I am a ghost hunter - and if I could I would spend half of every year visiting every single haunted site in the world experiencing what I could in the way of paranormal activity.
I have visited Greyfriar's and walked its pathways. I have stuck my head into the Black Mausoleum and stood at the doorway to the poltergeist.
That day it was quiet.
The Mackenzie Poltergeist
Much
blood has been shed during the long history of Edinburgh, a lot of it as a
result of the infamous George Mackenzie.
History
Mackenzie
lived in the 17th century and became Lord Advocate of Scotland, the chief legal
officer and public prosecutor for the country. His place in the darker side of
Scotland's history came about as a result of the enthusiasm with which he
carried out his job, in particular the prosecuting and condemning of the Covenanters.
This was the name given to those who had been involved in the Presbyterian
National Covenant and the attempted revolt against King Charles II.
Mackenzie
carried out Charles's "no mercy" policy with a ruthlessness that
earned him the nickname "Bloody Mackenzie".
Many Covenanters were
imprisoned and left to die in the tiny area of Greyfriar's Kirkyard now known as
"Covenanters' Prison".
Others were executed immediately, their heads
displayed on the prison walls.
The Poltergeist
When he
died in 1691, George Mackenzie was buried in the Greyfriars Kirkyard, just
around the corner from the Covenanter' prison, and his tomb - the Black
Mausoleum - is still there today.
As with many burial grounds, the Kirkyard
has been the location of numerous reported ghost sightings down the centuries,
however the Mackenzie Poltergeist only seems to have become active
during the late 20th century.
In the
late 1990's (some say 1998, others 1999) a homeless man who may have been under
the influence of drink disturbed and desecrated the tomb.
This would appear to
have raised Mackenzie's spirit from its slumber and since then hundreds of
people have reported feeling strange sensations or even being attacked by an invisible
presence. Some have suffered from physical effects such as scratching and
bruising.
The ghost
responsible attacks people but is never seen, hence it has been dubbed a
poltergeist and the association with Mackenzie is unproven.
Most of the attacks
have taken place not outside the Black Mausoleum itself but within the confines
of the Covenanters' Prison.
Perhaps Bloody George considers anyone he finds in
there to be a valid target for his wrath.
Following
the activity of the late 1990,s Edinburgh council closed off the Black
mausoleum.
The Covenanters' Prison itself is also kept locked and is only
normally accessible to tourists and amateur ghost hunters by way of organized
tours.
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