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The Haunting of McInteer Villa: Atchison’s Most Chilling Landmark

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Listing countless of spooky occurrences from those who have dared to visit the McInteer Villa in Kansas, the mansion is now the blueprint for a classic mansion. Who are the spirits behind the hauntings?

Tucked away in the historic town of Atchison, Kansas, the McInteer Villa stands as a breathtaking relic of Victorian architecture along the Missouri River. The most famous thing that ever came out of this place was the legendary Pilot, Amelia Earhart, but they are also something for the ones interested in the paranormal. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from USA

With a striking red brick facade and ornate turrets, the house looks like how haunted mansions are described in movies and books. Its history also harbors a darker reputation—one steeped in mystery, tragedy, and a host of restless spirits. 

Haunted Mansion: McInteer Villa, located at northwest corner of 13th and Kansas Streets in Atchison, Kansas; seen from the southeast.// Source: Wikimedia

A House with a History of Tragedy

McInteer Villa was built between 1889 and 1890 by John McInteer, an Irish immigrant who came to the states when he was young boy, all alone. Over the years he earned a fortune and became a wealthy harness maker. The McInteer Villa was originally a proud testament to his success after chasing the American dream alone as a boy. Now it’s more a reminder of the tragedies his family had to go through. 

His first wife, Alice Conley died from a long suffering illness and was the first to die in the house. Perhaps she was its first ghost too? They had met in Cincinnati, Ohio and married in 1861. She was also born in Ireland, and had come to seek a new life. Together they had no children but had both nieces and nephews living with them at times. After being ill for a year she died in December 1891 at 9 o’clock in the morning. 

As one of the confirmed deaths in the house, some visitors attribute some of the haunting to her. Could it be that people notice when the smell shifts? The air is often thick with the scent of a powdery perfume, as if a spectral woman still lingers in the hallways. 

He remarried to a woman called Anna Donovan with three kids from a previous marriage, Peter, Fred and Carles. After McInteer’s death in 1902, his second wife and her family took over the McInteer Villa and she lived there until her death in 1916. The McInteer Villa stayed in the family for years until 1925 and many believe that she and her children are some of the spirits lingering. Could it be her who is behind the cabinets opening by themselves as well as doors around the house as if she was still the lady of the house? Or perhaps it is she who is playing the piano on the ground floor when everyone else has gone to bed. 

Charles Donovan Pacing the Villa for Eternity

Most reported occurrences in the McInteer Villa are the disembodied voices coming from nowhere as you walk through the building. Those who step inside McInteer Villa describe an overwhelming sense of being watched, particularly on the second floor. From the hallway on this floor there are also said that heavy steps are heard, pacing back and forth. 

But who is the one walking through the house after dark, when no one is supposed to? Strange voices and rattling of doorknobs is said to be the ghost of Charles Donovan, who died on the second floor. 

Charles Donovan was the son of Anna Donovan. Like his mother, he also ended his life in the mansion. When he served during the first world war he contracted Influenza he didn’t really recover from and was sick a lot. He was 34 and a veteran, and probably had more than a lingering influenza from the war plaguing him. October 10th in 1922 he committed suicide by shooting himself with a 22 caliber in his bedroom upstairs. 

Boarding House and Strange Haunted Rumors Starts to Form

The last in the line of the family to live in the McInteer Villa was Anna’s brother Charles Conlon until he died in 1930.

Over the years, the villa transformed into a boarding house for the next 25 years. Many came and went over the years and perhaps one of the temporary tenants is still staying here? Perhaps this is where a faint hint of cigarette smoke that follows visitors comes from, despite no one in the house smoking. No one is still alive.

In recent years there have also started to spread wilder stories than rattling of doorknobs and vague heavy energy in the house. One story passed around is that one of the biggest rooms they believe that were used for funeral ceremonies for a time, were the bodies were laid out for viewing and this is why there is so much paranormal activity. Perhaps it was, perhaps it was only for the families staying there, it’s not much proof to go on here. It is however not the only legends that have been spread from this house. 

In the basement of McInteer Villa there are seven different brick-walled rooms that the mere sight would give goosebumps to those venturing down there. There are rumors of illegal abortions and even darker things happening. There is however no proof that this actually happened. According to the stories, the previous owners refused to go down there.  

It’s really not easy to prove what really happened during these years, but we do know of some of the people who stayed here that are said to still haunt it. 

In 1929 William T and Naomi Wood lived in the rooming house and had a daughter they named Romona Wood. She was only four years old before she died of unknown causes on September 20th that year. The Wood family moved away to Eugene Oregon, but many believe that the baby cries said to be heard in the house, belong to this little soul. 

Goldie in the Rocking Chair

Among the most infamous residents was Goldie, a woman who allegedly passed away in her rocking chair—an item that now moves on its own, as if she still lingers in the space she once called home. The chair is still in the house, with a Raggedy Ann doll sitting in it and a framed obituary of the woman who died at its side. 

Her name was actually Isobel Altus, a professional violinist who used to live here after she bought the house in 1952. Or was she actually a violinist? According to some sources she was actually a laundress and a stenographer. Although she did actually teach violin at the Colorado Women’s College for between 1922-1926. 

She was said to be quite eccentric according to her neighbors and wanted to restore the house but didn’t manage it because of the expenses. She was said to have worn only black and her neighbors called her a witch because of her eccentricity and house. She also never married and never had any children. She died in 1969 and most likely, some of the wildest haunted rumors of it being a haunted house comes from this period if we are to speculate. An unmarried woman living by herself, wearing all black in a mansion? Of course it must be haunted then! 

Photo from around 1974. //Source

Story has it that the rocking chair was where she took her life according to some sources. But is it true? She is also said to have died in her sleep in her chair by the fireplace of natural causes. Right before she did die, she sold the house to George Gerardy who actually did end up renovating it. He let her stay in the house until she died on December 21 (15). She was left for 24 hours before she was found by her neighbor Dorothy Bond.

According to those visiting the house, they have seen the rocking chair go back and forth without anyone touching it. She is also said to be the one appearing throughout the house wearing a long black dress. 

The Attic and the Shadows Lurking

Both George Gerardy and his wife Thelma Gerardy also died in their home from natural causes according to most sources, but strange tales started to be told about these two as well. It is said from the current owner of the house that Thelma did experience strange things in their home. It was most likely them who said they didn’t want to go down to the basement for example. How did they feel about the attic though?

The photo is from around 1973. //Source

The sound of footsteps over the floor with no one present is also said to happen in the attic as well. The very room feels heavy with all the spirits lingering there. The atmosphere has been described as uncomfortable, especially from women who report about being touched or even scratched by unseen hands. There is also a shadow figure said to have growled on occasion, and is perhaps connected to this alleged entity. 

Who this entity is supposed to be, is unknown, but a shadowy figure is said to be lurking in the shadows. Some are claiming that it is the ghost of George Gerardy, who is said to have hung himself in the attic in 2006. Seems rather unlikely though, as he was 86 years. 

The Flickering Lights in the Tower

It is a strange design of the house, and one of the architectural features of the house is the tower. Here, also the people walking past the house from the outside are also said to experience the paranormal things happening from the villa. 

Read also: Check out all ghost stories from haunted houses

The light is said to go on and off in a strange and flickering manner, perhaps not so strange if the wiring or light bulb is an old one. But the strange thing here is that the tower of the villa has no electricity whatsoever, so what is the light then?

Now, the thing about the light flickering is perhaps a bit outdated now, as there is in fact electricity there today on the third floor. But what happened before the lights got installed and how long it was however is unknown. 

A Paranormal Hotspot for the Brave

Unlike other historic haunted locations, McInteer Villa welcomes visitors looking to explore its ghostly corridors. Stephanie O’Reilly bought the mansion in 2018 and outfitted it to take visitors back in time. She bought it from the children of Charles Gerardy.

She started to fill her new home with old stuff, some of it said to be haunted by spirits brought inside from outside of the house. This is the story behind the creepy marionette doll who is said to be haunted. Certainly a haunted appearance, this marionette doll dates back to the 1800s, and has real human hair coming out from his head. 

The house regularly hosts public events, including overnight stays, guided ghost hunts, and themed holiday gatherings and throughout the year most weekends are fully booked up. O’Reilly invites paranormal researchers into her home to investigate, keeps the cameras running in some of the more active rooms as well as placing toys reacting to movements around the house to catch some ghosts. 

This is from where most of the rumors of the haunting comes from, and there are countless blogs and forum comments talking about their stay at the villa and how their investigation went. How the doors kept opening, strange things they captured in their photos, that time a speaker was allegedly thrown off the counter by a mysterious force as well as being able to move around boxes without anyone touching it. 

The most unnerving occurrences include dramatic temperature shifts. It is said that a news crew visited the mansion once, and the temperature shifted over 40 degrees without an explanation. Unexplained noises, and shadowy figures glimpsed in the villa’s windows are also seen, only to vanish upon closer inspection.

Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, the stories surrounding McInteer Villa are hard to ignore and the experience of staying at a haunted mansion hard to pass up for a lot of people. Is it the spirits of past residents refusing to leave? Or is the house itself a conduit for something far more mysterious? 

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References:

The 1889 McInteer Villa (@the1889mcinteervilla) • Instagram photos and videos 

You can stay at a haunted mansion in Atchison, Kansas — but the spirits might ghost you | KCUR 

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa – Atchison KS, 66002 

1889 McInteer Villa 

McInteer Villa Kansas Haunted Mansion Scares Investigators 

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa Ghost Hunt Sleepover, Atchison, KS

McInteer Villa – Clio

McInteer Villa – JUST SAY BOO 

Haunted Tales of the 1889 McInteer Villa, Kansas – Amy’s Crypt

The Haunted 1889 McInteer Villa – Atchison KS, 66002 

Alice Conley McInteer (1829-1891) – Find a Grave Memorial

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54225008/charles_donovan

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The Haunted Charleville Mansion in Shimla

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Deep in the Indian mountains, Charleville Mansion in Shimla is said to be so haunted with an evil poltergeist activity that even the owners had to leave it and it has since then changed hands many times. 

India, with its rich culture and history, is also home to some of the most haunted places in the world like the Charleville Mansion, located in the picturesque hill station of Shimla. The city is the capital of Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous region north in India. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

This historic mansion or dâk-bungalow, has long been the subject of chilling tales and inexplicable phenomena that continue to send shivers down the spines of those who dare to step into its shadowy past.

A Victorian Era Abode

Constructed during the colonial era in the late 1800s, Charleville Mansion stands as an architectural relic of its time. The grand facades, intricate woodwork, and sprawling gardens exemplify the opulence that defined the Victorian period. However, behind the mansion’s splendid exterior lies a history marred by a series of mysterious events that have perpetuated its eerie reputation.

Even Rudyard Kipling, the author of the Jungle Book, mentioned how he saw a ghost in his writings “My Own True Ghost Story”, a story about a charecter hearing a ghost playing pool in the room next to him when he is staying at a dâk-bungalow in India.

The Poltergeist’s Haunting

The legend of Charleville Mansion traces back to the early 20th century when Victor Bayley, newly appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Railway Board, arrived in Shimla with his wife in October in 1913. 

Charmed by the prospect of affordable rent, the couple chose to make this stately mansion their residence. Unbeknownst to them, the mansion harbored a chilling secret. The previous owner, an army officer, had abandoned the mansion due to a malevolent poltergeist that roamed its halls.

The Sinister Upper Room

It is said that it is the ghost of a British gentleman that is haunting the house. The haunting is that of a poltergeist with breaking and crushing objects inside the house, although no one is said to have been physically hurt by it. 

The heart of the mansion’s malevolence seemed to reside in one of the upper rooms, leading the owner that stayed there before the Bayleys to lock it away. The army officer that lived there before them didn’t really believe in ghosts, but wanted to test it out because of the haunted rumors.  

However, to his dismay, the room lay in ruins the following morning and everything was turned upside down. Frightened and unable to rationalize these bizarre events, the owner swiftly vacated the mansion, leaving it to bear the sinister legacy of the supernatural. 

When Victor Bayley and his wife moved in, they did not encounter any strange occurrences and stayed there for over a year. The unsuspecting couple lived a peaceful life in the mansion, but it was their domestic help who was in for an eerie surprise.

An Unnerving Encounter at Charleville Mansion

One evening, while the couple was attending a dinner party, their domestic help remained in the mansion. As he waited, an eerie feeling washed over him, and he was compelled to investigate a room upstairs. His blood ran cold when, to his astonishment, he witnessed a spectral figure and asked if he wanted something. The figure, looking British, didn’t answer and only passed through a closed door. 

Soon after this incident the Bayleys vacated the home.

Following Victor Bayley’s departure, the mansion changed hands and underwent a significant renovation and most of the people staying in the mansion had a story or two to tell and Charleville Mansion continues to be regarded as one of India’s most haunted places, its haunting past woven into its very walls, forever shrouded in an eerie mystery.

The last British living there was an old lady called Mrs A. She sold it after India’s independence to an Indian, telling him it was a haunted place. Today it is owned by an Indian gentleman who has renovated the whole mansion. Still, the locals claim to see the ghost of the British gentleman haunting the mansion in the hills. 

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The Charleville mansion-Most Haunted Home of Shimla – Mysterious Himachal 

India’s Most Haunted: Charleville Mansion in Shimla | India.com

The Charleville mansion-Most Haunted Home of Shimla – Mysterious Himachal

https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030621/windows/main3.htm

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The Haunted Home of the Cursed Braganza House in Chandor

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One of the huge Portuguese families branched out into the colonies and The Braganza House is the testament to it, now thought to be haunted. Could it have something to do with the family curse that once plagued The Braganza Family?

The Braganza House stands as a magnificent yet eerie relic of the past in Chandor Village in Goa, India. This grand mansion close to the church square in Chandor, built over 350 to 500 years ago, is a testament to the opulence and grandeur of Portuguese colonial architecture with its Italian marble antique chandelier from Europe and carved rodewood furniture. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

Behind its ornate facades, private library and family portraits lies a history steeped in tragedy, mystery, and according to some coming out of the manor house, paranormal activity, making it one of the most haunted places in Goa.

Braganza House: One of the two parts of the house, the Menezes Braganza House exterior. It used to belong to one of the most powerful Portuguese families, and is a silent witness to the Portuguese rule in Goa. // Source: Wikimedia

A Glimpse into History

The Braganza House, a sprawling mansion divided into two wings with the family divided into two different branches, was constructed by the affluent Braganza family, who were prominent Portuguese nobles, built centuries ago when Goa was under Portuguese rule. 

The mansion’s East Wing is owned by the descendants of the Pereira-Braganza family, while the West Wing belongs to the Menezes-Braganza family. The house is renowned for its stunning collection of antiques, vintage furniture, and artifacts that reflect the family’s wealth and status during the Portuguese era.

The Tragic Ending of a Braganza Family

Wikimedia

The mansion’s history is intertwined with tales of power, betrayal, and sorrow. Among the most notable events is the tragic story of a young woman from the Braganza family who is said to have committed suicide in one of the mansion’s opulent rooms. 

There are not many details about who she was and as of why. Some local gossip claims that she was the daughter of the master of the house and fell in love with a servant, a relationship her father didn’t accept. He then killed her lover when they tried to elope and she took her own life right after.

Her untimely death has become the cornerstone of the haunted reputation that envelops the Braganza House. Her spirit is said to linger in the room where she died, a place now shrouded in an unsettling aura.

The Ghostly Woman of the Braganza House

Today the Archaeological Survey of India has opened the house to visitors as a museum. Visitors and locals alike have reported numerous eerie encounters and unexplained phenomena within the Braganza House. Most often, a descendant are said to lead the tours through the house.

Many who have ventured into the room recount feeling an inexplicable sense of sadness and despair. Some have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a woman dressed in traditional Portuguese attire, her face pale and mournful, drifting through the corridors of the mansion. 

The flickering of candles, sudden drops in temperature, and the sound of soft sobbing are just a few of the paranormal activities attributed to her restless spirit.

To be noted, although there are few details and very few resources stating who the woman was, for what reason, or even which room are now haunted, it is worth noting the name, Braganza. If it weren’t for the family owning the house, one could almost write off the history as just rumors, but according to myth, the Braganza Family has said to be cursed for centuries.

The Curse of the Braganza Family

King John IV of Portugal: The first Braganza to reign and be cursed.

Adding to the house’s haunted legacy is the alleged curse that is said to plague the House of Braganza. The Braganza family, once a symbol of nobility and power and the rulers of Portugal as well as their colonies for centuries, is believed to be cursed due to a series of unfortunate events that have befallen its members over the centuries. 

The curse is said to have originated during the reign of John IV of Portugal in the 17th century. Allegedly he kicked a Franciscan friar who was begging for alms. Because of this offense, the friar cast a curse over his family, saying that no first-born male in his family would live to sit on the throne.

This act doomed the family’s lineage to a cycle of misfortune and sorrow and since then, without three exceptions all first-born boys in the family died before taking the crown.

House of Braganza in Goa

So could this curse have something to do with the haunted rumors that seems to linger as a whisper outside of the main conversation. Although, the curse and its female ghostly counterpart seems unlikely. 

King John VI seemed adamant about ending the curse, and annually visited Franciscan monasteries in both Portugal and Brazil. But it is said that it first ended with the reign of Braganzas ending at the start of the 1900s. 

While the Braganza House stands as a beautiful relic of a bygone era, it also serves as a haunting reminder of the tragedies and mysteries that continue to captivate and terrify those who dare to enter its shadowy confines.

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Braganza House 

Enter at Your Own Risk: The Most Terrifying Places in Goa 

Curse of the Braganzas – Wikipedia 

Luís de Menezes Bragança – Wikipedia The Colonial Houses of Goa – Braganza House, Chandor

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Coolbawn House and the Lighting Ghost

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Once a servant at Coolbawn House in Ireland was struck by lightning when she was standing by one of the windows and died from it. Ever since, she has been haunting the old mansion that today is only decaying ruins. 

In the quiet beauty of County Wexford, Ireland, Coolbawn House stands as a solemn testament to a bygone era—a haunting reminder of a dark and eerie history that continues to captivate the imaginations of those who dare to venture near. Amidst the crumbling walls and faded grandeur, Coolbawn House harbors a sinister story that has earned it a reputation as one of Ireland’s most haunted places.

The two-story building had a basement and a distinctive T-shaped layout. The house has been vacant since 1883 and saw occasional use in 1911. Unfortunately, it was sold in 1917 and later suffered a fire in 1923, which has left it in ruins.

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

The roof is missing, and there are granite chimney stacks with octagonal shapes. The exterior walls are partially covered in ivy or creeper and have pinnacle-topped piers at the corners. The main entrance features a square-headed door opening with a granite doorcase.

Inside the house, much of it is in ruins, but you can still see remnants of the original structure, including a staircase. The house is surrounded by overgrown grounds, and there are wrought iron railings around the perimeter.

This house is historically significant, designed by Frederick Darley Junior, and represents the early 19th-century architecture of County Wexford. Despite its ruined state, it still holds architectural value.

Beneath its crumbling façade of Coolbawn House lies a history that unfolds like a chilling Gothic tale of a house that was abandoned in 1883.

The Ghost in the Lightning

Before this though, Coolbawn House was a thriving residence. It was during this prosperous era that tragedy struck in a manner both mysterious and ominous. As the story goes, a servant girl was tragically struck by lightning one fateful evening, while she stood near a window that framed the house’s grandeur.

This horrifying incident would forever mark the house and its surroundings with an eerie aura, etching the servant girl’s presence into the very fabric of Coolbawn House. Witnesses have recounted sightings of her apparition, standing by that very window—a spectral figure forever gazing out at the world beyond. 

Still as only ruins, the legend of the ghost of the servant is said to haunt the shell of the window where she once met her end. 

Coolbawn House Today

Today, Coolbawn House’s ruins bear witness to a past filled with both grandeur and darkness as it burnt down in 1923 and now only the shell of it remains, overlooking the Blackstairs Mountains. Like so many stately homes owned by the British it was burned down by the IRA during the Civil War. 

The green is now taking over the stone, reclaiming it to the green with. As the wind whispers through its crumbling chambers and the shadows play tricks on the imagination, the house continues to beckon those who seek to uncover its ghostly mysteries.

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Featured Image: Mike Searle / Coolbawn House (2) / CC BY-SA 2.0 /Wikimedia

Coolbawn House, COOLBAWN DEMESNE, WEXFORD – Buildings of Ireland 

Coolbawn Castle – Cow House Studios 

Coolbawn House | Haunted Wexford, Ireland | Spirited Isle

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Ballinagarde House and the Devil that Came to Visit

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Ballinagarde House is today only ruins, but once it was a stately home with strange ties to the Limerick Hellfire Club that is steeped in mystery. There is also said that the Devil himself came for a visit. 

In its heyday, Ballinagarde House, locally known as The Grange, was a symbol of prestige and social standing, a stately mansion that spoke of its owner’s prominence in society. Built in 1774 in Limerick in Ireland by John Croker, this magnificent residence once bore witness to opulence and affluence, yet its halls now echo with the eerie whispers of history and ghostly legends.

John Croker, the son of the John that built the mansion, was also considered a fair landlord that helped the local community during the Great Famine in Ireland. However, the lasting impression of the Croker family was that they were unpleasant and stubborn folk, especially the next couple of generations.

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

However, like many grand estates, its fate took a dark turn as the weight of financial misfortune and bankruptcy cast a shadow over its future. Over the years, the house dwindled from a majestic abode to a mere shell of its former self—a haunting transformation that mirrors the ghostly tales that surround it until it was abandoned by the Croker family in the 1930s.

When the Devil Came to Visit

When John Croker’s son, Edward took over the mansion however, it all changed. He was not well liked and was known to just spend his days spending his family fortune. It is also said that he was the one that brought the devil back to Ballingarde House.

Edward had encountered a stranger on horseback on his travels and invited him back to the house for dinner. In true Irish fashion they welcomed the weary traveler into their home, offering warmth, sustenance, and the quintessential Irish hospitality.

As the night wore on and the guest succumbed to a deep slumber, a servant was removing the visitor’s boots. 

The legend speaks of the servant’s shock and disbelief as they uncovered a sight that defied all reason—an otherworldly transformation that revealed the unmistakable hooves of the Devil himself. The visitor, it seemed, was no ordinary mortal but a sinister entity in disguise, slipping into the warmth of the house to deceive and bewilder.

Ever since then, locals have told about a mysterious man seen on a horse coming toward the ruins of the house, and there is still a local saying when stating a fact that goes like: “As sure as the devil was in Ballinagarde.”

Not the Only Place for the Legend

Though the tale may seem like a mere folktale or a product of the imagination, it has become an indelible part of Ballinagarde House’s enigmatic history. The spectral echoes of this peculiar encounter resonate through the halls, leaving visitors to wonder whether the legend may hold a grain of truth.

When the Devil came to visit: The story about a visitor turning out to be the devil himself is a story told throughout Ireland, especially from the old mansions, and especially those mansions that have a connection to the Hellfire Club. This was a gentleman’s club in Ireland and Britain, known for its debauchery and interest in the occult.

Actually, the tale of the Devil coming to a grand house only to be revealed because of his hooves is not only told in Bellingarde House. The Hellfire Club in Dublin as well as the haunted Loftus Hall also have very similar stories about this. 

There are even rumors that Edward was in fact a part of the Hellfire Club in Limerick himself and his mansion was the original meeting place. 

Ballinagarde House Today

Today, Ballinagarde House may stand as a ghostly shell of its former glory and is close to a pile of rubble, but its walls remain steeped in history and intrigue. It invites those who dare to explore its eerie confines to uncover the mysteries that shroud this once-grand mansion. 

With legends of diabolical disguises and supernatural encounters, Ballinagarde House continues to be a place where the line between reality and the paranormal blurs, beckoning the curious to delve deeper into its haunting past.

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References:

Ballinagarde House | Haunted Limerick, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

Paranormal investigators uncover link to Limerick Hellfire Club 

Ballinagarde House | The World’s Most Haunted | Quotev 

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Anne Boleyn’s Ghost Haunting the Great Wood at Blickling Estate

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It is said that every year, on the anniversary of her death, the ghost of Anne Boleyn returns to her birthplace at Blickling Estate where you can meet her wandering through the haunted Great Woods.

English history is woven with tales of love, betrayal, and tragedy, none more poignant than the life and death of Anne Boleyn. Though her earthly journey was cut short by the executioner’s blade, Anne’s spectral presence endures, with Blickling Estate in Norfolk, England, standing as a haunting backdrop to her restless afterlife.

Within the sprawling expanse of Blickling Estate covering around 4600 acres, the Great Wood conceals secrets that transcend centuries. Towering trees and ancient pathways cradle the whispers of history, and it is here that a pyramidal mausoleum, erected in 1793 to honor the 2nd Earl of Buckingham, becomes a gateway to the spectral realm.

The History of Blickling Hall Estate

The Blickling Hall Estate is a Jacobean stately home and has had many famed British people passing through it. The estate we see today is built upon the ruins of the Tudor style building that once belonged to the Boleyn family and it is said that Anne Boleyn together with her siblings were all born here. 

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, is one of the most iconic and controversial figures in English history. Born circa 1501, she captivated the Tudor court with her intelligence, charm, and striking beauty. 

Anne played a pivotal role in the English Reformation, as her marriage to Henry marked the break from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England. However, her failure to provide a male heir led to her tragic downfall. 

A statue and portrait of Anne may be found at Blickling Estate which carry the inscription, “Anna Bolena hic nata 1507” (Anne Boleyn born here 1507). Although, we don’t really know the exact year she was born and it was probably a bit earlier.

It is also deemed to be one of the most haunted properties of the National Trust and every year the people of Norfolk come to the estate to look for the UK’s perhaps most busy ghost.

Anne Boleyn’s Ghostly Resonance:

Every 19th of May, a spectral figure is said to materialize within the Great Wood — none other than Anne Boleyn herself. Accused of adultery, incest, and treason, Anne Boleyn was executed by beheading on May 19, 1536, at the Tower of London. Her life and death continue to be the subject of fascination and speculation, with tales of her ghost haunting sites associated with her dramatic and tumultuous journey.

Read More: Check out all haunted forests around the world

It is said she appears at midnight, It is as if time itself pauses, and the ethereal veil between past and present becomes permeable, allowing Anne’s ghost to revisit the grounds of Blickling Estate.

People say she is dressed in all white and is carrying her severed and bloody head under her arms. She comes by a coach pulled by four headless horses as well as a headless horseman.

She comes through the forest before entering the big halls, roaming the corridors until the sun rises before disappearing until next year.

The Many Hauntings of Anne Boleyn

In addition to the Great Wood at Blickling Estate, the ghost of Anne Boleyn is rumored to haunt the Tower of London, where she was imprisoned before her execution. Reports suggest that her restless spirit roams the Tower’s corridors and grounds, perhaps searching for solace or retribution. 

Read Also: Unveiling the Dark History of the Tower of London and its Ghosts 

The historic Hever Castle in Kent, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home, is also believed to be visited by her ghost. Visitors and staff at Hever Castle have reported sightings and eerie encounters, contributing to the enduring legend of Anne Boleyn’s haunting presence across various locations associated with her tumultuous life.

Read Also: A Royal Haunting at Christmas

A Cursed Legacy

The haunting tale extends beyond Anne to encompass the Boleyn family’s tragic legacy. Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anne’s father, is believed to suffer from a curse, condemning him to eternal unrest. 

Failing to prevent his daughter’s execution, and even perhaps pushing her into the life as a king’s mistress, Sir Thomas’s spirit is said to wander the grounds ceaselessly, a specter burdened by the weight of history and a father’s sorrow.

The Walk in the Great Woods with Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn’s ghostly apparition, forever tethered to the anniversary of her tragic demise, transforms the woodland into a canvas where past and present converge for one night of the year. 

Amidst the ancient trees and the pyramidal mausoleum on the ground, the haunting echoes of history persist, inviting those who venture into the Great Wood to contemplate the enduring legacy of Anne Boleyn on Blickling Estate, only one of the few places her ghost is said to haunt.

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References:

Blickling Hall – Wikipedia 

Behind the scenes at Blickling Hall, the birthplace of Anne Boleyn | Britain Magazine 

Discover Blickling Hall, Anne Boleyn’s Haunted Home  

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The Hauntings of Amy Robsart in Wychwood Forest

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The Elizabethan mystery behind the death of the noble woman Amy Robsart is still a debate among historians. And legends about her haunting the grounds of Wychwood Forest are still told to this day.  

The former royal hunting ground in Oxfordshire, England, Wychwood Forest beckons adventurers with its ancient trees, winding pathways, and an air of mystery that clings to its every corner. 

But these woodlands have existed since long before modern England existed. These ancient trees used to belong to an Anglo-Saxon tribe called Hwicce, named after the old name for the forest, Huiccewudu. It used to cover a much larger area, but is today about 500 hectares.

Read More: Check of all stories from Haunted Forests

Beneath the canopy of leaves and the rustling of branches, a haunting tale unfolds—a tale that weaves together love, tragedy, and the spectral presence of Amy Robsart with her death as a true Elizabethan mystery, casting an eerie shadow over this seemingly tranquil woodland.

The Ghostly Resonance of Amy Robsart

Wychwood Forest’s enigmatic ambiance finds its roots in the tragic story of Amy Robsart, the ill-fated wife of the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley. They lived at the time of her death at Cumnor Place that they rented in Oxfordshire also known as Cumnor Hall. 

The Death of Amy Robsart: as imagined by Victorian artist William Frederick Yeames

Amy Robsart was born in 1532 and married her husband at eighteen, and historians believe it was a love match. Her husband was known as being a favorite of Elizabeth I of England and Amy Robsart herself became known of her tragic and mysterious death.

In the year 1560, under mysterious circumstances, Amy suffered a fatal fall that broke her neck on 8th of September that year when the husband was away. He was at Windsor Castle with the queen and didn’t get the message of his wife’s death until the following day. That morning she insisted on sending away her servants and she wasn’t found until they returned.

She was found at the bottom of the stairs and the circumstances surrounding her demise were highly suspicious. A broken neck and two wounds on her head. Did she really just have a tumble and fall? Or was there something more sinister at play behind her death? Could it have been a suicide, or perhaps even murder?

There are many speculations, especially since there was a rumor that Amy Robsart husband, Dudley was a lover of the queen and that she would marry him if his wife ever died. Although they never did, the rumors of this persisted all throughout his life, especially from his political enemies. Although the most widely talked about death today is that she had breast cancer and killed herself.

However, it is the spectral encounter that her husband, the Earl of Leicester, reportedly had within the depths of Wychwood that has etched itself into the annals of local legend and that makes Wychwood Forest a haunted one.

The Haunting Encounter in Wychwood Forest

So how did the lady who died in her own house start haunting these woods? Or was it rather her husband inside of the woods that were haunted?

As the tale goes, years after Amy’s untimely death, the Earl of Leicester found himself in Wychwood Forest on a fateful hunting trip. It was here that he reportedly came face to face with the ghostly apparition of his departed wife nearly 40 years after her death. 

He had by then married Lettice Knolly, not the queen. The Spanish Armada was threatening the British shores and Dudley was in the midst of all of it. It is said that he was on his way to Buxton in Derbyshire to take healing baths as he had been unwell for a time. The management of the Wychwood Forests were at this time given to favorites at court, like Dudley was under the rule of Elizabeth the first.

According to the legends, his former wife appeared in front of him to tell him an ominous message. She foretold the Earl’s imminent reunion with her in the afterlife, just ten days away. 

True to the spectral promise, the Earl fell gravely ill shortly after the eerie encounter and succumbed to death as his departed wife had told, ten days later at his house, Cornbury Park on the 4th of September, 1588.

Whether it was a happy reunion between the two that had once married for love, or if it was a final push from the wife that was in between him and the crown, we will never know. 

Amy Robsart Haunting Cumnor Hall

It is not the only place Amy Robsarts ghost has been seen though. Until it was demolished in 1810, people had reported seeing her appear by the staircase where she died at Cumnor Place. She was often seen lingering at the bottom of the stairs where she was once found. It is said that most sightings happened around Christmas Time.

And in that manor now no more
Is chearful feaste and sprightly balle;
For ever since that drearye houre
Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall.
– Cumnor Hall by William Mickle from the 18th century

It is said that the place had a haunting and oppressing atmosphere after she died. So much so that they had to do something about it. According to a legend there were once 9 parsons that came from Oxford to put the ghost of Amy Robsart in a nearby pond where the idea was to trap her spirit in the body of water. This particular pond is said to not have frozen over since and was known as Madam Dudley’s Pond.

The Haunted Cumnor Hall: The place of the murder became known as a haunted manor until it got torn down.

The Travelling Ghost

Like many famous ghosts, there are many places that tries to claim them as their final haunting place. And with the Amy Robsart case, it seems to have been several places she is said to haunt. 

Before being buried, Amy Robsart was kept at Gloucester Hall that is now a part of Worcester College. It is said that she is haunting the common room there as well.

A Continuing Mystery: It held particular sway over the Victorian imagination, and portraits, such as this of a beautiful young woman lost in melancholic thoughts, and history paintings of her lying at the foot of the stairwell were popular subjects with artists including Thomas Francis Dicksee.

She was also seen at the Old Syderstone Hall were her parents lived until this too became demolished, as well as at the nearby rectory were the priests living there complained at some sort of poltergeist activity. 

After the place was demolished it is said that her ghost traveled back to Rainthorpe Hall in Tasburgh close to Norwich. According to this legend, she visits at the anniversary of her death and can be seen sitting in the garden together with a gentleman. Whether this is her husband, or her half brother is debated. 

Eternal Echoes Amidst Ancient Trees

Back to the old forest, the ghost story of Amy Robsart is not the only ghost said to linger. Wychwood Forest, with its gnarled oaks and ancient mysteries, has become a focal point for those fascinated by the intersection of history and the supernatural. 

Another strange ghost story is the legend about a horse drawn carriage with a pair of crying children passing as well. Who these are nobody knows. 

There are also tales about hikers and wanderers of the forest having felt the touch of a hand on their shoulder, but when turning around, there is no one there. Or could it perhaps be the touch of Amy Robsart still trying to convey a message to those walking in these haunted ancient woods?

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References:

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18940614.2.55

The Ghosts of Oxford: Amy Robsart – Oxford Castle & Prison

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester – Wikipedia 

Weird Norfolk: Who was the poltergeist that terrorised a Norfolk parsonage? | Eastern Daily Press 

Wychwood – Wikipedia 

Cumnor Place 

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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 Mysterious Legends of Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill

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An old gentleman’s club became the center of satanic gossip and tales of animal and human sacrifices. The old lodge on Montpelier Hill is now mostly known for being the meeting place for the infamous Hellfire Club. 

For centuries, the Hellfire Club on Montpelier Hill in Dublin has remained one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, shrouded in mystery and surrounded by legends. This infamous hunting lodge, perched atop the Dublin Mountains, has been the site of countless tales of ghostly apparitions, satanic rituals, and otherworldly encounters. 

Despite its dark past, the Hellfire Club continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie corridors and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls. From the notorious tales of the devil himself appearing in the guise of a nobleman to the chilling accounts of ghostly voices and unexplained noises, the Hellfire Club is a place that has fascinated and terrified people for generations. 

The Ancient Cairn of Standing Stones

The Hellfire Club is a ruined hunting lodge located on the summit of Montpelier Hill in the Dublin Mountains. Built in 1725, it was originally used as a hunting lodge by William Conolly, a wealthy politician and landowner. However, its association with the Irish Hellfire  Club, a notorious secret society of wealthy and influential men, has given it a dark and sinister reputation.

It used to be an ancient grave with a cairn of stones on the top of the Montpelier Hill. When Conolly built his hunting lodge there it is said he destroyed the cairn and used one of the standing stones as the lintel for his fireplace. 

Later the roof of the lodge was blown off during a storm and the locals were sure it was because of the destruction of the cairn. They believed that it had angered the spirits and they were seeking revenge. This was only the start of the many legends and tales that were told about the place. 

Introducing Hellfire Club

After Conolly died the lodge was sold and said to be the meeting place for the much talked about Irish Hellfire Club. One of these clubs was founded in 1735 by Richard Parson who was known for dabbling in black magic. 

The Hellfire Club Members: The Hellfire Club were originally a gentlemens club of the rich and powerful, and many thought they also dabbled in dark magic. Here are the Dublin club in 1735 ca. with Henry Barry, Col. Henry Clements, Col. Henry Ponsonby, Col. Richard St. George and Simon Luttrel.

The Hellfire Club is said to have been the site of many debauched and sacrilegious activities, including black masses, orgies, and even human sacrifice. It is also rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died during these rituals, as well as the spirits of those who suffered at the hands of the Hellfire Club’s members.

The History of Hellfire Club

The history of the Hellfire Club is a murky one, shrouded in myth and legend. According to some accounts, the club was founded in the early 18th century by a group of wealthy and influential men who were interested in the occult and other taboo subjects. They are said to have held secret meetings and conducted bizarre rituals at the Hellfire Club, which was then known as the Montpelier Lodge.

There were several clubs like these across England and Ireland, and many well known names throughout time have been connected to it. Whether it was merely a club for drinking and gambling or a satanic cult with hellish rituals is uncertain, but it certainly was an exclusive men’s club for the rich and privileged with too much time on their hands.

One true story is when one of the members, Baron Barry of Santry, set one of his servants on fire by pouring brandy on him and lighting him on fire. He was used to pay people for their silence, but this case was taken to trial and convicted of this and stabbing another servant to death. He was protected by his powerful friends though and spent the rest of his life in England. The secret club ended up in the public eye though, and none of the stories were good ones. 

Legends and myths surrounding Montpelier Hill

The Hellfire Club is steeped in legend and myth, with many tales of supernatural occurrences and otherworldly encounters. One of the most famous legends concerns the appearance of the devil himself at the club. 

Montpelier Hill: Here from the hunting lodge at Montpelier Hill in Dublin, were the Hellfire Club had meetings and many of the stories of dark rituals and the likes comes from. //Source: Joe King/Wikimedia

According to this story, the devil appeared at the club in the guise of a nobleman and was invited to play cards with the members. During the game, one of the players dropped a card on the floor and, when he went to retrieve it, saw that the devil had cloven hooves instead of feet. This tale has become one of the most enduring legends associated with the Hellfire  Club.

This legend follows the same plot as the haunted ghost story from Loftus Hall, another of Ireland’s most haunted places. 

The Farmer Witnessing the Dark Rituals

Many of the legends are about what happens when the locals and the lower class witnesses what they are up to in the lodge. It never ends in anything but misery for those who seeks them out. 

One time, a young farmer was said to be curious about what went on in the club and decided to climb up Montepelier Hill to uncover their secrets. He was invited in by the members and the next day he was found terrified and trembling. 

For the rest of his life the unfortunate farmer was unable to speak, wouldn’t tell what he saw at the Hellfire Club and couldn’t even remember his own name. 

The Black Cat Sacrifice

Another story goes that a young man was found dead after he tried to uncover what went on in the club. His local priest and the young man’s host believed he was murdered and decided to investigate the matter. 

When they arrived at the lodge, they saw a huge banquet and a huge cat in the room with its ears shaped like horns. The priest carried a bottle of holy water and tried to perform an exorcism on the creature. 

Why the cat was there is not certain. In some versions, it was some sort of beast, in other versions, the cat was going to become a sacrifice in one of The Hellfire Clubs satanic rituals. 

He managed to kill the beast with holy water, but outside was the host laying dead on the ground, his face and neck scratched by claws. 

This particular legend is also connected to the Dower House that is further down the hill. The Hellfire Club is said to have started to hold meetings there after a fire damaged the original hunting lodge.

The Fire and Decline of the Hellfire Club

During a certain period, the building in question suffered damage from a fire, and there are various stories associated with this event. One account suggests that the club deliberately set fire to the building when William Conolly’s son declined to renew the lodge’s lease. Another tale proposes that the club members ignited the fire to create a sinister and eerie appearance for the building.

Additionally, there are some that claim that the house was damaged when the servant was set fire to. This allegedly happened during a black mass where a footman accidentally spilled a drink on “Burn-Chapel” Whaley’s coat. In retaliation, Whaley doused the man with brandy, causing him to catch fire. The fire subsequently spread throughout the building, resulting in the deaths of several members. Following the fire, the club moved to a new location, the Killakee Dower House further down the hill. Nevertheless, the club’s activities dwindled after this incident.

The Endurance of The Legends of the Hellfire Club

The Hellfire Club remains one of Ireland’s most haunted destinations, steeped in mystery and surrounded by legends. Despite its dark past, it continues to draw in visitors from all over the world, curious to explore its eerie ruins and uncover the secrets hidden within its walls. 

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References:

Featured Image: Joe King/Wikimedia

Supernatural Dublin – The Hellfire Club 

Montpelier Hill – Wikipedia 

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The Haunted History of Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing

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The ghost of a woman i white has been spotted in the haunted Prince Gong’s Mansion in Beijing. It is said it is the ghost of a grieving mother that never recovered after the death of her son. 

Prince Gong’s Mansion (恭王府) is today a tourist attraction in Beijing, but it used to be a grand mansion for some of the most powerful people in China, and also the home to one of the richest ghost. 

The mansion is considered one of the most exquisite Chinese imperial mansions, representing the elegant lifestyle of Qing Dynasty royalty. 

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

The mansion is also known to be one of the more haunted places in the country, and there are several reports going on for centuries about a woman in white walking the grounds as a ghost, still crying and mourning the loss of her lost son. 

Prince Gong’s Mansion

Prince Gong’s Mansion is a true testament to the siheyuan-style that characterized this period in history and named after a Manchu prince, Yixin or better known as Prince Gong that was an important statesman during the 1800s. 

The Manchus are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group from Manchuria in Northeast Asia and led the Qing Dynasty from the 1600s until the imperial rule ended in 1912.

But the haunted rumors started long before Prince Gong moved into it. 

The Richest and most Corrupt Man in China

Before the mansion was given to Prince Gong it belonged to another. Prince Gong’s Mansion was originally built in 1777 during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor for his favorite adviser, Heshen (和珅). 

As one of the most powerful court officials during the Qing Dynasty, Heshen was remembered for his lavish lifestyle and incredible influence over imperial politics. He was also remembered to be one of the most corrupt officials in Chinese history and one of the richest as well.

The Death of Feng Jiwen

He lived together with his family and loved his wife, Feng Jiwen who he loved more than anything and they had a loving relationship even before he got into all the money. It is worth noting he had around 80 concubines as well in the house, but historical writings actually say his wife even encouraged it. 

No matter how much money and gold a person has though, it isn’t enough and Feng Jiwen didn’t get to live out her loving family life until the very end though and got her heart broken to bits when her youngest son died in a battle fighting rebels. 

Heshen, who was prepared to do anything for his beloved wife, hired monks to care for his wife and was hoping to pray for her to come back to her senses and health. His efforts were in vain though and it’s said she died of a broken heart.

She certainly fell ill and Heshen even offered 500 000 silver to the one able to cure her illness. After her death he was distraught, didn’t show up to work for months and wrote 6 poems about her to mourn her. 

The Fall of Heshen

And even Heshen ended in tragedy as he was eventually apprehended when the throne got a new emperor that didn’t look at him as favorably when the Qianlong Emperor abdicated in 1796. They made him hang himself and had all of his belongings, as well as the mansion confiscated. 

After her death she stayed on in her afterlife unable to move on. She and several of former escorts for Heshen have been seen around the palace, and the guards working there have claimed to have seen a woman in white walking the premises. You can hear the cries of a mother echo through the old mansion.

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和珅- 维基百科，自由的百科全书