Ghostly encounters

The many old houses, castles and abbeys that the National Trust cares for are full of things to look at. But, at a number of our houses, you might also get to see a little bit more than you bargained for.

Several properties are rumoured to be happy hunting grounds for an assortment of spooks. Here are a few stories behind some of them.

Blickling Hall, Norfolk

Listen out for the dying groans of Sir Henry Hobart who haunts Blickling after the wounds he received during a duel proved fatal. Or witness Anne Boleyn’s unhappy ghost wandering the grounds which are sited on the medieval manor where she lived.

Buckland Abbey, Devon

Sir Francis Drake lived in glory as a national hero while he was alive, but his spirit is obviously not a happy one. Both he and some accompanying ‘hell hounds’ are rumoured to haunt his former home.

Cotehele, Cornwall

Sitting high on a hill above the River Tamar for over 500 years, it's not surprising that among its dark, stone-built rooms, hazy figures are sometimes seen, along with the sound of music and a strange herbal smell.

East Riddlesden Hall, West Yorkshire

Will you encounter a woman in white, the lady of the manor drowned in the ground’s fish pool? Or perhaps the Grey Lady, reputed to have been shut up in her room to starve to death by her husband after having been discovered with a lover.

Ham House, Surrey

Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale, a renowned political schemer during the 1670s is said to linger in Ham’s lavish rooms and passageways accompanied by her dog – a King Charles Spaniel. Perhaps she simply can’t bear to leave the Carolean masterpiece that she created, or is she paying for her misdemeanours?

Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Discover the ghost of the lady in grey, the most frequent of the three apparitions at Rufford Old Hall. Elizabeth Hesketh became ill while her husband was at war overseas. She vowed she would not leave this world without saying goodbye to her dear husband, who never returned.

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