Sir Hugo Gifford, Wizard of Goblin Hall

(Due for publication 2027)

The Wizard of Goblin Hall tells the story of Baron Hugo Gifford, a medieval Scottish nobleman associated with a mysterious underground chamber beneath Yester Castle. In the story, the cavern, known as Goblin Hall, is believed to have appeared through magic, and Hugo is remembered as a wizard who used unusual knowledge to protect Scotland during a time of conflict: The Wizard of Goblin Hall.

The real Goblin Hall still exists in Scotland today. Medieval accounts describe it as a vast stone chamber carved beneath the castle, appearing suddenly and without visible labor. Because advanced engineering was poorly understood at the time, extraordinary construction was often explained through legends of magic, goblins, or supernatural power.

This children’s book is also inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s 1808 epic poem Marmion, which preserves older traditions about Baron Hugo and Goblin Hall in Canto III, “The Host’s Tale.” Scott’s work reflects how history, folklore, and literature often intertwine, especially when written records are incomplete or contradictory.

I researched this story after I discovered that Hugo Gifford, sometimes called “the Wizard of Yester,” may appear in my own family’s historical record many generations back.