuilt and heavily renovated, and of the 15th century building three round towers still survive.
The drummer boy
Legend relates that during medieval times, a drummer was thrown from the highest turret of one of the towers. The reason for his execution has been lost over the centuries, with differing versions offered: some believe he was having an affair with the Countess of Airlie, the Earl’s wife, others believe he helped the enemy enter the castle or didn't sound his drum as a warning sign for the approaching enemy. Another version relates that he was a messenger from an enemy clan.<ref name="stefko">Stefko, Jill. Ghostly Drummer of Cortachy at suite101.com. Retrieved 29 December 2008</ref> All versions agree, however, that his last words were a curse upon the Earl and his descendants.
O'Donnell<ref>O'Donnell, Elliot. Scottish Ghost Stories (Kegan Paul Trench Trubner; 1911) ASIN B0014C5VDE</ref> tells that in 1844, a "Miss Dalrymple, who had been staying some time with the Earl and Countess at their seat, near Dundee, was invited to spend a few days at Cortachy Castle, with the Earl and Countess of Airlie. She went, and whilst she was dressing for dinner the first evening of her arrival, she heard a strain of music under her window, which finally resolved itself into a well-defined sound of a drum. When her maid came upstairs, she made some inquiries about the drummer that was playing near the house; but the maid knew nothing on the subject. For the moment the circumstance passed from her mind, but, recurring to her again during the dinner, she said, addressing Lord Airlie, 'My lord, who is your drummer?' Upon which his lordship turned pale, Lady Airlie looked distressed, and several of the company, who all heard the question, embarrassed; whilst the lady, perceiving that she had made some unpleasant allusion, although she knew not to what their feelings referred, forebore further inquiry till she reached the drawing-room; when, having mentioned the circumstance again to a member of the family, she was answered, 'What, have you never heard of the drummer boy?' 'No,' replied Miss Dalrymple; 'who in the world is he?' 'Why,' replied the other, 'he is a person who goes about the house playing his drum, whenever there is a death impending in the family. The last time he was heard was shortly before the death of the last Countess (the Earl's former wife); and that is why Lord Airlie became so pale when you mentioned it. The drummer boy is a very unpleasant subject in this family, I assure you.'
"Miss D. was naturally much concerned, and indeed not a little frightened at this explanation, and her alarm being augmented by hearing the sounds on the following day, she took her departure from Cortachy Castle, and returned to Lord C.'s, where she related this strange circumstance to the family, through whom the information reached me. This affair was very generally known in the north, and we awaited the event with interest. The melancholy death of the Countess about five or six months afterwards, at Brighton, sadly verified the prognostications. I have heard that a paper was found in her desk after her death, declaring her conviction that the drum was for her."
Stefko relates: "An Englishman, on August 19, 1849, was visiting Lord Ogilvy, heir to the Earldom of Arlie at the Castle Cortachy. While he was traveling across the moors on his way to the shooting box, he heard music accompanied by drumming. His Highlander guide didn’t hear anything. As the Englishman was going into the shooting box, a servant told him Lord Ogilvy had left Cortachy unexpectedly because his father, the 9th Earl of Airlie, very sick in London. The 9th Earl died the next day.".<ref name="stefko" />
References
<references />
- Underwood, Peter. Gazetteer of Scottish and Irish Ghosts (Souvenir Press; May 1973) ISBN 0-2856-2089-4
- Underwood, Peter. Dictionary of The Supernatural (London: Harap; 1978) ISBN 0-2455-2784-2