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The Ghostly Lovers Haunting the Castle of Pedraza

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Spain is known for its many haunted castles with dramatic history mixed together with a classic love story. In the Castle of Pedraza it is said that two lovers are said to wander around the battlements of the castle after the lord got jealous of them and murdered them in cold blood. 

These haunted castles are shrouded in mystery and intrigue, with tales of ghostly apparitions and strange events. While some people may choose to dismiss these stories as mere folklore, others believe that these old buildings truly contain supernatural forces. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Amidst the picturesque countryside of Spain, this centuries-old fortress holds secrets that have stood the test of time. From phantom footsteps echoing through its ancient halls to mysterious apparitions that appear at midnight, the Castle of Pedraza is a place where reality and the supernatural collide.  

The History and Architecture of the Castle of Pedraza

The Castle of Pedraza, located in the Segovia province of Spain, is a magnificent fortress that dates back to the 13th century. Built on a rocky outcrop overlooking the town of Pedraza, this medieval castle served as a stronghold for noble families throughout the centuries. Its strategic location made it a formidable defensive structure, protecting the town and its inhabitants from various threats.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

With its imposing walls, watchtowers, and drawbridge, the Castle of Pedraza stands as a testament to the military prowess of its builders. The interior of the castle is equally impressive, with grand halls, intricate stone carvings, and ornate decorations that showcase the wealth and power of the noble families who once called this fortress home.

Legends and Ghostly Tales Surrounding the Castle of Pedraza

But who are the ones said to haunt the castle? Who is it that still wanders its halls as ghosts long after their death? One of the most enduring legends associated with the Castle of Pedraza is the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers called Elvira and Roberto from the nearby town. 

The Castle of Pedraza: The castillo de Pedraza is thought to be haunted by two lovers the lord of the castle murdered in a fit of jealousy// Source: Wikimedia

According to the local legend their love was forbidden, as she had been noticed by the lord of the castle. In some versions the lord was simply watching from afar and was jealous of the two. In other versions, he managed to marry Elvira despite her heart belonged to someone else. 

Despite the dangers that awaited them, Elvira and Roberto continued their secret affair, meeting in the hidden corners of the castle under the cover of darkness. However, their love was discovered by the lord in the end, who flew into a rage and ordered their immediate execution. 

Haunted by the Ghosts of the Two Lovers

The lord went on with his days, with both his love rival as well as his love out of the way. If he couldn’t have her, no one could. Soon, war was coming and he went to fight for his King with no one waiting for him at home. 

When the murderer returned from the battle of Las Navas Tolosa he saw something unexpected. There on the battlements he saw the two lovers he had murdered wander in the night. Two ghosts that wouldn’t let death keep them apart. 

Some say that the nobleman disappeared that night, and never returned, perhaps driven away by his own guilt. Or perhaps it was something about the ghosts, perhaps they had waited for his return after all?

The Alternative Version of the Ghost Story from the Castle of Pedraza

Another version of the story is that Roberto was a farmer’s boy that fell in love with Elvira who was chosen by the lord of the castle to be his wife. Since he had nothing to give her he decided to enter a monastery to live the rest of his life in solitude.Elvira lived the rest of her life unhappy in her marriage. 

The story ended the same though. They reunited in their afterlife after a lifetime of waiting and they are haunting the castle, still searching for each other.Many claim to have felt a chilling presence or heard disembodied voices echoing through the castle’s corridors. Some even assert that they have captured photographic evidence of Isabella and Diego’s ghostly apparitions.

In conclusion, the Castle of Pedraza is not just a historical monument but a place where the past and the paranormal intertwine. Its rich history and architectural beauty are overshadowed by the ghostly legends that have captivated the imaginations of countless individuals over the centuries. 

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References:

Los 10 castillos encantados de España que debes conocer – Tourtravel & more
Los 10 castillos encantados de España más conocidos, descubre su halo de misterio
Descubre 10 castillos encantados de España
The 10 haunted castles in Spain you must visit – Tourtravel & More

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St. Michan’s Church Vaults and the Irish Mummies

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Deep down in the vaults under the St. Michan’s Church in Ireland, there is a crypt filled with coffins of mummified corpses. Some of prominent families in the local area, and some nameless that are perhaps a millennial year old. 

Hidden behind Dublin’s Four Courts on Church Street, just a stone’s throw from the Jameson Distillery in Smithfield, stands St. Michan’s Church, an ancient place of worship with a history as chilling as it is rich in Dublin. 

Established in 1095 as a Norse chapel, this parish church holds the distinction of being the oldest on the northside of Dublin and that has a Viking foundation. Its rebuilt exterior, dating back to 1685, conceals a treasure trove of eerie secrets that beckon to those brave enough to explore its depths.

The Mummies in the Vault

Beneath the church’s hallowed grounds, a world of the macabre unfolds. Through imposing metal doors secured by chains and down a narrow stone stairway, visitors find themselves in burial vaults that cradle the mummified remains of Dublin’s most influential families from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

The question that lingers in the minds of all who visit St. Michan’s crypts is how these bodies have been preserved for centuries. Some attribute it to the constant dry atmosphere, others to the limestone walls, and yet others to the mysterious methane gas seeping up from the damp ground beneath. Whatever the cause, the result is a chilling tableau of history frozen in time.

St. Michan’s Church Vaults: Underneath the old church from Norman viking times, there is a burial vault filled with mummified corpses that dates back almost a millenia ago.//Source: wikimedia

Family Feuds in Death

The vaults under  St. Michan’s Church was once the property of wealthy families, and this ownership extended even beyond the grave. Some coffins are elaborate, exuding opulence with gold accents and intricate designs. 

Venturing inside the individual vault under St. Michan’s Church cells reveals a haunting sight: coffins stacked haphazardly, generations of families laid atop one another as in anyone’s messy cupboard or room guests are not allowed to enter. 

Some of the coffins in the vault, unable to bear the weight of those above, have collapsed, leaving skeletal limbs protruding into the dim light.

Crypt’s Best-Known Residents

The vaults are home to legendary figures, including the Sheares brothers, republican revolutionaries who faced the gruesome fate of being hung, drawn, and quartered after their involvement in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. 

They were arrested on the eve of The Irish Rebellion of 1798, and executed at Newgate Prison. Now their mummified bodies have an eternal rest underneath St. Michan’s Church. At least so far. 

The Irish Rebels: The Sheares Brothers, Henry (1753–98), and John (1766–1798) were Irish lawyers and republicans. After witnessing revolutionary events in Paris, in 1793 they joined the Society of United Irishmen. They were arrested on the eve of the risings of 1798 and executed at Newgate Prison and buried and mummified in the vaults of St. Michan’s Church.

The Earls of Leitrim, their highly decorated coffins adorned with gold studs and ornate plaques, rest here alongside Wolfe Tone’s haunting death mask. But it is not necessarily the big names that have made St. Michan’s Church Vaults known, but rather the really old ones that no one really have a name for: 

The ‘Big Four’ in St. Michan’s Church

The most conspicuous occupants of the vaults are four mummified corpses displayed without coffin lids, each covered in a layer of dusty skin. These eerie figures, known as the Unknown, the Thief, the Nun, and the Crusader, appear shockingly lifelike despite being nearly a millennium old.

The Nun as well as The Unknown, are both women that we don’t really know much about. Who they were or how they died, it is all a mystery.

The Big Four: Some of the oldest mummies found in the burial vault is dubbed the big four as they have no names attached to themselves anymore. The Unknown, the Thief, the Nun, and the Crusader is now all exposed without their lids for anyone that chooses to visit the vaults.//Source: James Walsh/Flickr

The Crusader, a giant by the standards of his time, rests with his legs broken and crossed beneath him to fit within his casket. One of his hands stretches out, fingers slightly raised, a superstition claiming that those who touch his finger will be blessed with good fortune.

In 2019 the 800 year old Crusader’s head was actually decapitated and stolen, after a man in his 20s broke in and vandalized the vaults of St. Michan’s Church. 

“The Thief,” another mummy among the ‘Big Four,’ suffered a grisly fate, with his feet severed and his right forearm missing, supposedly as punishment for his crimes. While modern research has cast doubt on the authenticity of these stories, they continue to add an air of mystery to these chilling figures.

Echoes in the Darkness

But what about the rumors about the vaults being haunted? Who of these mummies are said to haunt their eternal resting place?

The Bram Stoker Connection: These burial vaults are just some of the places in Ireland htat Bram Stoker visited and found interesting. Could they have helped giving an inspiration to his writings?

Are these vaults truly inhabited by the restless spirits of the departed? Some certainly think so and since Victorian times, those daring enough to descend the vault steps have encountered the enigmatic St. Michan’s mummies.

Even Bram Stoker, the author of “Dracula,” is believed to have explored these crypts, as his family’s burial plot resides here. Some even claim that the macabre and haunted places in Ireland and its history helped him carve out the story of Dracula, perhaps more than even himself realized?

Over time, the legends and mystery keeps growing about what happened down in the crypts, in sort of the same macabre interest people have for the Catacombs in Paris for comparisons. What should be an eternal resting place for our ancestors, turns into something scary and dangerous for the living. 

Could the vaults underneath the ancient church of St. Michan’s Church in Dublin be haunted by the restless ghosts of the mummies? Could there be something vampiric going on behind the closed doors? The many legends and rumours only continue to grow as time passes and the mummies stay the same.

For those who seek eerie inspiration and eccentric sightseeing, St. Michan’s Church Vaults beckon, promising a spine-tingling adventure into the unknown. If you dare to court the supernatural, venture forth into this cryptic world—a place where history and the supernatural converge in a macabre dance that continues to captivate the curious and the brave.

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References:

Sheares brothers – Wikipedia 

https://thefairytaletraveler.com/2014/10/14/st-michans-church/

St. Michan’s Church, Dublin – Wikipedia 

Supernatural Dublin – St Michan’s Church Man arrested after 800-year-old skull stolen from St Michan’s Church in Dublin – Irish Mirror Online

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The Mad King Haunting The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón

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In a mad King’s last day, he seeks solitude in his Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón to mourn for his beloved wife in peace. It is said that ever since his death, the ghost of King Ferdinand VI of Spain has been haunting the halls of the castle.

The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón is a place where history and haunting legends intertwine. Nestled in the heart of Spain, this ancient fortress has stood the test of time, witnessing centuries of turbulent events and whispered ghostly secrets. As you explore its ancient corridors and wander through its dimly lit rooms, prepare to be captivated by spine-chilling tales that will send shivers down your spine. 

Historical Background and Legends Surrounding the Castle

Spain is known for its beautiful and majestic castles that look like they have been taken out from a fairytale, but some of them are said to be haunted by ghosts. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Spain

The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón has a rich history that dates back to the 15th century. Originally built as a fortified residence for the Counts of Chinchón, it later served as a royal hunting lodge for King Ferdinand VI of Spain where he ended his days. 

The King Went Mad in this Castle

Queen Barbara de Braganza died in 1758 after being ill for a long time. The grief-stricken King Ferdinand VI retreated to the castle to live out his final years in seclusion. It is said that the death of his wife and Queen broke his heart and legend has it that his time in the castle was plagued by madness and despair.

The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón: It is believed that the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón is haunted by the ghost of King Ferdinand VI that went mad after the death of his wife and died within the castle walls.

He refused to wash himself, believing that cleanliness would hasten his own demise. Night after night, he wandered the corridors of The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón in a state of perpetual fear, unable to find solace in sleep. The castle became a prison for the tormented king, and he died the following year.

The Haunting of The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón

After King Ferdinand VI’s death, the employee claims to have experienced many strange things they think can have a paranormal source. The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón is renowned for its ghostly tales and urban legends. One of the most famous stories revolves around the ghost of the King himself and his ghost is said to still haunt its halls, forever trapped in his tortured state screaming and wailing for his wife.

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories set in Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Visitors and staff at the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón have reported numerous paranormal activities and ghostly encounters. One of the most common phenomena is the sound of disembodied footsteps echoing through the empty halls. 

King Ferdinand VI of Spain: The ghost thought to be haunting the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón is King Ferdinand VI who died in 1759 in the castle.

Another eerie occurrence is the sighting of ghostly apparitions. Countless visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures moving through the castle, their ethereal forms flickering in and out of sight. Some claim to have felt a cold presence or a sudden drop in temperature when in the presence of these spirits, sending a chill down their spine.

The Ghostly Rumours of the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón

The Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón is a place where history and the supernatural collide. Its ancient walls hold the echoes of bygone eras and the ghosts of those who once walked its corridors. If you dare to venture into the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón, be prepared for an unforgettable experience.

Read More: For more royal ghosts haunting to this day, have a look at Edinburgh Castle Ghosts and Legends, A Royal Haunting at Christmas, The Time Travelling Ghost Haunting Château de Versailles

So, if you’re looking for a unique and spine-tingling adventure, look no further than the Castle of Villaviciosa de Odón. Embark on a journey through time and immerse yourself in the haunted history that lies within its walls. Just remember, once you enter, there may be no turning back.

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References:

Los 10 castillos encantados de España más conocidos, descubre su halo de misterio

Castillo de Villaviciosa de Odón – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

Bárbara de Braganza – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

The 10 haunted castles in Spain you must visit – Tourtravel & More

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The Icelandic Ghost Story of The White Cap

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The story about the girl and her meeting with a ghost in the graveyard and the white cap she took from it has been retold for centuries in Iceland. 

The story about the White Cap is an Icelandic ghost story from the old times, although how old is uncertain, as it is now turned into a folktale that has gone through many retellings. It tells the story about a nameless boy and girl that took something from a ghost and had to pay dearly for it. 

The Ghost story was retold from its oral story in Icelandic Legends by Jón Arnason who traveled the country and collected the folktales and ghost stories in the 1800s inspired by the work the Grimm brothers did in Germany in the same area. 

The Ghost and its White Cap

The little boy and girl lived close to a church in a small village in Iceland. The boy was a mischievous boy and had a habit of trying to scare the girl when he had the opportunity. But the more he tried to get a scare out of the girl, the more used she got to it, and in the end, nothing faced her anymore. And everything she saw she thought was strange, she was sure it had to be one of the boy’s tricks. 

One day while they were washing clothes, the girl was sent to the churchyard by her mother. The linen they had just washed was hung up there to dry. The girl went unafraid into the graveyard and started to fill her basket with the fresh linen when she looked up and saw someone sitting on a tomb close to her. The figure was dressed in all white and she thought instinctively it had to be the boy that was up to one of his tricks, so she wasn’t afraid and figured she would call his bluff. 

The girl ran up to the figure on the tomb and pulled off its cap as she said out loud that he would not be able to frighten her this time. 

She then went home with the linen, but when she came back, the boy was the first one that greeted her when she reached her cottage. No way he could have reached home before she did and she started to fear the truth. 

This was not the only strange thing though, as when they sorted through the linen, they found the cap that she had pulled off from the figure on the tomb. The White Cap, although white was full of mold and earth. They all then understood that it had been a ghost she had encountered, and now, the whole village was paralyzed with fear. 

The Icelandic Ghost on the Tomb

The next day, the ghost was again sitting on the same tombstone like it had done the previous day, although now it was missing its White Cap. Nobody dared to approach it and had no idea as to how to rid themselves from it. Ghosts in icelandic ghost stories were often shown to act as flesh and bone that could interact with living humans, and sometimes, they were very dangerous. So they sent for help from a village close to them. 

In that village there was an old man that claimed that they had to replace the white cap that the girl had taken from the girl to avoid any bad repercussions. It had to be done with everyone watching in complete silence, and it had to be the little girl that gave the cap back. 

Icelandic Legends: The ghost story of the “White Cap” comes from Iceland and was retold by Jón Arnason in Icelandic Legends as he was travelling around collecting oral tales around the country.

So the whole village gathered in the churchyard, watching as the little girl approached the ghost sitting on the tombstone, not really moving, not really showing any sign of what the ghost really wanted. She placed the White Cap on its head and asked if it was satisfied now.

The ghost looked up and answered: “Yes, but are you now satisfied?” as it raised its hand and hit her and the little girl fell over and died. The ghost then sank into the grave he was sitting on and was not seen again. 

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Icelandic legends. Collected by Jón Arnason. Tr. … ser.2. 

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The Haunted Schlosshotel Waldlust

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A once glorious and state of the art hotel in the Black Forest in Germany, the Schlosshotel Waldlust is now an empty shell of what it used to be. Old and abandoned, the place is now known as a haunted hotel after the manager was killed in one of the rooms. 

Schlosshotel Waldlust is a haunted and abandoned hotel in Freudenstadt in the middle of the Black Forest in Germany. It certainly looks like a dark fairy tale building now, all dusty with decaying wallpaper and rustling in the old pipes. 

But it used to be a state of the art hotel of 140 rooms where celebrity guests, writers, actors and royals alike came to spend time in the fresh mountain air. It opened in 1902 with Art Nouveau decor specialized for spa and relaxing atmospheres and entertained guests for decades. 

The Murder in the Hotel

The one running the show at Schlosshotel Waldlust was Adele, or known as Adi who brought the guests to the hotel by throwing lavish and exclusive events. She is also a victim of the hotel and thought to haunt the place. 

After the war the family run hotel of Schlosshotel Waldlust saw a rapid decline in guests and revenue. The hotel had already fallen from its heyday earlier in the century.

Grand Hotel: When it opened it was a luxury hotel. Now there is only ruins and damp empty rooms of it left.

The exact details about what happened to Adi is unclear as there never were a record of an Adele as a hotel owner or as a guest, but she was brutally murdered in the world famous hotel in 1949, and the hotel was never the same as she would never check out and leave. 

The Haunted Hotel

After Adi died, the Schlosshotel Waldlust was used as a military hospital for years and many met their end in the former hotel. In the 1960s they tried to open the hotel again as a guesthouse with all the former glory, but something had changed. 

The hotel staff started to notice strange things, the glass was shaking as if it was an earthquake, and they saw a woman with a white veil wandering the halls. They also heard a baby crying in the night, even though there was no one there. 

Schlosshotel Waldlust finally closed in 2005, and is now almost only used for those that want to take a peek at what a haunted and abandoned hotel looks like. 

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Móðir mín í kví, kví — The Icelandic Ghost Haunting the Mother

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When collecting folktales from Iceland, they encountered many tales about the ghost of children left by their mothers to die, an útburður, that came back to haunt their mothers. This is what the Icelandic ghost story Móðir mín í kví, kví or Dear Mother in a Pen, Pen is about. 

Móðir mín í kví, kví means the Dear Mother in the Pen, Pen, and is one of Iceland’s most well known ghost stories, and also the base for the most horrifying lullaby children have gone to sleep with. 

Read more: Check out all of our ghost stories from Iceland

The Folktale of Móðir mín í kví, kví

Once there was a young girl living on a farm with a want for life, dancing, singing and partying. She was unmarried and poor though and became pregnant with a man that had no plans of taking her as his wife. When she gave birth she decided to carry the child and put it outside to die. She carried the child out in her shawl or veil, sometimes retold it was only a rag. 

After it was all over and done with, she attended a vikivaki celebration with singing and dancing a ritual circle dance during the church holidays, something the girl loved. She got the invitation, but had nothing to wear for the occasion. So she didn’t go and was sorry to be sitting at home. 

Just before the dance, the girl was milking sheep with another woman and complained to her that she had nothing to wear. As soon as she said it out loud they heard a voice from under the wall of the pen: 

Icelandic:
“Móðir mín í kví, kví,
kvíddu ekki því, því;
ég skal ljá þér duluna mína
að dansa í
og dansa í.”

English:
“Dear mother, in a pen, a pen,
do not worry about it because, because
I’ll lend you my rag
to dance in
and dance in. “

In Icelandic ghost stories, the ghost often repeat the last word in the sentence as in this short verse. She knew the message was to her, and she knew it was a ghost, talking about the single piece of clothing she had left the child out to die in. She was so shaken up after hearing her dead child reciting the words to her and she went insane for the rest of her life. 

The útburður Ghost in Icelandic Folktales

In Icelandic as well as Scandinavian ghost stories, people sometimes encounter an útburður or an utburd. They were ghosts of children that were put outside to die. Either the child was unwanted because it was born outside of wedlock, or the parents didn’t have the means to raise it. 

útburðr: The ghost in Móðir mín í kví, kví is an utburd, found in many variations in Scandinavian folklore. The Swedish call them Myling, and Utburd or útburðr in Norwegian and Icelandic. They can remind of the English Changeling creature.

When Scandinavians were pagans, this was a practice that wasn’t a crime. Even when the pagans on Iceland turned Christian, this was something that they continued to have as a permitted custom until the 11th century. In fact, to have the child would be punished with fines or even death. 

The children turned into ghosts, sometimes just to torment their mother, sometimes because they couldn’t enter heaven because they weren’t baptized. 

You could hear them crying, and they were believed to have been bad omens. 

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Íslenzkar þjóðsögur og æfintýri/Draugasögur/Móðir mín í kví, kví (2) – Wikiheimild Dear Mother, in the pen, pen – Icelandic Child Ghost Story | Your Friend in Reykjavik

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Chilling Legends of Ham House, London’s Most Haunted Mansion

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Ham House in England is said to be the eternal home to no more than 15 ghosts, at least! From the ambitious Duchess to former servants and even pets, the spirits of the old mansion far outweighs the living. 

London is a city with a rich history full of tales of intrigue, mystery, and the paranormal. One of the most intriguing places in the city is Ham House, located in Richmond upon Thames. Ham House is a beautiful mansion that has been around for over 400 years, and it is known to be one of the most haunted places in London. 

The chilling legends that surround this mansion have made it a popular destination for ghost hunters, paranormal enthusiasts, and curious visitors alike and has been dubbed the mansion with most ghost stories in the country. From the ghost of a woman dressed in white wandering the halls to the eerie sounds of children crying in the night, there is no shortage of spine-tingling stories to be told about Ham House. 

The Ghostly Legends Surrounding Ham House

Ham House is a beautiful mansion that has been around for over 400 years. Built in 1610, it is one of the finest examples of 17th-century architecture in England. However, the mansion has a dark and mysterious history, and it is said to be one of the most haunted places in London with reports of at least 15 different ghosts.

Mysterious footprint appears in the dust of the staircase and the upstairs floors when no one has walked there. There is a wheelchair in the house kept in one of the servants’ rooms at the top of the house that are said to move around and appear when no one intends to put it. 

There are many ghostly legends surrounding Ham House. Some of the most famous include the ghost of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, the ghost of the Green Closet, and the ghost of the Lady in White. These ghosts are said to haunt the mansion to this day, and many visitors have reported seeing or hearing them.

The Ghost of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale

Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, was a powerful and influential woman who lived in Ham House in the 17th century. She was the daughter of William Murray, the whipping boy to King Charles I that gifted the house to him when they grew up. 

She was married to John Maitland, the Duke of Lauderdale, who was a close friend and advisor to King Charles II. Elizabeth was known for her beauty, her intelligence, and her strong personality. Some even think that she murdered her first husband to marry the Duke.

The Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale: Elizabeth Murray had strong opinions and was also political active. One of the more darker rumours surrounding her was that she poisoned her first husband who only was a Baron to climb the social ladder by marrying a Duke.

Legend has it that Elizabeth haunts Ham House to this day. In her later years she was known to have been walking with a cane, and many claim to have heard the tapping of her cane upstairs, and on the Grand Staircase of the mansion.

Visitors have reported seeing her ghostly figure wandering the halls of the mansions. Some have even claimed to have seen her reflection in the mirrors in her old bedchamber were she died. 

People that have stayed in the room have reported about an oppressive force in the room and the smell of roses, something she was known for smelling lingering in the air. The staff have been known to say: Good afternoon your ladyship, before entering just for good measure. 

One of the most famous haunted objects in Ham House is the portrait of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale. Legend has it that the portrait is haunted by the ghost of Elizabeth herself. Visitors have reported seeing the portrait move or change expression when they are alone in the room.

The Lady in Black Pushing People on the Stairs

Elizabeth Murray: Countess of Dysart, later Duchess of Lauderdale (1626-1698)

As mentioned, people have reported about the sound of the Duchess cane tapping by the grand staircase. They have also reported about seeing a lady in black they think must have been the Duchess haunting the mansion and seeing who comes and goes in her mansion. 

What is scary is that one of the tour guides told a story about standing on it during one if his tours and suddenly felt like someone gave him a push and almost came tumbling down the stairs. 

Several of visitors have also claimed to have a feeling of being pushed when walking up and down the stairs.

Visitors are advised to not use the third step and it is often marked with something to remind people. There are many theories as to why this step is said to be haunted and one of those stories is that this is where the Duchess decided to poison her second husband as well. Or was it perhaps the first?

The Haunted Staircase: Beware the third step of the stairs, as it is said to bring the ghosts forth and give people a puh.

The Hag in the Wall

One of the enduring legends and mysteries is whether or not the Duchess really did kill her first husband. According to one story there used to work a butler that had his 6 year old daughter living there with him. She kept complaining about scratching on the walls of her room, and an old hag that kept visiting her at night. 

When they investigated the wall, they found a hidden panel. There were the documents that proved that the Duchess really did kill her first husband. But what butler, when or behind what panel has never been pinned down, and is now one of the many legends of the house. 

The Servant on the Terrace

There used to be a servant called John MacFarlane that worked in the mansion. He was said to be very young, around 17 years old. In 1790 or 80 he fell in love with one of the kitchen maids. She rejected him however and her refusal made him suicidal. 

According to the legend he scratched his name on a window panel, or in some version in a pane of glass upstairs before he jumped to his death. According to legend, he is now haunting the terrace underneath the window. 

Countess Charlotte Walpole

The Countess of Dysart used to live in Ham House and used to love it. Charlotte Walpole was the youngest of the three illegitimate daughters of Sir Edward Walpole. In 1760 she married Lionel Tollemache, Lord Huntingtower, son of the 4th Earl of Dysart (1734-1799), who wed her in secret without the knowledge or consent of his father.

After her death it has been said that she has haunted the upstairs chamber and has happily been waving at visitors. Seeing this has been thought to be a good omen. 

Charlotte Walpole: The Countess of Dysart (1738-1789) is said to be a happy ghost and a good omen if seen at Ham House.

Prince Charles II

The Murray family that Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale was a daughter of, was loyal royalists during and after the English Civil War. They used to be members of a secret society known as the Sealed Knot that supported Charles II who was in exile. 

When he was given the throne, he awarded the Duchess for her and her family’s loyalty. He visited the Ham House many times during his lifetime, and according to the legend, he still visits, even in his afterlife. 

Many people claimed to have seen the ghost of Charles II in the gardens, or even smelled the tobacco he used to smoke in the hall. 

Coronation portrait: Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1661.

The Christmas Haunting

No mansion ghost story is complete without its Christmas Haunting. At Ham House there is a cottage that used to belong to the driver to the 9th Earl of Dysart. 

It is said that it is haunted by a 19th century house and every Christmas Eve or Day, people staying in the cottage can hear the sound of a walking stick over the cobbled path to the cottage. 

It is said that every year he brought presents over to the cottage. He died in 1935, but apparently his nice yearly gestures seem to continue. 

Have a look at more Christmas Hauntings

Ghost Stories of Christmas Hauntings

Christmas Christmas is supposed to be the merry season with joy and light in the darkness. But many places is haunted by ghosts and paranormal activity in during this time. In fact, many of these ghost stories are haunted especially around Christmas. Here are some of the ghost stories that are told during Christmas times.

The Ghost Pets

Another curious ghost supposedly haunting the house is that of the pet dogs the Duchess used to keep. 

Visitors have been confused as to why they are not allowed to bring their dogs, when there clearly are dog prints in the dust and the faint barking indoors of one. Except it isn’t. It is believed that it is a King Charles spaniel.

They found the bones of it in a basket in the kitchen garden. The ghost dog is seen running on the first floor with its tail disappearing behind doorways and jumping at unsuspecting guests.  

The Haunted Ham House

Ham House is one of the most haunted places in London, and its ghostly legends have captivated visitors for centuries. And it is said when the darkness comes over the house, especially during the Christmas season, the eternal residents of Ham House comes out. 

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References:

England’s Haunted Ham House: The Complete Guide 

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/haunted-mansion-richmond-home-16-13758122

My night locked inside a house haunted by its gout-suffering mistress, suicidal servant and a dog 

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The Haunted Townhouse of 50 Berkeley Square in London

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One of the most haunted houses in London was 50 Berkeley Square, which according to the stories had a dangerous ghost that could kill the people staying in the attic. 

Once there was a house that was thought to be London’s most haunted house. The Georgian townhouse was located on 50 Berkeley Square in upmarket Mayfair. 

Back in the 18th and 19th century the place was linked with many horrific deaths and mysterious things happening. Residents as well as guests claimed to have seen ghosts in the house before they themselves were found dead. Their mouths and eyes wide open as if they died of pure fear. 

In 1879, reports of the house were published in Mayfair Magazine, telling about a maid who stayed in the attic and was found mad and died in an asylum the day after. In the same article there was also said a nobleman spent the night in the same attic and by morning he was found paralyzed, so scared that he couldn’t even speak. Also he died shortly after.  

The Victorian Christmas Deaths

Britain is known for its ghost stories tied to Christmastime, and this is one of those. One of the more haunted happenings in the house is said to have taken place on Christmas Eve, at least it was published in the magazine as it. 

This is what happened on Christmas Eve in 1887 when two sailors came to London. Blunden and Martin were on leave from HMS Penelope from the Royal Navy and walked through the dark and foggy winter streets, trying to find a place to stay for the night. 
If they were allowed to come in for the night or if they broke into the house is unclear, but they at least settled for the night in the attic. 

What they didn’t know at the time when they found lodging at 50 Berkeley Square when they stumbled upon it, happy to find someplace warm in the cold night, was all the haunted rumors and that the previous occupants of their room had been found mysteriously dead in the very room. 

During the night, Blunden felt uneasy and unable to fall asleep. Something wasn’t right in the house. He woke up Martin when he saw a ghost hanging over him. Blunden acted quickly and went for his weapon to protect them. The ghost came toward him as Martin managed to get out to the streets and found a policeman. 

Martin came back with the bobby and went inside of the house. They found Blunden at the bottom of the stairs, dead. His neck had been broken, probably because of the fall from the stairs. His eyes were wide open, as if from pure terror and fear. 

The Woman in the Attic

The most told legend is that the house was haunted by the spirit of a young woman who killed herself in the attic. After being abused by her uncle for a long time, she is said to have thrown herself out from the top-floor window in the attic. 
She is said to be the one behind the strange deaths as well, as her sight is so frightful people have died from fear of it. Depending who you ask, her spirit takes mostly form as a brown mist or a white ghostly figure.

The Starved Man

Another version of the haunted legends of the house is that there once was a man who was locked in the attic room and was only fed through a hole in the door. His brother, Mr. Du Pre of Wilton Park had to lock him inside because of his violent madness. In some versions he wasn’t mad to start with, but he eventually went mad and died. 

After his death he became a ghost and his moans and screams haunted the whole neighborhood. 

The Strange Thomas Myers of 50 Berkeley Square

So who was haunting the house that in modern times were owned by the Maggs Bros, Antiquarian Booksellers? Most stories are thought to have come from one of the peculiars occupants, Thomas Myers. He slept during the day, and in the night he made strange noises that many believed became exaggerated later. 

He moved into 50 Berkeley Square in 1859 after having been rejected by his fiancee according to the stories. He lived there alone and was said to be slowly getting mad as he locked himself in all day until he died in 1874 at 76. 

When he stayed there, the house with the sweeping stairs, high plaster ceilings and marble floors slowly started decaying more and more and rumors about it being haunted started to form around this time. 

When he was summoned to court for not paying his rates of 50 Berkeley Square, the magistrate excused him because they all knew he lived in a haunted house. So what came first? Thomas Myers or the hauntings?

The Haunted House

The spirits of the house at 50 Berkeley Square are said to be so strong that you only need to touch the Gregorian exterior of the house to feel the shivering hauntings that have infected the house. 

In modern times, we don’t really hear much about any more of the haunted incidents as before, and owners have refuted that the building is haunted. 

So the question is really, was the strange behavior of Mr. Myers the cause behind all of the haunting in the house, or did he see something that made him so?

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References:

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

50 Berkeley Square – Wikipedia

https://web.archive.org/web/20140122120101/http://www.walksoflondon.co.uk/37/50-berkeley-square-the-mo.shtml

https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/50-berkeley-square-the-most-haunted-house-in-london/

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The Deacon of Dark River – An Icelandic Ghost Story

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Djákninn á Myrká meaning the Deacon of Dark River is an Icelandic folk tale that have been passed down for generations now. It tells the story of the ghost of a man trying to make his girlfriend join him in death. 

Once upon a time in Horgardalur not far from Akureyri in Iceland a deacon lived on a farm called Myrká. He was riding his trusted horse called Faxi to meet up with the woman he loved named Guðrún. It was the day before Christmas, a stormy and cold winter night. 

It was a long ride to her farm called Bægisá. On the way to her he had to cross the river Hörgá, but he fell into it. He ended up drowning and only his horse survived the night. He was found the next morning by a farmer and laid to rest, but Guðrún didn’t get the message and she waited for her loved one to come and pick her up.

So when she got a visitor in the darkness she believed it was him and went with him. He was behaving strangely though and kept calling her Garún. In Icelandic folklore, ghosts are unable to utter the word for God, which Guðrún is compiled of. 

It wasn’t before the raging wind blows off the large hat on the visitor she realizes it isn’t her boyfriend alive, but a skeleton. She also saw an open grave in the graveyard the skeleton tried to pull her towards.

The ghost skeleton of her boyfriend keeps pestering her and he wants her to join him in death so they can be together. Guðrún finally breaks free from the ghost and gets the help of a sorcerer. The sorcerer traps the ghost on unholy ground outside the graveyard belonging to the church at Myrka. 

He places a large and cursed stone on it that still holds the ghost of the priest’s apprentice. You can still see it today on the unholy ground, still waiting for his girlfriend to be together forever. 

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References

Most haunted place in Iceland

Djákninn á Myrká – Wikipedia

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Royal Christmas at Haunted Sandringham House

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Every year the British Royal family celebrates their Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England. Stories say that the place is particularly haunted during the Christmas season both for the royals and their servants.  

One Christmas in 1996, the footman, Shaun Croasdale made his way down to the wine cellar to pick out some wine for the royals that had come to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham House. With wine bottles in his hand, he suddenly saw one of the favorite servants of the late Queen, Tony Jarred. 

Perhaps this is nothing to worry about, except that Tony Jarred had died the previous year after almost 40 years in service for her majesty. The footman dropped the bottles and ran screaming from the cellar. No one was really surprised at this however, as it was Christmas time, and Sandringham House is notoriously haunted every year. 

Ghost of Christmas Pasts at Sandringham House

England has its fair share of ghostly history and Christmas time is no different. Each year, English haunted buildings come alive with stories of ghosts, spirits and shadows of the past. From extravagant castles to medieval manor houses, spooky apparitions haunt the grounds and make their presence known during the winter season.

Many people believe that these ghosts are lords and servants who once inhabited these old buildings, now returning during Christmas to either fulfill a task or simply bring good cheer and memories to those they left behind. Moreover, Christmas ghost stories have become a beloved pastime among many Brits who can be found throughout England’s haunted buildings searching for their own spooky mysteries.

Sandringham House, located in Norfolk, England, is the private residence of the British royal family and has been since 1862. Every year, the Queen and her family spend Christmas at Sandringham House, a tradition that dates back over a century.

In the later years though, it has also been known as an annual haunting, starting most often at Christmas Eve and lasting for a few weeks.

History of Christmas at Sandringham House

The tradition of spending Christmas at Sandringham House began in the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII, purchased the estate. Since then, the royal family has spent every Christmas at Sandringham House, with the exception of a few years during World War II.

The Queen and her family typically arrive at Sandringham House a few days before Christmas, and spend the holiday period together. The festivities include a number of traditions, such as the exchange of gifts on Christmas Eve and a formal dinner on Christmas Day.

Christmas at Sandringham House Today

Today, Christmas at Sandringham House is a highly anticipated event, both for the royal family and for the public. Members of the royal family attend a Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, which is located on the Sandringham estate. Crowds of well-wishers gather outside the church to catch a glimpse of the royals as they arrive and leave.

In addition to the church service, the Queen and her family participate in a number of other holiday traditions. These include a Christmas Eve dinner, where the family exchanges gifts, and a Boxing Day pheasant shoot.

Ghost Haunting SAndringham House

So who is it actually that haunts Sandringham House, even in the place of the royals?

The Victorian residence has been said to have some sort of poltergeist-like activity, especially in the servant quarters of the house where blankets are pulled off the beds. They hear mysterious footsteps in the dead of night and the doors are closing and opening by themselves. 

The most haunted place is the sergeant footman’s corridor where the maids only go in pair or groups. The lights turn on and off and there have also been said to be a heavy and haunted breathing from the empty rooms in the service corridors, and at one point, servants were refusing to go into certain rooms as they thought the heavy breathing was the ghost of a former footman. 
Christmas cards move around and are thrown all over the floor on Christmas Eve. 

Even the Royals have Noticed the Hauntings

It is not only the servants that have said they have felt the haunting presence, but even the King himself is said to have noticed. 
Ken Stronach, the valet of King Charles said in an interview that:

 “Everyone believes there are ghosts because so many have -experienced them, ¬ including Prince Charles. There are old parts of the house where nobody wants to go or be alone,”

The valet also talked about an incident in the mid 80’s where they also had an experience of a drop in temperature and that they both were convinced that someone was there in the room with them. 

The uncle of Prince Phillip, Prince Christopher of Greece claimed to have seen the head and shoulders of a woman in a mirror when he was staying in Sandringham. Later he saw a portrait of the woman that he claimed it was of. Her name was Dorothy Walpole, and has been called the Brown Lady as she has been frequently seen haunting her old home in Raynham Hall in Norfolk. 

Read More about: The Lady in Brown at Raynham Hall

The Haunted Library Making Sure Staff is Working

Also the library in the house is said to be one of the more haunted rooms in the house. A servant was once napping in the room when being woken up by the books flying off the shelves. The hands of an old clock are also said to be moving by themselves, not following the time at all. 

Queen Elizabeth had an Exorcism?

One of the more surprising things that happened though, is when the late Queen Elizabeth II had a ritual in one of the rooms because of the ghosts they believed resided in there. 

The room in question belonged to the Queen’s late father, King George VI on the ground floor they used for him before his death, and it was said it was so haunted that the staff refused to work there. 

According to reports, a person came to hold a service to, as quoted, “not exactly of exorcism, but bringing tranquility.”
The service was to hola a congregation where they took the Holy Communion and said some special prayers. 

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References:

Nightmare before Christmas: The history of festive ghost stories

Christmas at Haunted Sandringham – Paranormal

The ghostly history of Sandringham House where the Royal Family will be spending Christmas – MyLondon