A spooky old mansion in Scotland, known for its eerie stories of being haunted by “the 12 dukes and kings of Hell,” has been given a new lease on life and is welcoming visitors after undergoing restoration.
Named Boleskine House, this mansion stands by the shores of Loch Ness and boasts a colorful history with some famous past owners, including the infamous occultist Aleister Crowley and Jimmy Page, the guitarist from Led Zeppelin.
Despite its intriguing history, the mansion had faced troubles in recent years, enduring damaging fires in both 2015 and 2019. Fortunately, the Boleskine House Foundation charity stepped in and successfully restored the historic property to its former glory.
The mansion has a long history filled with stories of beheadings and ghostly encounters. Crowley acquired the property back in 1889 and is rumored to have conducted various rituals within its walls, including the well-known Abramelin ritual. According to legend, he managed to summon the 12 dukes and kings of Hell during one of these rituals, but due to an abrupt departure to Paris, he couldn’t properly banish the demons, leading to the mansion being haunted.
Later on, in 1971, the mansion was purchased by Jimmy Page, who was drawn to Crowley’s work since his teenage years, influenced by Crowley’s book “Magick.” Page’s band, Led Zeppelin, also held an interest in the occult. The mansion had seen some dark times even before Crowley’s involvement. The headless apparition of Jacobite rebel Simon Fraser, the 11th Lovat, has been rumored to roam the halls at night, a story Page himself recounted to Rolling Stone in 1975.
Page stated, “The negative energy was already present. A man was beheaded on the premises, and sometimes people claim to hear his head rolling. I personally haven’t heard it, but a friend of mine, who is quite pragmatic and not into such things, heard it. He thought it was the cats messing around. I wasn’t there at the time, but he asked the staff, ‘Why don’t you let the cats out at night?’ They said, ‘The cats are locked in a room every night.’ Then they shared the house’s story with him. So, these eerie occurrences predate Crowley’s time. Of course, after Crowley, there have been suicides and people sent to mental institutions.”
Page eventually sold the mansion in 1992, which was followed by the destructive fires in 2015 and 2019. The Boleskine House Foundation took over ownership and embarked on a restoration journey. Despite challenges like break-ins and vandalism over the years, the foundation persevered and is now excited to open the doors to visitors. Starting tomorrow, the public can explore the mansion through self-guided audio tours, available during specific hours throughout the summer.
