My auld Scots granny would often describe my left-handed brother as "Corrie-fistit".
This was because the Corrie clan were reputedly mostly lefties. So much so that their castle, Ferniehirst, in the Borders, had a left-handed spiral staircase.
Support for such stories is often predicated on an emotional attachment developed in childhood via hearing it from a close relative. The Corrie / Kerr family were not genetically predisposed towards left-handedness though, because handedness cannot be reliably passed on to offspring. 1/2
Story of left-handed Kerrs only appears in the mid-19thC. Their castle at Ferniehirst has a stair which twists both CW & ACW. Stairs are not defensive, neither is the castle. More here:
There is still a value to the folklore. The story speaks of a 19th century world obsessed with militarism, conquest and empire that continued to have a hold through much of the 20th century. Admittedly, it says nothing of mediaeval life but does speak of more recent concerns.
Yeah... the old staircase yarn implies that close-quarter combat defence of your home was a common occurrence - "Here we go again; glad I got that staircase turning anti- clockwise, what with my congenital left-handedness and all..."
In reality, it would've been your annihilation you'd be facing.
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This was because the Corrie clan were reputedly mostly lefties. So much so that their castle, Ferniehirst, in the Borders, had a left-handed spiral staircase.
Are you saying my granny was wrong?
https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/2023/08/15/mediaeval-mythbusting-blog-24-the-left-handed-kerrs/
2/2
In reality, it would've been your annihilation you'd be facing.
https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mediaeval-mythbusting-blog-2-the-man-who-invented-the-spiral-staircase-myth/