Patricia Reith tells us about Spital Leper Hospital
Many years ago, my architect husband, Alexander and I completely gutted and restored the old four storey Leper Hospital in the Spital, Old Aberdeen. It was opposite the old St Peter's graveyard in the Spital and at the time, there still stood two derelict houses, on either side of the house.
One had previously been the abode of the doctor and his wife, the caretakers of the unfortunate lepers. Not long after we moved into the now new Leper House, there were problems with youths setting fire to the remains of the remnants of the doctor's house and the council decided to demolish it.
One night a short time later, I woke, sat up in bed and saw by the light of the street lamp, a figure standing staring at me. I was certain she could see me, as I could see her. She was quite severe and plain looking, with centre parted hair, scraped back from her face into a bun. She wore a dark full length skirt and high neck blouse. Round her waist she wore a chain with many keys on rings. She stared, seemingly puzzled, for what seemed an eternity, before slowly turning and walking upwards (on a now non existent stair) until she disappeared through the ceiling!
Still shaken, I sat upright until morning in case she should return. I never saw her again, although I sometimes had a feeling of being watched. A friend, babysitting one evening, also felt very uncomfortable.
When we tried to find out something about the occupants of the doctor's house, the folk in the old bakery on the other side of the now empty site also said they were 'visited' by the 'woman'
When eventually, another house was built on the site of the old doctor's house, I felt relief that she left and was no longer an uninvited guest in my house!
One had previously been the abode of the doctor and his wife, the caretakers of the unfortunate lepers. Not long after we moved into the now new Leper House, there were problems with youths setting fire to the remains of the remnants of the doctor's house and the council decided to demolish it.
One night a short time later, I woke, sat up in bed and saw by the light of the street lamp, a figure standing staring at me. I was certain she could see me, as I could see her. She was quite severe and plain looking, with centre parted hair, scraped back from her face into a bun. She wore a dark full length skirt and high neck blouse. Round her waist she wore a chain with many keys on rings. She stared, seemingly puzzled, for what seemed an eternity, before slowly turning and walking upwards (on a now non existent stair) until she disappeared through the ceiling!
Still shaken, I sat upright until morning in case she should return. I never saw her again, although I sometimes had a feeling of being watched. A friend, babysitting one evening, also felt very uncomfortable.
When we tried to find out something about the occupants of the doctor's house, the folk in the old bakery on the other side of the now empty site also said they were 'visited' by the 'woman'
When eventually, another house was built on the site of the old doctor's house, I felt relief that she left and was no longer an uninvited guest in my house!