Picturesque Cruden Bay is like many other seaside villages dotting the Scottish coastline. Originally named Port Erroll, it was first established as a fishing village though the long unspoilt curving beach proved an early attraction for tourists. It is said to be the site of a battle where the Scots defeated the Danes in 1012, its where a Norwegian aviator made the first solo flight across the North Sea, and, as we learned earlier (in Scottish Origins of Dracula Part 1), it’s where Bram Stoker wrote his gothic horror classic, Dracula.
Today Cruden Bay boasts two hotels, including the Kilmarnock Arms where Bram Stoker stayed in 1893 and 94, a variety of B&Bs, a chemist (druggist to Americans) a newsagent, post office, craft shop, public house, and general store, plus a few varied shops. It’s a mere half hour drive from the city of Aberdeen.
The beach and a golf course established in 1894 continues to draw tourist looking for a seaside getaway as does the legend of Dracula author Bram Stoker and his association with the village and the nearby Slains Castle.
A view of the village and Cruden Bay beach from the 9th tee of the golf course. This course was established in 1894 but records show a Cruden Bay Golf Club in existence as early as 1791. Photo by @StewartPaul1 and used with permission.
In part 1 of this podcast we visited with Cruden Bay resident and author Mike Shepherd. His new book, When Brave Men Shudder, was the result of painstaking research that not only confirmed Stoker’s time spent in Cruden Bay but revealed major new details including friendships formed with local residents. His research was so extraordinary it drew the attention of Stoker’s great grand-nephew Dacre Stoker, himself an author and a Bram Stoker scholar and lecturer. If you’ve not yet listened to that episode, The Scottish Origins of Dracula, Part 1, I would recommend you backtrack and do so before proceeding with this one.
This recent book by Mike Shepherd is the first extensive investigation of Bram Stoker’s time spent writing Dracula in Cruden Bay and revealed many new details.
Slains Castle, a Cruden Bay landmark located a few miles outside of the village is often cited as the inspiration and model for Bram Stoker’s Castle Dracula. Dacre Stoker says, well, yes, and no. Dacre says he has no doubt that Slains Castle, perched as it is on the cliff edge, inspired Bram Stoker’s vision of his castle. However, Dacre points to Bran Castle in Romania as a more likely model for the exterior of Castle Dracula. When it comes to the interior however, he says he has no doubt Slains Castle, with its unique octagonal room lit by a single lamp, was exactly the inspiration for the interior of Castle Dracula. Indeed, he and Mike Shepherd believe Bram must have been invited to visit Slains back in the day (it was still inhabited in his day).
Slains Castle as it appeared in Bram Stoker’s time. Slains Castle seen from the sea on its cliff top perch. Slains Castle ruins today. Postcard images courtesy Paul Glashen, ruins photo by Dacre Stoker. Click on any image to enlarge.
Bran Castle in Romania (on the Transylvania side of the historical border) was the model for the exterior of Castle Dracula according to Dacre, while Slains Castle’s interior octagonal room (seen in arial view of the ruins) was unquestionably used by Bram Stoker. Final photo is Dacre Stoker in the octagonal room at Slains. Click on any image to enlarge.
Photo credits: Castle Bran: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castelul_Bran2.jpg, , Slains Castle Ruins Photo ©Pierre Lesage https://www.flickr.com/photos/tahitipix/1464154618/, Dacre Stoker at Slains by Dacre Stoker.
Like his famous relative, Dacre Stoker had a full career before becoming a writer and lecturer. He was an Olympic pentathlete and coach for his native Canada, and a teacher. Today Dacre travels extensively and lectures about his great grand-uncle. He has written both a prequel to Dracula, titled Dracul with J.D. Barker, and a sequel titled Dracula the Un-dead with co-author Ian Holt. Now a resident of South Carolina he is working with Mike Shepherd of Cruden Bay on a new book about Slains Castle.
Dacre Stoker
Key Points:
• 05:30 What sort of man was Bram Stoker?
• 18:18 What about Whitby, England impressed Stoker to include it in Dracula?
• 24:00 How did an ordinance map lead Bram Stoker to Cruden Bay?
• 29:50 Dacre Stoker’s impressions of Cruden Bay
• 33:30 The importance of Slains Castle to Bram Stoker
• 39:20 Did Bram utilize method acting when writing Dracula?
• 43:15 How Buffalo Bill inspired the character of Quincy Morris
• 45:50 Would Dracula be the same book had Bram Stoker not found Cruden Bay
• 57:00 What led Dacre Stoker to carry on Bram’s writing?
• 01:02:15 Why is Dracula a timeless classic?
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Dacre Stoker (website)
Bram Stoker Estate (website)
When Brave Men Shudder by Mike Shepherd