Row over house that belonged to Jimmy Page and Aleister Crowley. #OTO

11th JULY 2020

When Jimmy Page bought an imposing mansion on the banks of Loch Ness in 1970, he was drawn to the property because it once belonged to infamous occultist Aleister Crowley.

The Led Zeppelin guitarist sold up after 22 years and few visits, reportedly concluding that there were “bad vibes” there. Today there are claims that occult groups are still haunting the “most notorious home in the Highlands”.

Keith and Kyra Readdy bought Boleskine House last year after it was damaged by fire. Crowley had lived there in the early 1900s and allegedly used to carry out esoteric rituals aimed at summoning supernatural beings.

Mr and Mrs Readdy have since unveiled plans to open it to the public. Mr Readdy, an American-born academic, is the author of One Truth and One Spirit: Aleister Crowley’s Spiritual Legacy.

However, the restoration has run into problems following a rift between members of the Boleskine House Foundation (BHF), the charity overseeing the project.

Robert Molyneaux, a prominent member, was asked to resign for allegedly promoting far-right views on social media. His departure prompted two other trustees to step down. In response to being removed, Mr Molyneaux alleged that the charity was a fig leaf for Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), or Order of Oriental Templars, an occult order founded by Crowley whose members go through initiation rituals.

Mr Readdy, chairman of BHF, strongly denied the claims, saying that “no other organisation is affiliated with the charity in any capacity”.

His assertion appeared to be undermined, however, when Vere Chappell, treasurer general of the order and self-described “erotic mystic”, said that the mansion’s owners “intend to co-operate with OTO to provide opportunities for access to the house and land”.

Mr Chappell is also listed as a “team member” on the charity’s website.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/row-over-house-that-belonged-to-jimmy-page-and-aleister-crowley-gvdr2pj3q