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Goblin Ha'

Yester Castle, SE of Gifford, East Lothian.

Tunnel.

The 'Goblin Ha'' is the undercroft of a 13th century tower, reduced in height to make way for a later reconstruction of the castle lay-out. Originally it was partially dug into the mound of a motte. After the reduction of the upper works, the undercroft was covered over.

Approx 20 m vaulted entrance passage and opposite entrance is 6-8m deep curving staircase to 'well' (partially blocked with rubble but ends in natural rock). Bottom of 'well' floods periodically.

Alternative Names: Yester Castle, Bo' Hall, Bogey Hall, Goblin's Hall, Hobgoblin's Hall, Yester House Grotto

Notes: "In the 13th century the Wizard and Necromancer, Sir Hugo de Gifford, entered a pact with the devil and a host of Goblins, under instruction by Sir Hugo constructed a huge underground chamber in a Motte that had previously been built at the confluence of the Hopes water and a minor tributary, or more likely the huge hall was constructed and then buried, either way, a phenomenal construction and it's obvious why supernatural forces were believed to be involved.

The Goblins did his bidding and built a huge, 37' (11.2m) by 13'2"(4m) by 19' (6m) to the Apex of the vaulted ceiling, supported on ribs and it was in this subterranean chamber that Sir Hugo preformed his dark arts, the chamber named the Goblin Ha' or Hobgoblin Hall. Above it was a tower house that has altered in the 14th and again in the 15th centuries when the massive curtain wall that still stands was added.

Entry is gained by a 7m long tunnel in the North West of the site. Emerging into the main chamber which is lit by two doorways in the South end of the hall. These would have originally given access to two floors, with the basement below, being reached by the tunnel. In the North East corner of the hall another pointed arched doorway forns the entrance to a stairway that descends steeply for 7m before stopping against solid rock." [J. Swanson]

CoSB erroneously references Yester House rather than Yester Castle, which is a separate site further E. OS maps suggest that the Gifford Burn is culverted at the former.