Tag Archives: Murdered by Husband

Ukategorisert

The Mysterious Ghosts Newton House by Dinefwr Castle

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Delve deep into the mysteries of the castle of Dinefwr and discover its haunted ghosts. The castle grounds are said to be haunted by both a loyal butler as well as a murdered lady in white that tried to escape a loveless marriage.

Tucked away in the rolling Welsh countryside, Dinefwr Castle holds a dark secret—it is haunted by ghosts that have roamed its halls for centuries.

The castle, also known as Old Dynevor Castle is now in ruins as it overlooks the River Towy close to Llandeilo in Wales. 

Llandeilo Town in Wales

Dinefwr is situated in the small town of Llandeilo in Wales. This area has always had a reputation for mythical tales, with local folklore claiming that Dinefwr Castle was once inhabited by mysterious ghosts. 

The stories date back hundreds of years and each generation adds more details to the spooky tales that have become part of the culture. For example, some people believe that spirits haunt the castle grounds and are said to create flickering lights or howling noises!

The History of Dinefwr Castle

Dinefwr Castle is steeped in history and mystery and dates back to the 12th century and was the chief seat of the Dinefwr dynasty of the Kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. 

Built by Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth, it gained status as an important fortress as tensions among Welsh kingdoms rose. 

His reign saw a rare period of peace and stability that led to a flowering of Welsh culture, music and poetry. The Dinefwr dynasty was mostly warlord led and constantly invaded.

Sadly, it was not to last. After Rhys’s death, conflicts over succession led to turbulent years as the Welsh princes fought amongst themselves and against the English. Dinefwr eventually fell into English control in 1287 and remained there for centuries, despite Owain Glyndŵr’s attempt to wrest it back during his uprising of 1403.

Its location on a hill overlooking the Towy Valley was strategic and also held spiritual significance to local residents.  Throughout its long history, rumors of spectral residents began to take root and tales of spooky sightings have been told ever since.

The Haunting Grounds in Newton House

When talking about the hauntings around this place, many people make the mistake to think that the ghosts are roaming around the  ancient ruins of the castle, but this is not entirely true. The ghosts that are now famous are supposedly haunting the country house called Newton House on the castle grounds in Dinefwr Park that was built in 1660. 

Among the ghosts said to be haunting the grounds are Walter the Butler who worked in the house and is now haunting the servant’s basement. People have smelled his tobacco smoke in the room as well as hearing muffled voices as the lights are flickering on and off. 

Ghosts of Dinefwr Castle

But perhaps best known is the tragic story about the White Lady that supposedly haunts the grounds as well. This is also supposed to happen in the old country house. 

The White Lady of Dinefwr Castle is said to be the ghost of Lady Elinor Cavendish and her horrible end. There are even reports that people have visited and have felt as if their throats are being squeezed, the same way that she died. 

There are tales about the ghost of a young girl, now remembered as the White Lady of Dinefwr Castle and according to the rumours, people have seen the ghost of a woman disappearing into the cupboard. 

The story goes that Lady Elinor Cavendish was forced into an unwanted marriage in the 18th century and tried to run away from the loveless marriage and her brutal husband to be. But she was not allowed to slip out of his hands and her husband followed her and when he caught up to her, he strangled her to death. 

Lady Elinor Cavendish now haunts the grounds, the country house of Newton House and the ruins of DInefwr Castle, still trying to escape the life she didn’t want for herself.

More like this

Newest Posts

References:

Dinefwr Castle | Cadw

Spooky stories and legends of ghosts and more this Hallowe’en | South Wales Guardian 

Newton House, Llandeilo – Wikipedia 

Ukategorisert

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Haunted Château de Châteaubriant

Leave a comment
Advertisements

Step into an ancient castle filled with darkness and stories that will send shivers up your spine of murder and ghosts. Inside the old Château de Châteaubriant there are tales of ghost processions on October 16.

Step into the eerie and mysterious Château de Châteaubriant, a magnificent 15th century castle and one of France’s most haunted sites. Enter its dark and imposing halls originally constructed as a defense against Anjou and the Kingdom of France, laden with dark secrets, to experience an unforgettable journey through time. Learn about its chilling legends, hidden secrets, and unsettling specters that linger in the shadows.

History of the Château de Châteaubriant

The Château de Châteaubriant was first constructed in the 11th century, but was heavily modified during the Renaissance which the architecture bears marks of. 

It was taken over by the French during the Mad War after a siege. Over the centuries, it changed hands many times – from its aristocratic owners, to prisoners of war during the revolution, and back again. 

Château de Châteaubriant: drawn by artist Victor Petit in 1871. Already at this point the history of Château de Châteaubriant was old and steeped in legend . It is also said that ghost are walking the halls of the castle every year on October 16th.

Sybille the Shocked Ghost

One of the most famous legends behind the Château de Châteaubriant’s rumored hauntings is that of Sybille, wife of Geoffroy IV. 

Geoffroy IV of Châteaubriant went on crusade to the holy land in the 1250s with King Saint Louis where he was jailed in Egypt after the battle of Mansourah and the entire French army was destroyed by the plague. His death was announced to the Châteaubriant and his wife. 

Sybille, often named Sibylle de la Guerche de Candé started to mourn the death of her dead husband. He wasn’t dead however, and was released from prison and returned to his home and wife a couple of months later. When Sybille saw him again, she fell into his arms and died of the shock. 

She is said to haunt the Château de Châteaubriant at times, but the real haunting is said to be done by the infamous Françoise de Foix, the main mistress of the King of France that did not bear the same loyalty to her husband as Sybille.

The Ghost of Françoise de Foix

In addition to Sybille and other ghosts that are said to haunt Châteaubriant, many also believe in the spirit of Françoise de Foix. She was a tall and dark haired woman that spoke both Latin and Italian as well as writing her own poetry. All of her attributes made her a well sought after woman, and even the King wanted her. 

She was engaged to Jean de Laval, count of  Châteaubriant in 1505 with support of the king and queen Anne de Bretagne and Louis XII. They formally married in 1509 and lived at Château de Châteaubriant.There was a shift in the royals and the new king, Francis I, summoned Jean de Laval to court for his help in 1516. 

Françoise de Foix followed him and became the lady in waiting for Queen Claude de France as well as becoming the chief mistress to King Francis I. At official events she was placed near to the royal princesses, signifying that she was La mye du roi, or the Sweetheart of the King to the rest of the court.

Jean de Laval was sent to fight in the Italian Wars and became Governor of Brittany in 1531. He was aware of the affair but seemed unaffected by it all when his wife remained the King’s mistress for over a decade.

Françoise de Foix was rejected from court in 1525 when the young and blonde Anne de Pisseleu d’Heilly caught the King’s attention and affection. Because of this, she returned to Châteaubriant to live with her husband. 

Killed by her husband Jean de Laval

She died on 16th of October in 1537, most likely of sickness are we to believe some. There is however a different theory. It is said that her husband killed her. 

Read also: This is not the only story of a ghost haunting a French castle after a woman was killed by her husband: The Prisoner of Château de Puymartin

Jean de Laval, also known as John III of Laval-Châteaubriant was according to legend, an incredibly bloodthirsty baron who killed anyone who opposed him and ruthlessly tortured his enemies. 

It is said that he shut his wife in a dark and padded cell and had her killed because of her relationship with the king or something else entirely. Some even think that he locked her up and poisoned her or bled her to death slowly.

The Assassination of Françoise de Foix: The legend of her death are widespread and depicted in art. Here from a book from 1816 by Augustine Gottis.

Ghost Procession at Midnight

Some say they can still hear her weeping within the walls of Châteaubriant and others have even seen her standing near windows or atop towers in traditional 16th-century dress, but perhaps she is best known to appear in the ghost procession on her death anniversary.

Ever since then, there have been a ghost procession in the Château de Châteaubriant in honor of her death on October 16 of monks and knights slowly ascending the main stairs before vanishing. Her ghost is said to come back for this night as the procession begins at the stroke of midnight. 

More like this

Newest Posts

References

Featured Image: source

Françoise de Foix — Wikipédia 

Château de Châteaubriant – Wikipedia

Les fantômes sont des choses qui arrivent – chateau-chateaubriant

Le château de Châteaubriant et la légende de Sibylle