6 OF THE MOST HAUNTED HOUSES AND CASTLES IN THE UK
From ancient ruins to stately manors, the UK has no shortage of spooky abodes. Here are six of the most goosebump-inducing properties to visit this Halloween, according to the National Trust.
Ham House, Richmond-on-Thames, UK. Pexels.
Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk
Surrounded by rolling parkland and encircled by a famous walled garden brimming with brightly colored flora and fauna, Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk is reputedly home to the book-loving poltergeist of William Windham II. William’s love of books led to his untimely demise: he sustained serious injuries while trying to retrieve books from a friend’s flame-ravaged library in London and died shortly afterward. But even death could not quell this bibliophile’s insatiable appetite for the written word, with several reported sightings of William’s ghost in the library of his former residence.
More info: Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate
Visit: Felbrigg, Norwich NR11 8PR, United Kingdom
Corfe Castle, Dorset
High atop the Purbeck Hills in Dorset sit the tumbledown stone ruins of Corfe Castle, whose 1,000-year history has encompassed everything from bloody warfare and murder to imprisonment and betrayal. A medieval king of England, Edward the Martyr, was slain here, while cruel John I left dozens of prisoners to starve to death in the castle’s dungeons. If this isn't spooky enough, the ghost of a headless woman dressed in white is said to roam the castle grounds.
More info: Corfe Castle
Visit: The Square, Corfe Castle, Nr Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5EZ
Ham House, Richmond
Despite the grandeur of Ham House, a 17th-century architectural gem located in the heart of London’s leafy Richmond-on-Thames, a dark presence is said to lurk within its rooms: the anguished ghost of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale. Elizabeth inherited the estate in 1655 from her father William Murray, a schoolfellow and friend of the doomed Charles I. A keen social climber, she gained notoriety during her lifetime as a rumored murderer, an accusation prompted by her swift marriage to John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, following the premature deaths of their respective spouses. Today, Elizabeth’s tormented soul is said to haunt her former lodgings on the first floor of Ham House, where staff and visitors alike have reported a variety of paranormal encounters, ranging from sightings of a ghostly figure dressed in black to cold spots, feelings of anxiety, and the inexplicable aroma of roses.
More info: Ham House and Garden
Visit: Ham Street, Ham, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 7RS
Croft Castle, Herefordshire
Once home to the illustrious Croft family, who have been close companions of British kings and queens for nearly a millennia, the fortress-like Croft Castle is an alleged hotbed of supernatural activity. With several purported spooks-in-residence, the castle is most notably haunted by the ghost of a towering figure dressed in medieval garb. Rumor has it, this menacing spirit is the phantom of a Croft-family ancestor, Owain Glyndŵr, an Anglo-Welsh nobleman who led a revolt against Henry IV in the early 1400s.
More info: Croft Castle and Parkland
Visit: Yarpole, near Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 9PW
Springhill, County Londonderry
Amongst the green pastures of Londonderry lies Springhill House, a 17th-century property with a whitewashed exterior and large sash windows. According to local legend, the estate is haunted by its one-time resident, Olivia Lenox-Conyngham, whose husband committed suicide in 1816. Often appearing during daylight hours, Olivia’s ghost reportedly has a friendly demeanor, showing special favor towards children. Multiple visitors also attest to hearing a mysterious knocking at Springhill. Many attribute this sound to a centuries-old crib that Olivia is believed to have once used to rock her children to sleep.
More info: Springhill House
Visit: 20 Springhill Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, BT45 7NQ
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
Situated on nearly 5,000 acres of spectacular Norfolk countryside, Blickling Hall is apparently host to a horde of paranormal visitors, most notably Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII. Beheaded by order of her husband on May 19, 1536, amidst accusations of infidelity and incest, it is said Anne’s headless ghost returns to the estate (her alleged birthplace) each year on the anniversary of her death, accompanied by a carriage pulled by headless horses.
More info: Blickling Estate
Visit: Blickling, Norwich NR11 6NF, United Kingdom