At the top of the Pends, just before the double-arched gateway, a small lane leading off to the side is the haunt of one of the most feared ghosts in St. Andrews.
Known as Nun's Walk, the lane leads to St Leonards Chapel, a small parish church that has been in use since 1413.
The tale behind this ghost, referred to as either 'The Veiled Lady' or 'The Veiled Nun,' is a classic tale of love and tragedy. Centuries ago, it is said a young woman lived in the town, who was not only intelligent; she was also blessed with great beauty. As would be expected, she attracted the interest of many men, all keen to take her hand in marriage; however, she showed no interest and turned them all away until eventually, one suitor caught her eye, and they were soon engaged to be married.
What happened next varies, some say that her fiancé died in a tragic accident, others say he called off the marriage, while the final version of the story is that the woman herself called off the wedding. Whatever happened, whether through a broken heart or to prevent her fiancé from pursuing her, the actions taken by the young woman remain consistent; with a sharp knife, she cut off her eyelids and her lips, sliced her nose from both nostrils, and sliced or branded her cheeks.
She was taken to a hospital close to St Leonards Chapel, which had been established to treat pilgrims arriving in the town after their long journeys. The care was provided by nuns, and having sufficiently recovered, the lady stayed to help at the hospital, wearing a veil to hide her face. The trauma of her ordeal, however, took its toll, and she passed away while still relatively young.
After her death, the ghostly figure began to be seen walking the lane from the Chapel to the Pends roadway. Described as being dressed completely in black and carrying a lantern, her phantom form is said to be encountered in three different ways.
The first is said to be merely sensing her presence, with those walking the lane feeling a strong sense of foreboding and dogs refusing to continue. The second stage is to physically see the spirit, standing silently or slowly gliding down the lane. The third, and most terrifying type of encounter, is said to be when she lifts the lantern while pulling her veil aside, revealing her mutilated face. In April 2010, Scotland Magazine published an article recalling such a sighting in the 1960s by a student, who was found slumped against the wall at the bottom of the lane, only able to mutter the words 'the nun, the nun' before he was taken to hospital.
My grandfather worked on the restoration of St Leonard’s Chapel and, although he told that they did discover several bones during the work, he never reported any unusual feelings or sightings around the chapel or the Nun's Walk. In addition, hundreds of pupils from St Leonard’s school walk along the lane every day without incident, and so it seems the nun is very selective in whom she appears to. With that said, most St. Andreans still opt to avoid the lane at night rather than take the risk.
Comments