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The Lady in Black at the Munich Residenz and the Wittelsbach Curse

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Before their deaths, members of the royal Wittelsbach family claimed to have seen the mystical Lady in Black appearing to them. Although the woman behind the black clothing is a mystery, her message has been clear: in the soon future, you will die.

A black-clad and veiled ghost is said to glide through the walls of the Munich Residenz, the former city palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty between Odeonsplatz and the English Garden. Like a curse, she haunts the Bavarian noble family and whenever she is seen, a family member dies shortly afterward. This curse has remained unbroken for centuries.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Germany

From 1508 to 1918, Munich Residenz was the residence of the Dukes, Electors and Kings of Bavaria from the House of Wittelsbach. The complex was destroyed in World War II and subsequently rebuilt and this is her haunting ground.

The House of Wittelsbach: One of the oldest German noble families. It is named after its ancestral seat in the 12th century, Wittelsbach Castle. Most of the numerous Wittelsbach lines are now extinct. The family members living today belong to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld line.

It’s unsure how long the legend of the Lady in Black has existed. Electress Maria Anna (* 1728; † 1797), wife of Elector Max III Joseph, wrote: “In our family it is said that she haunts the residence as the ‘Black Lady’ and announces deaths in the House of Wittelsbach.”

The Antiquarium in the Residenz in Munich, Germany, where the ghost of a lady in black is said to haunt.

Sigthing in 1864

On Shrove Tuesday 1864, at a costume ball celebrating the centenary of the Residenztheater in the Munich Residenz, an unknown woman in a black gown and mourning veil was seen floating through a door at the edge of the party. Shortly afterward, King Maximilian II pricked himself with a tie pin, contracting blood poisoning from which he died soon after.

Maximilian II of Bavaria: (1811-1864 in Munich) of the House of Wittelsbach was King of Bavaria from 1848 to 1864. He was married to Marie Friederike of Prussia , with whom he had two sons, the later Bavarian kings Ludwig II and Otto I. Despite setbacks such as the Palatinate Revolt, Maximilian’s reign saw a cautious liberalization, and ministerial responsibility was introduced. The king is particularly remembered as a patron of the arts, sciences, and folk culture; the Maximilian style is also named after him.

The king suffered from headaches throughout his life; a bout of typhoid fever in 1835 had severely weakened him. As late as the autumn of 1863, he traveled again to Italy and southern France [ 17 ] to seek relief before the crisis in Schleswig-Holstein called him back. Maximilian died in March 1864 after a severe illness lasting only three days. Physicians explained it as a rapidly spreading erysipelas infection of the chest

Sighting in 1886

Ludwig I is therefore considered the last sovereign monarch to rule Bavaria. During the revolutions of 1848, he faced increasing protests and demonstrations by students and the middle classes, following his affair with the dancer Lola Montez. He abdicated his throne to his son that year.

Ludwig lived as a private citizen for 20 years after his abdication and continued to support the arts with his own funds. His relationship with his successor was not without tension, especially since Ludwig did not completely abandon his building program.

In 1868, his father, King Ludwig I, also encountered a ghostly woman dressed in black and grey in the royal private apartments.

Ludwig I died on February 29, 1868, at the age of 81 in Nice, in a villa he had rented for the winter. He had been struggling with physical ailments, though he hadn’t altered his daily routine. His feet and lower legs were swollen, causing him difficulty breathing and restless nights. Two leg operations brought him some relief, but his condition was becoming increasingly serious. His two surviving sons, Luitpold and Adalbert, were summoned by telegram to Nice, where he received the Last Rites and died shortly afterward.

Sigtings in 1886

The mysterious death of King Ludwig II in 1886 in Lake Starnberg is also linked to the Black Lady’s appearance. On the night of June 12th to 13th, 1886, the day on which King Ludwig II died under unexplained circumstances in Lake Starnberg, the Black Woman allegedly appeared to some chambermaids.

Ludwig II Otto Friedrich Wilhelm of Bavaria: (1845-1886) Ludwig II left his mark on Bavarian history as a passionate builder of castles, most notably Neuschwanstein , Herrenchiemsee, and Linderhof ; he is also known as the Fairy Tale King. After his deposition on 9 June 1886, his uncle Luitpold took over the government of the Kingdom of Bavaria as Prince Regent, since Ludwig’s younger brother Otto was incapacitated due to mental illness .

The unexpected death of his father left Ludwig, who was just beginning his university studies, completely unprepared for his new role. Ludwig spent all his own private royal revenues (although not state funds as is commonly thought) on building projects, borrowed extensively, and defied all attempts by his ministers to restrain him. This extravagance was used against him to declare him insane, a determination that is now questioned. Ludwig was taken into custody and effectively deposed on 12 June 1886; he and his doctor were found dead the following day. His death was ruled to be a suicide, a conclusion that is also now questioned.

Sightings Between 1958-1960s

Between 1958 and the early 1960s, Detlef Willand, a woodcarver and restorer, worked on the reconstruction of the Munich Residenz and stayed there with several other craftsmen during the construction period. He, too, had seen the Black Woman walking through the Residenz at night and swears up and down that she vanished like a ghost when he went looking for her as he documented in his book: “The Black Woman in the Munich Residenz.“

Other restorers confirmed similar encounters, and a guard at the Residenz reported that at 12:30 a.m., during his rounds on the Stone Staircase, he had seen a woman dressed in black and spoken to her. The woman, in a strange black gown, did not respond and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor. 

Sighting in 1969

Even long after the Bavarian kings had stepped down from their thrones, the Lady in Black has been said to have made her appearances before imminent death in the family. In 1969, it is said she appeared to Prince Adalbert of Bavaria in a dream; shortly afterward, his son died in a plane crash.

Konstantin Prinz von Bayern died on 30 July 1969 in a plane crash near Hechingen, Baden-Württemberg. The private plane crashed into Mount Raichberg when they encountered deteriorating weather that included low visibility and clouds enveloping the terrain.

Sighting in 2014

The Residenz ghost was sighted again on April 23, 2014. This time, however, it didn’t appear to the king, ladies-in-waiting, or craftsmen, but crossed paths with Margot Ilgner, a new museum employee assigned to supervise the three northernmost of the six stone rooms. Ms. Ilgner reported that, about seven to eight meters away from her, when no visitors were present, a figure in a black, floor-length robe looked to be floating in the Room of the World. In her eyes though, the figure looked to be the size of an 11 year old girl. Her immediate search for the strange visitor proved fruitless. Other employees have also told a variant of a ghost roaming the castle accompanied by a pudel. 

The Woman in White Wearing Black

Although the ghost of the woman is said to be clad in black, her presence and pattern of haunting is much reticent of the legend of the Woman in White, or the Weiße Frau from European mythology, said to haunt different noble families. These legends and ghosts are especially common around German noble families. 

The oldest accounts of the apparition date back to the 15th century, while belief in the spirit reached its peak in the 17th century. Although similarities exist to other female spirits in European folklore, the White Lady is a phenomenon that originated in and was typical of the aristocratic culture of the Early Modern period.

Most often, her presence acts like an omen of death. Sometimes it is said to have been a woman who cursed the family, but not always. 

The Whining Woman: In Germany they also have a type of haunting known as Winselmutter, or the Whining Mother. is a legendary figure that appears in various regions of Germany, for example in the Ore Mountains, in Vogtland and in East Thuringia. She is usually described as an elderly woman who finds no peace. In the stories, she appears as a white figure or a walking light. The creature dwells in eerie places or in the homes of the seriously ill and makes plaintive sounds. An encounter with a wailing mother is always considered a bad omen of death.

The Woman Behind the Ghost

But who is the woman behind the ghost? There has been speculation that it might be Electress Maria Anna (1728–1797), the wife of Elector Max III Joseph. She was said to have loved her husband deeply and passionately, though it is said that he was more inclined toward the company of men. This is the woman often put forth, but as she already is credited with writing of a ghostly woman haunting the family, could it be someone from even earlier?

Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony (Maria Anna Sophia Sabina Angela Franciska Xaveria; 29 August 1728 – 17 February 1797)

Alternatively, it could be Electress Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (1636–1676). Henriette Adelaide, a French woman was cultured and made significant contributions to the arts. But her whole life changed when the Wittelsbach seat burned down in 1674. It remains uncertain who caused the fire through carelessness—whether it was the Electress herself or one of her ladies-in-waiting. Henriette Adelaide reportedly managed to save her children while clad only in her nightgown. She never recovered from the aftermath of the fire and died in 1676. 

Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (6 November 1636 – 13 June 1676)

Or what about another Maria Anna of Bavaria? Maria Anna of Austria 1610- 1665 was an Archduchess of Austria and by marriage Electress of Bavaria. Maria Anna, who had a particular fondness for hunting, was raised strictly Catholic by Jesuits and was considered a great beauty, and was credited with qualities such as intelligence, orderly conduct, and temperance. Maria Anna, at the age of 25, married her much older uncle, Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria (1573–1651), who was 62. Maximilian’s marriage to Maria Anna was not only linked to the hope of the birth of an heir apparent, but also a political demonstration of his alliance with the imperial house against France. Despite the significant age difference, the marriage was very happy, and Maximilian lovingly cared for his wife. Her whole life she engaged in politics and the state of affairs. 

Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria (German: Maria Anna von Habsburg, Erzherzogin von Österreich, also known as Maria Anna von Bayern or Maria-Anna, Kurfürstin von Bayern; 13 January 1610 – 25 September 1665)

She died in Munich aged 55 and was buried at St. Michael’s Church, while her heart was deposited in the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting. 

The nature of the lady in black and her purpose for showing herself, is a little bit unclear. Is it a family curse, much like the lady plaguing the Hoenzollern family? Or is she perhaps more like a death omen, guarding over her family, like an Angel of Death?

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References:

https://epub.ub.uni-muenchen.de/27294/1/W816_5641.pdf

Münchner Stadtlegenden * Die Schwarze Frau der Residenz * Munichkindl

Münchner Residenz – Wikipedia

Winselmutter – Wikipedia

Weiße Frau – Wikipedia 

Wittelsbach – Wikipedia

SZ-Serie: Sagen und Mythen, Folge 14 – Schleierhafte Erscheinung – Landkreis München

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The Lady of Soria Moria Haunting Villa Fridheim

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In the Norwegian fairytale house in Krøderen, Villa Fridheim is said to be haunted by its former mistress, still running things her way as she did in life. 

Rising like a fairy tale vision along the shores of Krøderen, Villa Fridheim is often called Soria Moria in wood and paint. Its towers, carved details, and storybook halls draw visitors into a world shaped by Norwegian folklore. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Norway

Those staying at the house long enough often sense that the museum is more than a collection of fairytale artifacts. There is a persistent feeling of not being entirely alone.

The Haunted Fairytale Castle: The enchanting Villa Fridheim, a Swiss-style house in Krøderen, Norway, inspired by Norwegian folklore and rich with history. // Source: John Erling Blad

The House of Fairytales

Villa Fridheim is a Swiss-style building with elements of national romanticism and dragon style on Bjørøya in Krødsherad, built in 1890–1892 by Lumber merchant Svend Haug. Villa Fridheim was intended to serve as a country home for the lumber merchant and his wife Thea (née Sveaas). When the builder himself died in the middle of the construction work in 1891, it was the widow Thea Haug who completed the work. She then moved here permanently and used it as a home for herself and her children. 

After several years, the family converted the place into a hotel, but it was soon sold out of the family. The hotel was in operation from 1914 to 1960. After that, the house was left empty and dilapidated. After many years of decay, there were plans for the building to be burned down as part of a fire drill.

Soria Moria: The Villa Fridheim is often called the Soria Moria castle, a name from Norwegian folktales about the hidden castle where the hero will find the princess. It has also now turned into an expression for expectations about a great place.

It currently houses the Villa Fridheim Fairy Tale Museum , which is mainly associated with Asbjørnsen and Moe’s work as collectors, storytellers and publishers of fairy tales.

A House That Never Sleeps

Guests and staff have spoken quietly of sounds echoing through the servant wing after hours. Furniture seems to scrape across floors where no one walks. Doors creak open and close on their own, as if someone unseen is still making her nightly rounds.

There are many different claims to who is haunting the place. In a book that used to be in the house, people wrote down strange occurrences they experienced. One of them was about a little boy in the cafe who vanished into thin air right before them. 

The Ghost Haunting the Villa: The intricately designed interior of Villa Fridheim, showcasing its wooden architecture and fairy tale motifs. There’s a lot of ghostly tales lingering in the walls. // Source: John Erling Blad

On the fourth floor, some claim to have seen children at play, a little girl. She was dressed in old fashioned clothing, running and laughing among the shadows before vanishing as suddenly as they appeared. No footsteps follow them, and no voices remain once they are gone.

From the attic, a sound, almost like an audiotape playing at high speed is heard. 

The Woman in Black

Most striking of all is the figure seen in the main hall. Visitors have described a woman wearing a long black dress, her appearance belonging to another century. She moves calmly through the space, observing rather than frightening, her presence quiet but unmistakable.

According to local tradition, this is the spirit of Thea Haug, the first lady of the house. In life, she was known for her discipline and order, ensuring that Villa Fridheim ran smoothly and with dignity. She died in 1924, when she was 85 years old. In death, it seems she has not entirely relinquished her role.

When she is not satisfied, the ghost slams the doors, it is said. According to legends, she didn’t treat her staff particularly well. Although, some say that when she retired and went back to Drammen, a feast was held in her honor, and she was given gifts by the locals for all her effort and hospitality. Mostly in written form, she was remembered as a person with a big heart.

It is also said that her daughter, (maybe named Rilda), was hidden away in the tower room when she got syphilis and turned mad. This is also one of those tales that doesn’t have much proof, as their daughters don’t have as much information about them as their sons.  

A German tourist once staying there came down from the second floor and talked with the staff. “So festive that the staff wear old costumes,” she said after having seen a woman wearing a black dress from another century. The staff all wore jeans and t-shirts. 

A TV-series called Soria Moria was recorded at the hotel in the early 2000s about the fictional ghost of a nazi soldier. One day all the images from a Polaroid camera to keep track of continuity were strange. All of them were marked by a shadow that looked like a female figure in a long skirt.

A Watchful Housekeeper

Those who work at the museum believe that Thea Haug still watches over the building’s forty rooms. If she senses carelessness or neglect, doors may slam sharply as a warning. It is not seen as malice, but as correction, the firm reminder of a housekeeper who expects standards to be upheld.

Villa Fridheim: Is there really the ghost of a woman in black haunting Villa Fridheim?

Despite the strange occurrences, no one speaks of cleansing the house of its ghost. The presence causes no harm, and many feel it adds depth to the living history of Villa Fridheim. The husfrue is considered part of the story, woven into the walls as surely as the carved dragons and fairy tale motifs.

At Villa Fridheim, it is said that being a house ghost is a good existence. The Lady of Soria Moria still keeps watch, ensuring that her enchanted home remains just as it should be.

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References:

FLERE GJENFERD SOM OGSÅ VILLE VÆRE MED – Issuu 

Villa Fridheim – Wikipedia 

Turist så norsk spøkelse 

Det spøker på Villa Fridheim – DigitaltMuseum

Husfruen spøker i villaen

Villa Fridheim – Eventyrmuseet, WW2 , Åndelig akivitet

Fredheim På Bjørøya I Krødsherad – Historier.no

Fru Thea Haug – nekrolog | Eiker Arkiv

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The Haunted Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Stepp Cemetery

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There is not only one ghost story from Morgan-Monroe State forest and the Stepp Cemetery in the middle of it, there are many. Legends about creatures and ghosts keep the silent forest and burial ground alive. 

Morgan-Monroe State Forest stands as a silent witness to a myriad of chilling tales that have woven an enigmatic tapestry of supernatural lore. The forest in south-central Indiana is more than 25 000 acres and has steep ridges and deep valleys. 

Morgan-Monroe State Forest: Source: TrailSeeds/wikimedia

From inexplicable deaths to whispered rumors of satanic rituals and elusive encounters with mythical creatures like Yeti and Bigfoot, the Morgan-Monroe State Forest has earned its reputation as one of the most infamous haunted woodlands in the United States. It is in this forest most reported sightings of the Sasquatch in the state and there is a large and active group investigating these claims. 

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There are also said to be UFO sightings as well as more classical tales of something mysterious and ghostly lingering in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. 

The Draper Cabin in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest

In the midst of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest itself, there is a cabin where hikers can spend their night. Draper Cabin offers a night of spine-tingling encounters for those daring enough to spend it within its timeworn walls – all for the modest price of $25, throughout the year. 

It is said that many hikers have to give up on staying in Draper Cabin through the night though, as they hear loud footsteps and weird noises outside, coming closer and closer to the cabin. 

Read More: Check out more ghost stories from Haunted Forests around the world

What the source of these hauntings varies. One version includes a murder that occurred there quite a long time ago. Another story states that from the time of the cabin’s existence over 130 years ago, a murderer still stalks their premises and waits for the next guests to arrive and rent out the cabin.

Draper Cabin: This cabin deep inside of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest is thought to be haunted. // Source

However, the true heart of the forest’s haunting reputation lies in the ethereal realm of Stepp Cemetery where legends and urban legends of ghosts and mysterious religious sects never let the buried rest. 

Stepp Cemetery

In the middle of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest you will find Stepp Cemetery, the source of many of the haunted legends of the forest. The cemetery in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest dates back to the early 1800s and is found just north of Bloomington.

There are not many graves in the cemetery, perhaps only around 30, (other sources say 114) or so, but they surely have some stories connected to them.  

Stepp Cemetery: In the forest you will find a small cemetery with big legends. It is said to be haunted by more than one type of ghosts. //Source: Shelly/Flickr

The Crabbites and their Snake and Sex Rituals

According to historians, Stepp Cemetery might have been used by a religious sect to perform rituals that came in the early 20th century. The group’s leader, William Crab, had strange practices like getting people to be bitten by a snake. A snake handler himself, he held more circus-like sermons and claimed that a true believer would not be bitten or die from the venom. 

The sect known as Crabbites had strange beliefs, like that the earth was squared because of a part in revelations in the bible. They also had to be chased away from the cemetery because of performing a ”ritualized sexual license.” They were apparently participating in these orgies while handling the snakes as well as giving animal sacrifices. 

It is also said they believed in resurrection and that the reverend could wake people from the dead. Once they were even arrested after trying to stop a burial of a woman who was once one of them. 

It is worth noting though that the sect went largely undocumented and it is difficult to say today what was true and what was hearsay. But they said that there were roughly 600 of them in Brown and Morgan counties in 1912. 

The Crabbites didn’t stay in the area of Morgan-Monroe State Forest and Stepp Cemetery for long as they are said to have moved over to Brown county, but they undeniably left an enduring mark on the cemetery’s reputation. Some even say that their mocking of the cemetery and strange rituals evoked some spirits to come back and haunt the place as they left the cemetery with a dark energy. 

Teenage Parties on Stepp Cemetery and the Birth for Local Legends

Most of the stories from Stepp Cemetery are said to have been developed or happened from the 1950s to 1970s. Then the cemetery had become so remote and forgotten and was more as a gathering place for youth than for mourners. More people had access to cars in the following decades and used the place to party. 

Many stories that were told were about the ghost of someone that had died in a car crash in the surrounding area, but also the cemetery itself became a part of the stories. 

During the Great Depression the cemetery fell into the hands of the Civilian Conservation Corps and they carved a tree stump in the cemetery into a chair. This tree stump is today called the Warlock’s Chair, although it is gone now that it was burned down in 1974. 

In many stories the chair was cursed and whoever sat on it would be so as well. It also became a part of the haunted legends as well, even after it was gone. 

Some of the ghosts

It is also said that an old woman is haunting the Stepp Cemetery within the Morgan-Monroe State Forest after some fraternity boys hanged her beloved German Shepard from a tree. What they didn’t know though was that she apparently was a witch and cursed them as well as the cemetery. 

Read More: Check out more ghost stories from Haunted Cemeteries around the world

One of the other legends speaks of a young girl who was murdered in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest close to Stepp Cemetery and that her body wanders through the trees in search of justice and her way home because her killer was never found. 

The Woman in Black

By far the most told story is about people seeing the ghost of The Woman in Black. The air thickens with an eerie stillness as the ghostly apparition of a grief-stricken mother dressed all in black is said to materialize on the haunted Stepp Cemetery at night, sitting on a hauntingly familiar tree stump crying over her dead child. 

There are many stories about what happened, and this is also a tale we can trace back to the 1950s. Some say she was a woman named Anne, and that her man died in a dynamite explosion in the quarry and her daughter died in a car crash. The mother is said to have rarely left the grave of her child, who was the only thing she had left in her life. After she died, she is still coming to the grave to grieve. 

There are also people saying that the child was a newborn and that she never recovered from the loss. The variations and details surrounding the legends are endless. Even in 1972, there were around 30 different versions of them.

There are some details that keep popping up though, like the tree stump. Sometimes the woman in black is only sitting on it, weeping close to her child’s grave. Sometimes she was a witch and murdered her husband after he murdered their child. Sometimes she has two white wolves by her feet mourning her child’s death after she was hanged for taking revenge.

The most horrendous tale though are the stories where people claim that she is sometimes trying to exhume her dead child from the grave to hold his bones, before burying him again and leaving.

The Story of Baby Lester

But what grave and who is she grieving? Sadly, there are plenty of graves belonging to children in Stepp Cemetery and the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. For some reason, the grave most associated with the legend of the Woman in Black at Stepp Cemetery is the grave of Baby Lester. His grave is in the back in a corner and has been there for many decades now. The faded letters on the grave say 1937. He was the child of O’Leatha Pryor Lester and Harley Lester for only a few hours before he passed. They named him Paul.  

Still to this day, some people place little toys on the grave. In respect perhaps, but the urban legend of Baby Lester really hurt the family of the stillborn child.  On several occasions the grave has been vandalized, broken or the headstone removed so they had to cement it down. On July 24 in 2021, the toys were set on fire by some vandals, or by accident after a candle set fire to them on accident.

Baby Lester’s Grave: This is how the grave looked after it caught fire as the negative consequences of being the source of a ghost story. Source: Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian

The mother was only 16 when she gave birth and went on to live a long life with more children after. When she heard about how her child’s grave was the center of this urban legend, she was distraught, horrified and disgusted. Although the family tried to shield her from the legend of Baby Lester and the Woman in Black, it had come in many forms until she died in 2007.

The Dangers of Ghost Stories

As night descends upon Morgan-Monroe State Forest, the line between the living and the otherworldly blurs, leaving those who dare to explore its depths to grapple with the unsettling mysteries that lurk in the shadows and the whispers that echo through the ancient trees.

Is it Bigfoot, the Woman in Black? Perhaps a remnant of the strange cult that used the cemetery all those years back. Perhaps there are just a couple of teenagers that can’t comprehend how stories about the dead can still hurt the living. 

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References:

Stepp: A Small Rural Cemetery That Looms Large In Hoosier Lore | news-2018 – Indiana Public Media 

Gallery: Baby Lester grave at allegedly haunted Stepp Cemetery set on fire – The Bloomingtonian 

Paul “Baby” Lester (1937-1937) – Find a Grave Memorial 

Stepp Cemetery 

Stepp Cemetery — Astonishing Legends 

Paul “Baby” Lester (1937-1937) – Find a Grave Memorial 

Let Baby Lester Rest in Peace | OrangeBean Indiana 

Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Site of the Month | WBIW

A Requiem For Baby Lester — The Hauntings of Stepp Cemetery – PARAHOLICS®  

https://www.bloomingpedia.org/wiki/Draper_Cabin

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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 Colorful Ghosts at Stirling Castle

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Stirling Castle keeps the dramatic events of Scotland’s history as it stands firmly on the castle hill. Just beware of seeing ghosts in all colors, whether it is the Lady in Green, the Pink Ghost Lady or The Woman in Black. 

Stirling Castle sits atop a dramatic hill in the heart of Scotland and has been a witness to centuries of battles and royal drama as it stands on an important crossroad through Scotland and has been attacked no less than 16 times. 

The castle has also seen many kings and queens come and go and has been a place of crowning them, including Mary, Queen of Scots who held her coronation there in 1542.

Black, green, pink and white, the ghosts of Stirling Castle come in them all, each of them bearing a different story and meaning if you spot them in the old castle. Beyond tales of human history, the castle is shrouded in ghostly legends of mysterious figures that have been seen during dark nights. 

The History Of Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is an ancient royal fortress located in the city of Stirling, Central Scotland. Built within a dramatic volcanic plug commanding the route north into the Scottish Highlands, the castle was once an impenetrable stronghold of power and influence for Scotland’s monarchs. 

Stirling Castle is a unique and grand castle, boasting an impressive history dating back to the 12th century. Castle Hill as it is built on has had some type of fort built on it since Roman times, perhaps settled even earlier, as far back as the 600s. 

Stirling Castle: Is the old castle in Scotland really haunted? According to the rumours, it is more than one ghost said to wander the haunted castle even today.

The architecture of the castle reflects its changing history; striking evidence of its evolution can be seen in the stone walls and turrets that surround it. Visitors to the castle can explore four levels of magnificent stonework designed by Robert Adam, from a Great Hall and Chapel Royal to guard towers and residential quarters.

Is Stirling Castle Really Haunted?

Many believe that the strange apparitions and ominous sounds are signs that Stirling Castle is truly haunted and not only by one ghost, but by many. Over the years, numerous visitors have encountered mysterious sightings or felt a presence of some kind while visiting this ancient monument. 

Read More: Check out more Haunted Castles from all over the world.

Whether or not these accounts can be trusted is up for debate, but there’s no denying the castle’s long and formidable history makes it a perfect place for paranormal activity.

The Green Lady at her Queen’s Service

Legends of Stirling Castle tell tales of many spooky specters haunting its walls. One of them is referred to as the Green Lady with many stories trying to name her. She is thought to be the daughter of a Commander of the fortress that threw herself from the Elphinstone Tower because her father separated her from her lover, a common soldier and shot him dead.

The most retold legend though is that the Lady in Green could be one of the servants to Mary Queen of Scots who worked there when Mary returned to Scotland in 1562 after spending two decades in France after her husband Francis died. 

A Highlander girl was sent to serve her, and many claim she was gifted with the Second Sight and could foretell the future. The servant girl had seen something in her dreams and stayed with the Queen and had a bad feeling that something wasn’t right.

When the Queen was sleeping in her chambers her bed curtains went up in flames because of a candle on her bedside. This part is an actual event that happened. According to the legend though, the servant went straight for the flames and lost her life when saving the Queen. 

Still Fortelling Tragic Events

There have been countless sightings of her over the years, both by visitors and staff that have stayed in the Castle. When she has appeared, she has frightened the people stiff, as not only is seeing a ghost a scary thing, but her sightings are also said to be a bad omen. 

The Lady in Green: Although there are many variants to the legend, the most told one is that the ghost is that of a former servant that died in the flames while protecting her queen. It is thought that seeing her is a bad omen.

One evening the chef was preparing dinner at the garrison in the Officer’s Mess when he felt like someone was watching  him. He turned around and saw a see through green shape in front of him and he fainted from fear. 

Usually seeing the Green Lady is a bad omen and often she has been seen right before things like a fire or deaths on the castle has occurred, just like how she perished. 

The Pink Lady in the Kirkyard

The ghost of the pink lady can be seen outside of the castle as she is walking to the church next door in her flowing pink dress. The Church of the Holy Rude at Ladie’s Rock was a place court ladies went to watch the knights in jousting tournaments. 

People have speculated that the Pink Lady is actually the ghost og the only survivor after the castle became under siege in 1304 by Edward I. She escaped the siege and returned to the castle after only to find her husband who starved to death. 

The Lady in Pink: Who could this mysterious woman in pink be, and why is she still haunting the castle?

It has also been speculated that it could be Mary Queen of Scots herself that is said to haunt the castle. 

A third option of who this pink lady can be is the Widow Witherspoon. She was an old townswoman who died in 1823 and her corpse was robbed from her grave by the Resurrection Men to be sold to surgeons for further studies.  

The Steps on the Battlements

In the 1820s there used to be castle sentries that made their rounds on the battlements around the Governor’s Block. When they were walking they reported about hearing mystic sounds and seeing unexplainable things. 

One night a sentry was making his way to start his shift when he saw the guard he was replacing dead on his post. His mouth was wide open and his eyes had the look of pure fear and shock. Some say that he ended up meeting the gaze of the woman in green, something legend tells can be deadly.

Ever since then, even after the guards stopped patrolling on the battlements you could still hear footsteps from it as if the sentry was still making his rounds. 

The Lady in Black on the Back Walk

The Lady in Black is a mysterious figure that is seen roaming on the Back Walk that circles the Holy Rude graveyard. She is thought to perhaps be the ghost of a nun that is looking to reunite with her secret lover, a priest as the legend goes. 

Because of her mortal sin, her ghost is thought to be dangerous and said to bring death if you meet her gaze. 

The Ghost in the Kilt

Can you see the man in kilt?

There have also been spotted a male ghost wearing a traditional Highland kilt. Many have mistaken him for a tour guide working at Stirling Castle and are shocked when he just turns and passes through the wall. 

The ghost of the man in the kilt is often seen walking around the corner and disappearing through the wall near a dungeon of Stirling Castle. Back in the day, there used to be a door there, but today it is bricked up and just a solid wall.

The ghost has been talked about in the more modern times as it was allegedly caught in a photograph. In 1935 the Highland ghost is said to have been pictured by an architect, when he was planning for some upcoming building work of the castle.

It must be said that many of the people that owned the picture of the supposed ghost that they claimed could be seen in the picture and passed it around as a ghost picture, was known to be fond of practical jokes. 

Still, the mystery and intrigue of the picture has kept the story of the lonely man in kilt alive at Stirling Castle.

Watch out for the Harbinger of Misfortune

As centuries passed and the castle stood as a symbol of Scotland’s resilience, the ghosts came to understand the importance of their presence. The Lady in Green, the Pink Ghost Lady, The Woman in Black, and the other spectral figures were not simply omens of tragedy, but reminders of the castle’s enduring spirit.

Through their ethereal presence, the ghosts sought to protect the castle from any harm that may befall it. They would appear before devastating fires, revealing themselves as a warning and allowing enough time for the flames to be extinguished. The tragic stories of their origins served as cautionary tales, ensuring that history would not be repeated.

Over time, the castle staff and visitors learned to respect and honor the ghosts, recognizing their role as custodians of Stirling Castle. Instead of fear and superstition, they felt a sense of gratitude for the protection and connection to the past that the apparitions provided.

So, if you happen to visit Stirling Castle and catch a glimpse of a ghostly figure in black, green, or pink, remember to show respect and gratitude. For they are not harbingers of misfortune, but eternally loyal guardians of Scotland’s past, ensuring that the legacy of Stirling Castle lives on for generations to come.

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References:

Stirling Castle – Wikipedia 

The Green Lady of Stirling Castle 

Ghosts of Stirling Castle

The Haunted Stirling Castle, Scotland  

Stirling Ghostwalk :: The Pink Lady of the Auld Kirkyard 

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Huggin Molly – The Woman in Black of Alabama

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In the small town in Alabama, a big thing is haunting the streets and are after the town’s children. The scary apparition of the black clad Huggin Molly is still on the prowl.

Children should be home before dark, there is no telling what hides in the shadows, emerging after the sun sets. But the people of Abbeville in south Alabama, they have a pretty good idea of what darkness that lurk in the shadows, in the streets and behind the bushes and in the dark corners.

The children of Abbeville, Alabama has been warned plenty of times to stay indoors after dark. If not, they might encounter the creature known as Huggin Molly on the streets.

The Colonial Town of Abbeville

The small place of Abbeville looks like any other small colonial towns in the south with the cute brick houses with the flag waving towards the paved street and with a population around 2000.

Abbeville Alabama: Downtown Abbeville, Alabama where Huggin Molly supposedly roams in the night. // source

The climate is hot during the summer and mild during the winters. The people can shop in the small boutiques and eat at the family restaurant, a place where people know one another. It is also why when a stranger starts to roam the street, the townspeople takes notice as they watch from hammock on their porches.

Read Also: Check out the rest of our ghost stories from all across the USA.

The town of Abbeville has seen many tragedies throughout the years. Not only the hardship of the European settlers, the surrendering of the creek nation and a town in southern Alabama also made it hard for the black people all the way up to the segregation times.

There were reported lynching and sexual violence that went unpunished, making the streets more difficult for black people than the children that was warned to stay indoors after sundown.

The southern town has also experienced tragedies that left a collective trauma so hard that legend took form. One of these being after the fire. At the start of the 1900s, an arsonist burned down all of Abbeville, and this is also at the time when it looks like the legend of Huggin Molly took form. The town was also ravage by an F2 tornado that destroyed many of the old buildings, forcing the town to build on top of the old.

Huggin Molly as The Lady in Black

But these tragedies are not the things Huggin Molly is about. Rather than one of the towns collective tragedies, this is one of the towns big mysteries.

“…..On a cold, dark, rainy night…..so bitterly cold, damp, and dark…..when even street lights won’t burn, and the striking of a match refuses to yield the tiniest flame….on nights like this, Huggin’ Molly comes out of her lair and roams the streets of Abbeville to see whom she can find.”

So begins one account of the story the people of Abbeville have told each other since the early 1900s. The local legend is known as Huggin Molly, or the lady in black. Who is this woman all clad in black, and why is she after the children of Abbeville? What does she want with them?

Read More: There are many urban legends targeting children. How about checking out Kuchisake-onna – The Urban Legend of the Slit-Mouthed Woman or Madam Koi Koi and The School Hauntings in Nigeria.

The local legend of Huggin Molly has it that a tall figure, around seven feet tall, started walking the streets of Abbeville, looking for victims, mostly children. She has no name other than what the townsfolk started calling her, no face to speak of and no one knows why she is after the children. She almost has this witch like status around her, although her behaviour is anything but.

Huggin Molly is said to be dressed in all black with a wide brim hat, also black, wandering through the night in the disguise of the shadows were even the streets light won’t illuminate her identity. Once she found a victim, an innocent child wandering after darkness, she attacks, hugging the person tightly as she is screaming loudly into their ears. 

Read More: There are many stories about women in black around the world: Like some of the ghosts in Unveiling the Dark History of the Tower of London and its Ghosts .

This is it, as there are no stories of her actually hurting anyone. She simply hugs them, although terrifying enough on its own. But are there any origin story to this local legend of a hugging ghost?

The Many Legends of Huggin Molly

Who she is supposed to have been is up for debate and changes as the story itself changes throughout times. Was she a witch or the ghost of a woman that used to live in Abbeville? Is she something completely different from a human?

The Woman in Black: Grieving women wearing long black dresses is a well known motif, especially in European ghost lore. They can also be very dangerous according to many of the legends.

Read More: One of the theories was that Huggin Molly was some sort of witch. If you are interested in stories about witches, head over to our section filled of them: Here

In some accounts when the local townspeople tells the legend, Huggin Molly was a woman living in Abbeville a long time ago. She experienced a mother’s worst nightmare when lost her own child. Her grief was too much to bare and it made her mad. She started to roam the nights and went after the local children to make up for the death of child. Like it was a way of dealing with the tragedy of loosing her own.

In other accounts of the legend, she was a woman who got murdered in cold blood on the very streets she is now haunting and are trying to fulfill something. Perhaps she was killed after dark with no one to look out for her and are now in turn looking out for others?

Perhaps the real story behind the legend is the version about her being a professor at what used to be Alabama Agriculture School as some of the variations of the legend suggests. In these versions she is only trying to keep the students safe by getting them off the streets at night.

Or perhaps it wasn’t a ghost at all that haunted the street in her afterlife, but someone or something, getting dressed up specifically for this? To walk out in the dark to scare and hug children? Somehow, this comes off as almost more frightening than a ghost who only wants a hug.

A Legend with a Milkshake on the Side

In any case, who Huggin Molly was, what her motives are and if she is still roaming the streets doesn’t seem to upset most people in Abbeville. The people of Abbeville haven’t been too concerned by the legend and there are even a 50s themed restaurant named after her, making her a part of the community and town history.

Huggin Molly Legacy: The legend of Huggin Molly is more welcome than many other ghost stories in Abbeville Alabama. Head over to the local restaurant Huggin Molly’s frozen in time in the 50s ,just like the legend to hear more about the town ghost with a meal.

Even to this day the legend is part of the town and kids today are told about the lady in black on the streets. This is like what Jimmy, an Abbeville lifelong resident had to say when the Huggin Molly’s restaurant asked him to say a few words of her:

“Anybody who grew up in Abbeville grew up knowing the legend of Huggin’ Molly,” Jimmy says. “If your mother or dad didn’t want you to be out after dark, they’d tell you Huggin’ Molly would get you. And you believed it, too.”

Because this is the thing, the legend of Huggin Molly has not once been known to have harmed anyone. So many children grew up to tell tales of what they believed must have been Huggin Molly chasing them. And who knows, maybe she really did?

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References

11 Best Scary Ghost Stories – True Scary Stories for Halloween

The Legend of Molly | hugginmollys

The witch legend behind Alabama eatery Huggin’ Molly’s

Abbeville Ghosts « Chattahoochee Heritage

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The Headless Ghost Woman of Bern

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Number 54 in Junkerngasse, Bern in Switzerland might be hiding more than just old history and dust. The legends of this long abandoned house just won’t let go with the tale of the Headless Ghost Woman.

Taking a stroll down the eye catching Junkerngasse is like taking a stroll through time. The old architecture of old Bern, Switzerland is all around as the best preserved street in the city. The street was once called Edle Gasse (Noble Lane), and it gives a hint of who used to live here.

Read Also: Check out all of our ghost stories about Haunted Houses

Stately houses with Baroque façades and big garden terraces still give off these noble vibes as you walk along the old street, feeling the fresh air of the Swizz cities in your lungs as well as the old history of the city on your shoulders.  

The Haunted Street: Junkerngasse street in the old part of Bern in Switzerland and was once a place were the rich lived. Today many of the old houses still remains, including the abandoned ones.//Photo by: Tony Badwy/wikimedia

The Haunted House on Junkerngasse

Along the noble houses there are prominent families and old money that can be smelled just as well as the wild gardens and decaying houses fight amongst themselves to be noticed. Inside Junkerngasse 54 though, it is said even the old ghosts of a headless ghost woman of the house who still lingers and suddenly makes an appearance.

Read Also: Check out all of the ghost stories from Switzerland

Junkerngasse 54 is an abandoned house and has been unoccupied for decades and therefore the legends and rumours of the house are old and plentiful like how it goes with many of the abandoned buildings. Most likely it was always used as a stable for nearby houses like the Von-Wattenwyl-House, but from the outside it looks like a normal residential building. Check out the picture from inside here.

Read Also: Check out ghost stories from abandoned places like Yongma Land Abandoned Theme Park, Minxiong Ghost Mansion and Monts d’Arree Nuclear Reactor and the Gate to Hell

The Headless Ghost Woman

Who started the story of the headless ghost woman originally is still a mystery as the house was built in the middle ages but left empty since the 1800s. Therefore names and faces, facts and dates are muddled.

Headless: The headless ghost woman seems to still lingers in the old parts of Bern.

According to the story however, around twelve and one in the morning the windows of the house opens and the ghost of a headless woman appears, laughing, creeping out anyone that catches a glimpse of her and is walking past.

Read Also: Unveiling the Dark History of the Tower of London and its Ghosts , Edinburgh Castle Ghosts and Legends and A Royal Haunting at Christmas for more ghost stories about headless ghosts.

There are also tales of a woman in black that seems to be walking through the rooms of the house. If this is suppose to be the same ghost as the headless ghost woman, or another additional ghost is unsure.

Das Gespensterhaus The Movie

Das Gespensterhaus (The Haunted House) is a film directed by Franz Schnyder . The horror comedy was filmed in Bern and Zurich in the spring of 1942 and premiered in Bern on August 28. One of the location of filming the movie was in Junkerngasse 54. It was based on Uli Wichelegger’s novel The Ghost House: A Story from the City of Bern.

The movie was set in the old town of Bern there is an abandoned house that is said to be haunted by deceased residents. The new journalist Rico Häberli receives the order from the editor Oppliger to scout out the house. He spends a night in the building and discovers a ghost. Together with the young owner of the house, he tries to get to the bottom of the matter.

Watch the entire movie on Youtube.

Could this have inspired the legend of the headless ghost woman in Junkerngasse 54? Or perhaps it was the legend that inspired the literature?

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References

Das Gespensterhaus – Wikipedia

Junkerngasse – Wikipedia 

List of reportedly haunted locations

The spookiest places in Switzerland – The LocalJunkerngasse