Ancient monster-aristocrat - the monster of Glamis Castle (9 photos)

Any self-respecting estate or castle should have its own ghost. Or at least a seedy monster. In this regard, the Scottish castle of Glamis is a particularly striking example.





Thomas Lyon-Bowes was born into one of Scotland's most distinguished families and became the first-born son of the 11th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. But he never received either the title or the inheritance. Legend has it that he was locked in a secret chamber. Nicknamed the Monster of Glamis due to his severe physical defect, he is rumored to still live within the ancient walls.



Thomas was born on October 21, 1821 at Glamis Castle, near Angus in Scotland. Official records stated that the baby died the same day he was born. But people whispered that the boy survived.

The rumors began when local residents noticed that Thomas' grave did not have a headstone. Rumors began to spread about random encounters with a strange creature in and around the castle, which were carefully hushed up by the family.

Were these just rumors, or was the child actually hidden by his family? Who became the monster of Glamis Castle?

Terrible secret





These stories were true. The castle worker who saw Thomas in the passage next to the family chapel was bribed with money not to talk about what he saw. He immediately left for Australia.

The estate's manager later refused to enter the castle after hearing stories and rumors about a secret chamber hidden deep within the oldest part of the building and what was locked inside.

At night, strange sounds were heard in the castle. Perhaps just the sounds of an old building, or perhaps something else.



The Count's guests were intrigued by the rumors, and several attempts were made to discover the secret chamber. Everyone wanted to know whether the rumors about his son were true or not.

Over the years, the story acquired more and more new details, becoming more believable. It was said that Thomas was born with a severe deformity that made him look like a monster. This deformity meant that Thomas could not be the heir to the title, and therefore his existence was kept silent.

Actually, this practice is nothing new, and there are other examples of abuse of family members who were considered undesirable by relatives. Thus, Charlotte Grimstead and Catherine Bowes-Lyon, cousins of the late British queen, were born with mental disabilities. Therefore, they spent their entire lives locked up in a special hospital.

Beast in the castle



Author James Wentworth Day approached the family in the 1960s with a proposal to write a history of the dynasty.

He asked to be allowed to spend time at Glamis Castle as part of his research.

The then earl and other relatives, in conversations with Day, confirmed that a “monster” had been born into their family, and he was indeed the heir to the title. They were able to provide the writer with descriptions.



Thomas was described as having a huge barrel chest, excessively hairy, "like a doormat", with a large head extending straight into his shoulders, and diminished arms and legs. His body was completely deformed and twisted.

The monstrous child was kept away from prying eyes in a secret chamber, and a manager was entrusted with his care. He was allowed to leave his cell to exercise, but his family always tried to keep his existence a secret.

Secret room of the old castle



The secret of this room was known only to the count, his wife and the estate manager. No one else was allowed to know its whereabouts, and even the existence of the camera was denied.

There are several options for its location. The inheritance documents and architectural plans for Glamis Castle indicate a small room at the base of the main tower.



There is also a record of the memoirs of one of the guests, Lord Ernest Hamilton, who wrote that he discovered a secret passage in the castle. The entrance was hidden under a hatch set into the floor of the dressing room known as the Blue Room.

However, most sources place the secret chamber in a chapel hidden behind ancient stonework. The layout of the castle's interior, with its thick stone walls, certainly allows for secret places.

Where is the truth?



There are many other scary stories associated with the secret room of Glamis Castle. They say that in the dead of night, sounds can still be heard from somewhere deep in the castle. During the work in the castle, skeletons were discovered in a walled chamber. And even today, people report feeling anxious and tense in some rooms.

The 11th Earl's descendants also believed these rumors, and Thomas's story remained a dark family secret for a long time.

The stories of Thomas haunting the castle to this day certainly fall into the realm of the supernatural, as it must be over 200 years old. But the mystical lyrics should not distract from the sad story of an ugly child whose only flaw was his appearance.

Who is the real monster in this story?