Explore 25 of the best - and scariest - haunted historic houses and castles in England, places with a history of paranormal activity in a historic setting.
Who doesn't love a good ghost story? If you enjoy exploring England's historic houses and castles you'll run into a few spine-tingling tales. That's not surprising when you consider how long some of these historic buildings have been around. And those that still survive are often very atmospheric places, with creaking floorboards and dimly lit passages.
Whether you believe in ghosts or you just enjoy an atmospheric historic house or a medieval castle, these 25 haunted sites offer a little 'something extra' to visitors. Enjoy a visit ... if you dare!
Is this the most haunted place in England? The Tower of London has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations over the years, which is not surprising considering the number of murders and executions that have taken place here.
The ghost of the murdered king Henry VI is said to haunt Wakefield Tower. On the anniversary of his murder the king's spirit is said to pace back and forth in the tower until the clock strikes midnight.
The White Tower is home to a mysterious ghost known as the White Lady, who sometimes waves to groups of schoolchildren. The White Lady leaves behind a perfume so strong that has been known to make Tower guards ill.
For a house that was only begun in the Victorian period Woodchester Mansion has a lot of ghosts! In 1845 William Leigh purchased 400 acres of Cotswold parkland at Woodchester from Lord Ducie and set about creating a superb mansion on a lavish scale.
What prompted Lord Ducie to sell the large tract of land? After his father died Lord Ducie threw a lavish party at the family home of Spring Park to celebrate his inheritance. He came to take his seat only to find his dead father sitting there. He was so frightened that he left the house and never returned.
William Leigh called in architect AW Pugin to remodel Spring park but Pugin recommended tearing down the old house and building from scratch. Pugin and Leigh quarrelled and the house was designed by a pairing of Benjamin Bucknell and Charles Hansom, brother of Joseph Hansom, the inventor of the Hansom cab.
The shell of the house was built in exquisite Gothic Revival style, but then suddenly and mysteriously work stopped. Workmen simply lay down their tools and never returned, leaving Woodchester like a land-bound version of the Mary Celeste mystery. One version of the tale says that work stopped after a man was murdered on the site but it is more likely that Leigh's plans outstripped his bank account.
Perhaps it is this mysterious, unexplained end to the house's construction why so many ghosts have been sited at Woodchester. There is a spectral presence in the cellar, a Tall Man in the chapel, a ghostly old woman and a mysterious old woman. One visitor reported a floating head in the women's bathroom, and some visitors have reported being attacked by an unseen presence.
Possibly the most haunted castle in England, the ruined fortress of Berry Pomeroy dates to the late 15th century. The estate was owned by the Pomeroy family for over 400 years but in the 1540s it was seized by Edward Seymour, the powerful Lord Protector of England. It was around the time of Seymour's ownership that the medieval castle was transformed into a fortified Tudor mansion.
But those glory days did not last and by the middle of the 18th century Berry Pomeroy was a romantic ruin. A ruin, yes, but a terrifying one for some visitors, who have reported odd experiences like a bluish light at a castle window that is impossible to reach. Other visitors have reported that their cameras began to malfunction as they approached the castle and their car engines suddenly stalled.
Then there are the ghosts, like the spectre of the White Lady, said to be the ghost of Lady Margaret Pomeroy, who walks the battlements. Other ghostly figures include a woman dressed in blue and a large black dog. The Blue Lady haunts the castle tower while another White Lady haunts the castle dungeons.
Sir William Martyn built the picture-perfect manor house at Athelhampton about 1485. The medieval house was enlarged by Robert Martyn in the Tudor period. The result is perhaps the finest manor house in England.
The core of Athelhampton is the superb great hall, still boasting its original 15th-century roof and minstrel's gallery and the house retains its beautiful Tudor linenfold panelling.
Athelhampton is one of the most haunted houses in England. A pair of duelling ghosts are said to haunt the Great Chamber, while a spectral Grey Lady has been seen on several occasions around the grounds. A mysterious tapping noise has been heard in the wine cellar and several visitors have reported hearing the sound of cat feet on bare floorboards only to find they were alone.
Samlesbury Hall is one of the most picturesque timber-framed buildings in England, a magnificent 'black and white' house on the River Ribble dating to the 14th century. The house was remodelled in the 17th century but retains much of its medieval structure. In 1862 Samlesbury was purchased by Joseph Harrison, a close friend of author Charles Dickens, who stayed here several times.
Sadly, Harrison's lavish lifestyle led him into deep debt and he shot himself rather than face the consequences. You might think his ghost would haunt his former home, but you'd be wrong; the house is, instead, haunted by the ghost of Lady Dorothy Southworth, known as the White Lady of Samlesbury. Lady Dorothy (born circa 1525) fell in love with a young man whose family was Protestant.
Unfortunately, her own family were Catholic, so neither family would agree to the match. The couple made plans to elope, but Lady Dorothy's brother discovered the plan and ambushed the intended groom and his friend. He killed both of them and hid the bodies. Lady Dorothy was sent abroad to spend the rest of her life in a convent where she died. Her ghost haunts the hall at Samlesbury, waiting for her lover that never comes.
In a postscript to the tragic tale, centuries later workmen engaged in restoration work near the chapel discovered a pair of male skeletons. Could they be the bones of Lady Dorothy's lover and his friend?
(Tresillian)
Sleeps: 22
From: £2203.00
(Looe)
Sleeps: 18
From: £1325.00
(Bude)
Sleeps: 16
From: £2335.00
This beautiful 17th-century house stands on the banks of the River Thames near Richmond. It is said to be haunted by the unquiet spirit of Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale. The spendthrift Duchess was a leader of fashion and moved in the highest social circles of Restoration London. The Duchess was a woman of beauty, wit and charm - and boundless ambition.
She has been described as 'a violent friend, but a still more violent enemy'. She and her husband John Maitland, First Duke of Lauderdale, spent lavishly on Ham House, filling it with fine furniture, art, and richly coloured tapestries.
Sadly, she ended life in relative poverty and was forced to sell off her most prized possessions to pay her debts. One treasure, however, she refused to sell, and that was her beloved home.
The proud noblewoman's ghost is said to stalk her former home, particularly the Duchess's Bedchamber. Visitors to Ham House have reported hearing footsteps when there is no one there and catching a glimpse of a reflection on the Duchess's mirror. Some of the staff pause at the doorway and say, 'Good afternoon, your ladyship' before entering the room.
A former manager of Ham House was so concerned with unexplained events in the house that she called in an exorcist.
This beautiful late-medieval house was built in 1419 as a home for the Treasurer of York Minster. The house is built around a restored medieval great hall and boasts a wonderful collection of medieval and Georgian furnishings and fine art.
It also holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for having ‘Ghosts of the Greatest Longevity’.
When an engineer was installing central heating in the cellars of Treasurer's House he heard a sudden trumpet blast and saw to his amazement a troop of 20 Roman soldiers marching past.
To add to the spectacle their feet were lost to view beneath the floor level. Workmen later dug into the floor and discovered that Treasurer's House was built directly on top of the main Roman road into York. The road level was at the exact height that the soldiers' feet would have trod.
Another related story dates to the 1920s when a fancy dress party took place. One of the guests wandered into the cellar where she encountered a man dressed as a Roman legionnaire who put a spear across her path, stopping her from going further. She later discovered that none of the other guests was dressed as Roman soldiers.
Chartwell is a rambling house built from 1922 for Sir Winston Churchill on the site of a Tudor house. That 16th-century building was reputed to have hosted Henry VIII, who stayed at Chartwell while courting Anne Boleyn at nearby Hever Castle. You might suspect, then, that the ghost story at Chartwell would be an ancient one, but it is relatively recent and directly concerns Sir Winston himself.
In 1947 Churchill wrote an article entitled The Dream in which he told of seeing the ghost of his father Sir Randolph Churchill, sitting in his favourite armchair. He had a long conversation with his father's ghost and told him all that had happened since his death, including both world wars.
Sir Randolph listened with rapt attention to his son's story. He then struck a match to light a cigarette, and as the match struck, he disappeared, never to return.
This beautiful Jacobean stately home was built in 1616 by Sir Henry Hobart, who served as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas under James I. Hobart's fashionable brick house was built on the ruins of an earlier Tudor house owned by the Boleyn family.
It seems highly likely that Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was born at Blickling Hall sometime around 1501. Nothing is certain, however, and some historians believe that she was born at another Boleyn house in Kent.
Anne, of course, was beheaded by Henry on charges of treason. Her headless ghost is said to haunt her birthplace on the anniversary of her execution (19 May). Quite why the ghost has selected Blickling is a puzzle, for Anne was executed at the Tower of London.
A Norfolk neighbour of Blickling Hall is Felbrigg Hall, designed by Sir Robert Lyminge, the same architect responsible for Blickling. There was a medieval house at Felbrigg, owned by the Windham family.
In 1620 Thomas Windham, mindful of the fashionable new house erected by his neighbour Sir Henry Hobart at Blickling, rebuilt the earlier medieval; building in Jacobean style. The exterior is a mix of brick, stone, flint and plasterwork, but the interior is a magnificent mixture of fashionable elegance spanning the Jacobean, Georgian, and Victorian periods.
One beautiful room open to visitors is the library, with shelves stacked floor to ceiling with books. Many of these books were collected by William Windham III (1750-1810). He gained the moniker 'Fighting Windham' when he was sent down from Eton for his role in a school rebellion against an unpopular headmaster. A friend of Samuel Johnson of dictionary fame, Windham inherited some of Johnson's books at his friend's death. He collected more ... and more ... and more books. It is safe to say that Windham was obsessed with books.
He was visiting London in 1809 when a fire broke out in a friend's library. Windham could not bear to let his friend's precious books be lost to the flames and he risked his life to rescue them. He was badly injured in the attempt and succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later.
His ghost is seen in his beloved library at Felbrigg Hall, either sitting at the reading desk or relaxing in a leather armchair, surrounded by his books. His ghost is picky, though; it will only appear if a certain selection of his favourite books are on the table.
There has been a castle atop a high, conical hill in Dunster, on the fringe of Exmoor, since the 11th century. The first castle was built by William de Mohun, whose family held the castle until 1376 when they sold it to the Luttrell family. Since that time 21 generations of Luttrells have lived at Dunster Castle and the family still owns the castle today.
Though it began as a military stronghold, Dunster Castle was transformed into an opulent stately home in the Elizabethan period. It was transformed again in the Victorian period by architect Anthony Salvin, with elegant interiors and terraced gardens lush with semi-tropical plants.
With a history spanning almost 100 years it is no surprise that Dunster Castle is linked to more than one ghost story. National Trust staff say that books mysteriously fall from the shelves by themselves, and the figure of a man in green walks that the stable area. More disturbing is the tale of an exceptionally tall skeleton found in the prison, with irons binding his wrists and ankles. Dogs will refuse to approach the place where the skeleton was discovered.
Nunnington Hall is a beautiful Elizabethan manor house beside the peaceful River Rye, on the edge of the North York Moors. The rambling Tudor house we see today was built by William Parr (1513 – 1571), the 1st Marquess of Northampton and the brother of Queen Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife.
The ghost story that clings to this atmospheric house dates to the life of Lady Nunnington, the second wife of the Hall's owner. It seems that Lady Nunnington had her own son, and resented the fact that he stepson by her husband's first wife would inherit the estate. When her husband died she confined the boy to an attic room.
The only person allowed to see him was her own son, who brought the boy food and played with him. The older child escaped his prison and was never seen again. Lady Nunnington's own son pined for his playmate. He waited by the window for him to return. Tragically, he leaned too far, fell from the window and died.
Lady Nunnington was distraught with grief and roamed the halls, mourning for her son. When she died and the house was sold to new owners they reported seeing her ghost numerous times and hearing the sound of her skirts rustling on the stairs.
This stunningly atmospheric medieval fortress has its roots in the late Saxon period. In AD 975 Edward the Martyr, the young boy-king of Wessex, was murdered at the orders of his stepmother AElfrida to allow her own son Aethelraed ("the Unready") to take the throne. Centuries later King John kept political prisoners here, and he is said to have let 22 French knights starve to death in the dungeons.
In 1635 the castle was purchased by Sir John Bankes, Lord Chief Justice of England. Sir John spent most of his time in London and left the administration of the castle to his wife Lady Bankes. This indomitable woman defended the castle against 2 sieges by Parliamentary soldiers during the Civil War. She personally commanded the castle garrison and held out against her enemies for 3 years before she was betrayed by one of her own female supporters.
Even when Parliamentary troops captured the castle Lady Bankes fought on, locking herself in her private chambers and throwing hot coals on her attackers. The Parliamentary commander was so impressed with her courage that when she was finally overcome he allowed her to leave with her garrison and the castle keys.
So far it is a tale of courage and fortitude, but there's more. It seems that the woman who betrayed Lady Bankes and the castle garrison was filled with remorse. The headless body of the woman haunts the castle battlements accompanied by the sound of a child weeping.
Baddesley Clinton is a picturesque moated manor house in an idyllic rural setting. It has been described - with good reason - as 'the perfect late medieval manor house'. The manor dates to the 14th century but the timber-framed brick and stone house we see today was begun in the 14th century with alterations in 1630.
The beautifully decorated interiors are a delightful example of Tudor style, with exquisitely panelled rooms featuring beautifully carved Elizabethan overmantels. Those panels hide secrets, though; there are no less than three secret priest's holes, hiding places for Jesuit priests during the dark days of religious persecution in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The most memorable ghost story at Baddesley Clinton involves a religious figure, but it has nothing to do with priests in hiding. If you examine the floorboards near the library fireplace you will see a dark stain. This is said to be the blood of the minister of Baddesley Clinton Church, slain by Nicholas Broome, the owner of Baddesley Clinton in the late 15th century.
It seems that Broome, who inherited the estate in 1483, came home unexpectedly one day and discovered the minster being overly familiar with his wife. He slew the minister in a rage, and the man's blood made an indelible stain on the floorboards. It makes a good story, but unfortunately modern analysis of the bloodstain discovered that it was pig's blood.
There are, however, numerous reports of ghostly footsteps echoing down the dimly lit corridors of Baddesley Clinton.
