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Not far from the bustling streets of Aberdeen, stands a most unusual house best known for its ties to Arbuckle Priddy, the eccentric artist who lived and worked there in the early 17^th century. The house delighted him for it was tall, narrow, and offered a fine view of the harbor, access to the foreshore and a footpath along Tullie Burn, a swift-running stream. Equally pleasing, the property boasted a sheltered garden in the back.

Ever shunning crowds, the artist was excited to take up residence in the house, appreciating its out-of-the-way location in the ancient fishing community known as Tullie.

Impressive by any standards, Gannet House had four floors and a spacious attic, the latter designed with many slanting windows cut into the steep roof, this feature creating the artist’s workplace. The name came from the large seabirds that so often soared past the windows or plunge-dived into the sea for their dinner. White with black-tipped wings and golden heads, gannets provided entertainment and, it was said, often graced Priddy’s paintings.

Nearly every room of Gannet House had a fireplace, so assuring coziness and warmth against the harshest lashings from the cold North Sea winds.

Thick stone walls staved off the worst Scottish winters, this feature contributing to another benefit for the reclusive artist: shielding him from outside noise such as when the fishing fleet left and returned. Or hawkers roamed Tullie with rattling-wheeled carts, calling out their fresh-caught wares.

These advantages haven’t changed over the centuries.

Unfortunately, other things have…

Gannet House fell on hard times.

That happened because although Arbuckle Priddy was granted tenancy at the Gannet House by its builder, a wealthy Aberdeen doctor, the artist’s luck spiraled downward with each successive year he spent – and painted – in his beloved home.

As so often, the ill fortune was seeded by greed…

Arbuckle’s great talent was noticed by more than his benefactor. Another deep-pocketed Aberdonian, a merchant trader, contracted him to paint the beamed ceilings in his own mansion, and, as well, the ceilings of his sprawling country estate. Buoyed by his good fortune, the eager-to-please artist did the work, but the trader found fault in the beautiful and flawlessly painted ceilings, so refusing to pay Arbuckle for his craft.

Not leaving it at that, the devious man spread rumors about the artist, ruining his chances to secure other employment.

The trader even claimed that his own son painted the beamed ceilings in his two mansions, and that he’d not even engaged Arbuckle, who he derided as a fraud.

Arbuckle’s days as a celebrated painter of ceilings ended.

And so it came that his landscape paintings also stopped selling. His knack for creating stunning portraits served naught, as well. Commissions for his work dwindled, emptying his pockets and crushing his soul.

Arbuckle’s benefactor, the builder and owner of Gannet House, took pity on the artist. This good man gave his tenant free life-rent at the house, but there was little else he could do.

The Aberdonian merchant trader was mightier, his false words too damaging.

Arbuckle Priddy was ruined.

Heartbroken, he built a bonfire in the little garden behind Gannet House and burned his paintings, preferring to see them go up in flames than molder and turn to dust.

He did remain in his cherished home, though he rarely set foot off the property.

For sure, he didn’t allow visitors.

Over time, he grew even more reclusive.

Some whispered he went mad.

Either way, he eventually left this world as all men do, supposedly slipping away while standing at a window, gazing out at the sea. Of course, no one can say for sure. What is known is that not too long after his passing strange lights and noises were seen inside Gannet House. Naturally, these oddities happened in the dead of night, at times when the house was empty.

And that left one conclusion. Gannet House was not only an unlucky place to live…

It was also haunted.

Indeed, the house’s reputation became so fierce that folk feared to stroll past after sundown. Some wouldn’t near the place by day.

Time rolled on and so did the rumors. The tales became more outrageous with each passing century. Viking raiding parties were said to run through nearby Tullie Gorge, along the banks of the Tullie Burn, and then disappear through the house’s front wall. Witnesses claimed these spectral Norsemen reappeared as they burst out of the rear wall, only to vanish in the garden. Arbuckle’s dog, an old hound he called Jericho, was said to guard the door, the ghostly beast’s eyes glowing red and his snarls scary enough to turn aside any would-be trespasser.

But not all Gannet House ghosts were frightening. The light melody of a harp was heard now and again, the music accompanied by the sweet voice of an invisible woman.

There were also sightings of the artist himself. Most often, he was glimpsed at his workroom windows as he stared out at the cold, iron-gray waves of the North Sea. Other claims had him storming up and down the house’s many stairs, although…

As no one neared the house, how could anyone know?

Arbuckle Priddy might have been amused.

Shunned and ruined in life, he gained notoriety as a ghost.

But then came an unexpected revelation a hundred years after his passing and the artist was redeemed…

It happened during the renovations to his malefactor’s Aberdeen home. Restoration workers spotted a tiny painted buckle hidden in the design of one of the thistles that graced a painted ceiling beam in the home’s great hall.

The distinctive design was, of course, Arbuckle Priddy’s signature.

And so, in the blink of an eye, the world loved him again.

What a shame, he was then gone.

More tragic still, folk continued to fear his beloved, oh-so-haunted home.

Leastways that was so until the grand year of 1811 when a bold adventurer who feared nothing took it upon himself to purchase Gannet House for the impossible-to-turn-down asking price of a mere ten pounds.

This man was Greyson Merrick and he wanted the house not just for its picturesque location and spacious, if in need of repair rooms, but for the irony of its history.

You see, the adventurer had seen some rough times himself. And as no stranger to ill luck, he believed the house deserved a second chance. His late father was also an artist, and – like Arbuckle – had left this world penniless and unhappy.

Now some might say Fate led Merrick to Gannet House. But the truth is, his own sound mind, good heart, and two feet took him there. As a former sea captain, Greyson Merrick has seen much, and he doesn’t fear ghosts. Above all, he’s learned that hard work and looking ahead can right almost any wrong. He also has a heart for lost causes and enjoys taking the path less trodden.

In other words, he is determined to make his own destiny.

And he does, at Gannet House.

How fitting that, once settled there, a lady of similar temperament will join him, the two of them giving the house – and themselves – the happiest ever after.