Knockhall Castle

I have meant for YEARS to go and find this place - it's actually easy enough, you just follow Knockhall Road from Newburgh school!

Knockhall was built apparently by Lord Sinclair, a son of the Earl of Orkney in the 1500s. Eventually it was owned by the Udny family. The Laird of Udny was one of the last noblemen to employ a court jester or "fool", that man was James Fleming, better known to us as Jamie Fleeman. Jamie appeared to be "daft", but he was strong and sharp-witted. Not only did he save the lives of the family by warning them of a fire in the castle, he also rescued the laird's official papers which were in an iron chest, too heavy for even 3 men to carry. Jamie received a lifetime pension for this deed of heroics.

Jamie is known for two things - one, when a snotty-nosed southerner said, "Now my man, whose fool are you?" he replied, "Am the Laird o Udny's Feel, fa's feel are you?" and for requesting "dinna bury me like a beast" when he died. He has a fine headstone in Longside cemetery.

He certainly wasn't stupid, as apparently he was a messenger for Jacobite spy, Mary Hay, Lady Erroll of Slains. Whatever the case, this creepy edifice is yet another forgotten piece of his puzzle