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The Ghost of General Birthe of Elingaard

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Ruling her Elingaard Manor house with an iron fist, the noble Birgitte Kaas is said to haunt it in her afterlife as well. But what is the truth of her strange disappearance and whispers about a deal with the devil?

Many people speak of strange sounds and fleeting shadows in old houses. Few expect to be announced by scent alone. At Elingaard Manor in Fredrikstad, visitors have reported a heavy, sweet perfume drifting through empty rooms. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Norway

It is said to belong to a woman who has been dead for more than three hundred years. And as the house now is often used for parties, weddings and gatherings, it is said you should put an extra plate, as the ghost of the house wants a seat. 

Svein Harkestad/Wikimedia

The Elindgaard Manor House

Elingaard manor is located in Onsøy outside Fredrikstad city. The site has an unknown age, but has visible cultural monuments from the Bronze Age onwards.

The buildings at Elingaard have burned several times. The first known fire was in 1645. In this great fire, all the buildings on the farm were lost, along with the household goods, movable property and archives.

Helge Høifødt/Wikimedia

The current building was built in 1749 after a major fire in 1746. In the middle of the main building is still the original basement from before the great fire in 1645. The main building had a floor area of ​​approx. 1000 square meters and two full floors. The residence was thus among the largest in all of Norway.

Elingaard is currently operated as a museum and is used as a venue for weddings and local associations. During the summer season, Elingaard is open to the public, and many locals remember coming to the manor house and be scared of the tales of the ghost said to be lingering. 

The Lady of Elingaard

Birgitte Christine Kaas Huitfeldt was born at Elingaard on 2 October 1682 to parents Stiftamtmann Hans Kaas and Sophie Amalie Bielke. Through her maternal line in the Bjelkeætten, she is a direct descendant of Mrs. Inger of Austrått. We know little about her upbringing, but she was orphaned when she was 18 years old.

She was married to a lieutenant general when she was 31 years, Henrik Jørgen Huitfeldt (1674-1751), and quickly gained a reputation for strict discipline and iron control. Among servants and locals she became known as General Birthe. 

Birgitte Christine Huitfeldt Kaas (1672-1761):Birgitte was the daughter of the nobleman and civil servant Hans Kaas. He was first county governor in Smaalenene. She was a capable poet, and her hymn translations were in use long after her death.

Kaas was a representative of the last nobility in Norway, and grew up and lived in an environment characterized by this. Nevertheless, the family struggled with poor finances. Though deeply religious and a writer of hymns, rumors followed her throughout her life. Some whispered that her piety hid darker alliances, even claims that she cooperated with the devil himself.

Whether feared or respected, she ruled Elingaard with authority, and few dared to challenge her will.

The Night She Vanished

On August 14, 1761, Birgitte Christine spent the evening at an inn, where she played a game of cards and drank a lot before taking a horse drawn carriage home in the rain. When the carriage arrived at Elingaard, it was empty. The general’s wife had vanished somewhere along the road.

Speculation spread quickly. Had the driver murdered her and hidden the body? Has something far stranger occurred? Some claimed she had been taken by darker forces, punished or claimed by something beyond human understanding.

The truth appeared more ordinary, though no less unsettling. Her body was later found and kept at the manor for three weeks before burial. When the coffin was finally removed, it was carried out through a small opening in the wall rather than a door. This old custom was meant to prevent the dead from returning to haunt their home.

A Presence That Remains

If the ritual failed, Elingaard still bears the consequence. Guests and staff have felt sudden cold drafts passing through closed rooms. Others have seen the figure of a noblewoman moving silently between the garden pavilion and the great hall. Lights switch themselves on and off during the night, and at times the organ bench is found moved into the old mortuary building without explanation.

Most unsettling of all is the perfume. Sweet, heavy, and unmistakably old fashioned, it appears without warning and lingers long after the rooms stand empty.

Elingaard Manor: Garden seen from from stairs. The queens Margrethe of Denmark and Sonja of Norway planted one each of the linden trees seen in the middle in June, 1999. // Source: Helge Høifødt/Wikimedia

Since then, many have felt her presence, including Hans Pettersen, the former manager.

“I was cleaning the main living room when I saw her out of the corner of my eye,” he says. He still doubts it, but tells of rooms on the second floor where door handles have fallen off, guests have felt a cold draft and where the lights have been turned off. A cleaner saw the organ stool being moved in the morgue in 1996. A tenant had the room filled with the smell of perfume in the middle of the night in 1997..”

Birgitte Christine’s earthly remains rest in the burial chapel at Old Onsøy Church, laid to rest with a book in one hand and a switch of twigs in the other, symbols of wisdom and strength. Yet many believe her spirit never left Elingaard.

Generalfrua still walks her estate, enforcing her presence long after death, carried on cold air and the lingering scent of authority.

Paranormal Researchers

Over the years, many ghost stories have attached themselves to the manor house. Legends about a poor girl who were run over by a car when walking home are told about, a woman in white, a scorned bride running through the manor, crying as well as a black cat coming at guests. Many stories are now, often conflated with the story of General Birthe. 

There is also a story about a headless man in a black cloak down in the garden. If he comes up to the window, he announces death.

The place has become a popular place for people to visit and try to catch a glimpse of the haunting that is supposedly going on there. One segment of her show, Lilli Bendriss, perhaps one of the country’s most well known psychics, went down to the basement. White there, the images that came to her overwhelmed her so she had to storm out of the room, not wanting to get to the bottom of it all. 

But what happened in that basement all those years ago, and what the possible connection to Birgitte was, we will probably never know. 

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References:

Her får Lilli Bendriss nok: – Visste bare at jeg måtte komme meg ut 

FLERE GJENFERD SOM OGSÅ VILLE VÆRE MED – Issuu 

Hovedbygning – KulturPunkt

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ8WM

Birgitte Christine Kaas (1682–1761) – lokalhistoriewiki.no

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The Watchful Spirits of Bårdshaug Manor

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The old manor house at Bårdshaug in Norway is said to be haunted by some mysterious women that sometimes appear in the house, now operating as a hotel. Who are these female spirits lingering, and what do they want?

It is often said that every respectable manor and old house comes with a ghost of its own, 30 minutes from Trondheim city in Norway. At Bårdshaug Manor in Orkanger, that saying seems to hold true. The elegant estate, built in 1860, once served as the home of Christian Thams, a remarkable figure in Norwegian history known as an architect, minister, landowner, and consul. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Norway

Today the manor house from 1860 operates as a hotel, but many believe it has never truly been left unguarded.

Source

The History of the Manor House

Bårdshaug Gård was originally built in 1860, but it was only after Christian Thams took over the property in 1890 that the farm was transformed into a larger manor house. The architecture at Bårdshaug Herregård is characterized by an interesting interplay of different styles, from Norse to Louis-seize style. The interior design features elements from all over the world.

Christian Marius Thams (1867–1948) was a Norwegian architect and industrial entrepreneur . He was involved in a number of areas within industrial construction and trade, in Norway and abroad. In Africa he was involved in business operations within the harsh colonial government. Towards the workers in Norway he was conservative and patriarchal. Thams rejected all demands from the unions which he tried to break.

Christian Thams, who was an important industrialist and entrepreneur. Thams was not only known for his work with industrial development and export, but also for his connections with princes, royalty, and working people. 

He met his future wife, the Dutch-born Baroness Sarah Sybille Francoise Atoinette Elènore Baronesse de Spengler , while studying in Switzerland. They married in 1886 when he was 19 and she was 18. Baroness de Spengler was an artistic and modern woman with an interest in singing and theatre, and she played a central role in the many cultural events held at Bårdshaug Manor. She was known for her involvement in art and culture, and her presence was an important element in the social life of the estate.

Two Ladies Who Never Left

Strange things happen inside of this hotel. The staff talk about doors locking themselves and seeing the shape of people inside of the old rooms. 

Over the years, guests have shared quiet but persistent reports of two female figures appearing within the manor. Their identities remain unknown, yet they are spoken of with familiarity rather than fear. One of the most intriguing stories comes from children who have claimed to speak with a woman dressed in a red gown in the cellar. These encounters are described as calm and natural, as if the presence was entirely at ease with being seen.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Hotels

Staff members at Bårdshaug Manor tend to agree that the spirits mean no harm. Instead, they believe the women are bound to the house out of loyalty and care, lingering to watch over the building and those who pass through it. Their appearances are not accompanied by threats or violence, only a sense of being quietly observed.

A Place Acknowledged by the Dead

The manor’s reputation has reached beyond local whispers and many paranormal researchers have tried to find the answers to the legends. The well known Norwegian television series Åndenes Makt (The Power of Spirits) has also paid a visit to Bårdshaug, drawn by the long standing tales of unexplained activity and lingering presences. While no definitive answers were given, the visit only strengthened the belief that something remains behind the walls of the old estate.

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References:

Det uforklarlige

Spøkelser, gjenferd og spesielle energier: Dører som låser seg selv og konturer av folk i rommene – avisa-st.no

Bårdshaug Herregård

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The Limping Ghost of Fossesholm

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After tragedy struck Birthe Svendsdatter, she threw herself from the window and ended up with a limp and a brain injury. Called Halte-Birthe because of her limp, she is said to haunt Fossesholm Manor to this day. 

At Fossesholm Manor in Vestfossen, Buskerud, love is said to have left a wound that time itself could not heal. This was the main estate of the Foss estate , which was united in 1541–1548 by the lord of Akershus, Peder Hanssøn Litle , to gain control over the profitable sawmilling business in the area.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Norway

When night settles over the old estate and the trees cast long, trembling shadows across the empty buildings, some claim that a figure still moves behind the upstairs windows. She limps. She waits. And she remembers.

Fossesholm: It is said that a limping ghost of a girl who used to live at Fossesholm manor in Vestfossen is haunting it. //Source: Wikimedia

A Broken Promise

In the mid eighteenth century, Birthe Svendsdatter lived a life of privilege as the daughter of a wealthy family. Or was she? Some say that she was actually a servant girl at Fossesholm in the 18th century. And if not, she certainly became one after her tragedy. 

Her future should have been secure, but her heart led her elsewhere. To a German officer in some versions of the legend that her parents didn’t think was good enough to marry. She secretly held her own wedding in the forest, a place between Lier and Røyken. 

But the ending wasn’t a happy ever after though. What happened is not known. Was she tormented by her parents who when they learned about the wedding, made her life a misery? Was she betrayed by the man she loved and carrying his child, Birthe saw no escape from her shame and despair. In a moment of desperation, she threw herself from a second floor window at Fossesholm Manor.

Death did not claim her that night.

Instead, Birthe survived with terrible consequences. The fall left her permanently crippled. She lost both her sanity and the child she carried. What was meant to be an ending became a fate many would consider worse than death.

Legend has it that after the brain damage, she could not count beyond three. People are said to have teased her by asking how many chickens there were on the farm. To this, Birthe is said to have replied “one, two, three in a heap”. It is said that she was treated with great respect by the manor house, but was unpopular among the other servants because she had been asked to gossip if someone was not doing their job.

The Ghost from the Tapestry: One of the motifs shows a lady standing bent forward and pointing at the chickens and turkeys that are tripping around her. The lady’s name was Birthe and was called hen-Birthe or lame-Birthe. She is supposed to be haunting the manor house.

After this, her husband also leaves her and travels back to Germany. Once home in Germany, he feels guilty, sits down to write a letter and the rescuer is again Cappelen at Fossesholm. He writes to Cappelen and asks if he can use Birthe on the estate. We will never know what Cappelen sends in response to Germany, but Cappelen builds a small house a short distance out towards Lake Eikeren where Birthe can move in. Birthe does not want that, she wants to live with Cappelen and his wife at Fossesholm. 

A Life Reduced to Shadows

At the time, Fossesholm was owned by Gabriel Cappelen, who took pity on Birthe and allowed her to remain on the estate. Some say that he was the one who stepped in and convinced the priest to marry the two lovers. 

Despite her background and wealth, her life was reduced to that of a servant. The renowned artist Eric Gustav Tunmarch was commissioned to paint her, and the image still hangs on the manor walls today.

In the artwork, Halte Birthe appears bent and broken, dressed in servant’s clothing, feeding the farm’s chickens and turkeys. This despite the fact that she owned chests filled with fine dresses she would never wear again. It is a portrait not of dignity, but of quiet humiliation and loss.

Birthe died at 64 in 1788, recorded in church books as a pauper. But many believe her story did not end there.

The Window on the Second Floor

Locals whisper that Birthe never truly left Fossesholm. Late at night, when the manor stands silent and abandoned, witnesses claim to see a figure in the second floor window. A woman who moves unevenly, forever marked by her fall. This is where she leapt. This is where her life was broken.

Some say her ghost is drawn back to that window again and again, trapped in the moment when love failed her and despair took hold. A reminder that not all ghosts are born from violent death. Some are created by lives that were allowed to continue, long after they should have ended.

At Fossesholm, Birthe Svendsdatter is remembered not as the woman she was, but as the limping ghost she may still be.

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  • Rathfarnham Castle and the Lingering Ghosts Haunting it
    The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
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References:

FLERE GJENFERD SOM OGSÅ VILLE VÆRE MED – Issuu 

«Halte-Birthe» Eller «Hønse-Birthe» Fra Vestfossen – Sagnfigur Og Historisk Skikkelse – Historier.no

Fossesholm 

Sagn, spøkelseshistorier og dystre skjebner

Fossesholm

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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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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