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Driven by the lure of wealth and the promise of eternal salvation by the holy church, knights of medieval Scotland, like the multitudes of their European counterparts, swore to "take up the cross" and aid in the cause of the Crusades. Many of Scotland's prominent families proudly claim ancestors who set out to fight for the liberation of Eastern Christendom in the strange and exotic lands of the East.
Those who managed to return home brought with them a wealth of stories and artifacts that few had ever heard or seen. The crusader's tales contained all the necessary elements of romance, mystery and adventure for a society eager to learn of the outside world. Over time the line between legend and truth would become blurred; but for generations of families, these stories would serve as important reminders of Scotland's crusader past.
There are buildings in Scotland which, because of their design or architectural style -- or perhaps as a result of their dramatic geographic position -- actually lend themselves to being haunted places. And very often local legend obliges with an appropriate tale.
The ruins of Buckholm Tower just outside Galashiels do not seem all that different from many similar ancient keeps which are fairly common throughout the Borders. There is nothing about the tower's architecture to set it apart from many other Border towers. It does, however, maintain quite a spectacular and strategic position looking over the valley to the neighbouring tower at Torwoodlee. And it was the scene of the last recorded "laying" of an evil spirit by an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland. Strange and terrible stories have long been associated with these old ruins.
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