Talk:Dunstanburgh Castle

Just curious, but wasn't Guy the Seeker famous for finding Arthur and his knights sleeping under Dunstanburgh, and making the wrong choice between a horn, a sword and...something else? I can't remember the legend properly, or I'd have added it in. Anyone else know it? -Egoinos

Yes, it was something along those lines in the only edition of the story I know. It is not inconsistent with the story given here by Jeandunston - Sir Guy goes wandering round the castle trying to rescue the maiden (or looking for shelter, or both?), and finds a big hall full of sleeping knights who wake up and charge at him when he chooses the wrong object. It was published in some Northumberland magazine, I think. In the version I saw I am not sure it explicitly says it was Arthur. But it's probably about 30 years since I last read it! Nevilley

The version I referred to was published about 60 years ago and treats the story somewhat humorously. The choice in this version was between a horn once belonging to Merlin and a gleaming sword. He chose the horn and inevitably the mighty blast he blew on it woke all the sleeping knights who charged at him whereupon he dropped the horn( though a voice had specifically told him to hang on to whatever he chose) grabbed his own sword and found himself outside again in the rain..The lady was reputed to be lying in a coffin and presumably she is still there. My version did not mention King Arthur, only Merlin and I would love to hear of other versions.Jeandunston

I think I heard it in a tape I had of Northumbrian legends. I'll have to go and listen to it again and tell you what it says :-) (I've been avoiding the tape because, sad to say, the Long Pack story has a tendency to give me the creeps...I'm such a coward!) - Egoinos

I'd love to hear more about your version,Egoinos. The version I mentioned was published in a series of four books called The Friday book of North Country Sketches originally appearing in the Newcastle Journal. It is the first story in the first book.Jeandunston

Apologies, turns out it was Sewingshields Castle I was thinking of! Egoinos