An Edinburgh Townhouse inhabited by a Spectral Squatter

This story was reported by The Herald in 1996. Just as Edinburgh residents thought it was safe to go house-hunting, reports have emerged of spectral visitations in one part of the city. The elegant Georgian New Town, long admired for its sophisticated charm, had left some running scared!

The owners of an upmarket home in Heriot Row claimed to encounter ghosts since moving in. They claimed that every morning at 6:45, the bedroom shutters open on their own.

At first, the residents believed this to be down to the wind. They had placed a pot plant in front of the shutters to prevent them from opening. Yet, upon removing the plant, the shutters continued to open by themselves.

Further intrigue followed ensued after the discovery of an inaccessible part of the house. This was found during internal renovations. An angry banging echoed through the property until the ghost’s protests were acknowledged. At which point a peaceful silence descended upon the home once more.

Despite these eerie experiences, the homeowners at the time had managed to coexist with their supernatural tenants in harmony for many years.

The strangest part of the tale is yet to be told. The current proprietors at the time discovered a sizable teak chest under the eaves when they moved into Heriot Row in 1981. The box was addressed to them by name and had come from Sri Lanka before they purchased the property. But no information about who owned or sent the package could be found! All attempts to trace its origin were in vain.

Nowadays, or as far as I know, an ethereal hush pervades the house. Who knows if the phantom will return to the house from Sri Lanka, to haunt it again…

Now, if you want another story where ghostly presences have made an impact on the property market, you should check out this story of how ghost stories landed a couple in court. Their tales had caused a large portion of a Derbyshire cottage’s selling price to vanish into thin air!