Spooky story of the Cauld Lad
As Halloween approached we look at the story of the Cauld Lad, Sunderland’s most famous ghost.
Like with most ghost stories, there are dozens of different versions of the story of the Cauld Lad of Hylton Castle.
Some say he was exorcised from the castle, whereas others say he was seen causing trouble there just last year.
So here is a rundown of the story, or stories, of the Cauld Lad of Hylton Castle.
THE UNFORTUNATE STABLE BOY
In the 16th or 17th century, we can’t be more precise, a stable boy at the castle called Robert Skelton was caught carrying out one of two possible misdemeanours.
Either he had failed to prepare the horse of his boss, the thoroughly unpleasant Baron Robert Hylton who needed the mount for a journey; or he had been caught in a romantic tryst with Hylton’s daughter.
Whatever the transgression, Robert Skelton was going to be punished.
The story goes he was then stabbed with a pitchfork; or possibly battered to death with a riding crop; or decapitated with a sword. As with all ghost stories there are a lot of if, buts and maybes.
Hylton then temporarily hid the body under some straw before later dumping it in a pond, or maybe down a well, no one is sure, before it was discovered months later.
The baddie Baron was eventually put on trial for murder, but managed to produce an alibi. A farm hand claimed Hylton had ordered Skelton to remove a tool from the top shelf in the barn, the youngster fell and seriously injured himself. Hylton claimed he attended to the casualty himself, butt ono avail.
Records show that according to a 1609 inquest, Hylton was found to have killed someone with a grim reaper-style scythe.
But back in those days wealthy people tended not to be treated overly harshly by legal processes and the mega-wealthy and powerful Hylton was granted a free pardon.
SIGHTINGS OF THE GHOST
The s tory is so full of contradictions and obvious flaws that people 400 years ago wouldn’t have known what to believe never mind us.
Of more interest to paranormal experts is what happened next, after the boy’s murder/accidental death.
According to the early 19th century historian Robert Surtees (no shortage of Roberts around here), Skelton’s g host appeared in Hylton Castle’s great hall and would break dishes in the kitchen.
The ghost can’t have had much else to do as he would sometimes play with people’s minds by messing up a tidy kitchen, or tidying up a messy kitchen. He might take hot ashes from the fires, then lie on them to leave an imprint of a body.
Most horrifyingly of all, he would sometimes empty chamber pots onto the floor. Lovely.
Eventually a cook who was sick of all the mess stayed up all night to see what was going on. He saw the ghost of Robert Skelton, who wailed “I’m cauld!”.
It is worth us pointing out to any non-Mackem readers that by cauld, he meant cold, which is unsurprising as the ghost was naked, in a draughty castle, at night.
The cook must have been a good egg as he and his wife left some warm clothing for the ghost, who was so grateful that he treated them to a poem.
The next night the couple heard: “Here’s a cloak and here’s a hood; The Cauld Lad of Hylton will do no more good.”
The hood was the more essential item of the two, as otherwise it wouldn’t have rhymed.
Even more importantly it seems certain ghosts are exorcised if they are given a gift, and the spectre was never seen or heard again.
OR WAS HE?
Various Hylton Castle residents, guests and staff over the centuries have claimed unusual sightings and hearings.
In more recent times a security guard at a nearby building site claimed that The Cauld Lad turned off his red lights and put out his fire. So perhaps he’s not so cauld these days; now that he has that cloak and hood.
THE CAULD LAD’S PALS
There are other wellknown ghosts around Sunderland and they too tend to inhabit high profile buildings.
An inevitable white lady wanders around Washington Old Hall, wailing and wringing her hands, as they often do.
Another spook is said to haunt the Stadium of Light. Although it was only built in 1997, owners Sunderland AFC have a long association with shadowy figures.
Theatres have almost as many ghosts as pubs. This includes the Sunderland Empire, where the spectral box office must be doing a roaring trade as resident phantoms are said to include Sid James and Vesta Tilley.
But the Cauld Ladof Hylton Castle is still Mackems’ favourite ghost.
Thes distinctive and highly decorative gatehouse-tower of a castle was built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton shortly before 1400. Originally it contained four floors of self-contained family accommodation.