Irish Ghosts&Castles

There are Irish castles and mansions where ghosts walk around the rooms frightening tourists and residents.

Skyrne Castle, County Meath

Skyrne Castle is near the ancient Hill of Tara, where many skeletons have been exhumed. Skyrne was built by a Norman knight in the twelfth century, and seems to be inhabited by several ghosts, including that of a nun, and a tall figure with his dog.

But it is the spirit of a woman in white who is the most important. It is believed that this is the ghost of Lilith Palmerston, who was killed by Phelim Sellers in the XVIII century.  Her terrifying screams still sounds in the castle in the dark of night.

Killua Castle, County Westmeath

It is the residence of the family of the great T. E.  Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), and is believed to be haunted by the administrator of the estate (Jacky Dalton) of Sir Benjamin Chapman.

No one knows why, but her spirit has terrorized a lot of visitors in the castle at night. The residence was abandoned long ago after receiving many complaints about strange noises and movements during the night. Up to today, it is said that a white ghost surrounds the ruins and a frightening figure with an evil look is sometimes seen in the walls.

Athcarne Castle, County Meath

This sixteenth century ruin is situated less than 10 miles away from the site of the Battle of Boyne. People talk about cries of dying soldiers, and visions of a soldier hanging from a large oak tree in the estate. A few years ago a worker witnessed the apparition of the spectrum of a young man whose hands were pouring with blood.

Leap Castle, County Offaly

Leap Castle is known for the many ghosts and spirits that are wandering around it. The ghost of a young girl has been seen around repeatedly. She was the daughter of the lord of the castle.

His father arranged a marriage with the son of a rich landowner, but she was in love with a humble farmer. When his father found it out,  he killed the farmer. One night when his father was sleeping, she killed him. The following day, the daughter was at the top of the castle, an invisible hand pushed her, she fell and she died on the spot. People believe that it was her father´s hand. Now her spirit is crying around the castle.

Many visitors in the castle of a Leap have heard mysterious wails and cries in the dark and lights are seen on top of the castle many times.

Kinnity Castle, County Offaly

The famous Castle Kinnity, is one of the most enchanted castles of Ireland. Many times Castle´s staff and visitors have seen the ghost Monk of Kinnitty going through the walls of this building. The ghost isn´t a silent one because it sometimes communicates with the service staff of the castle and some visitors.

Scottish Ghosts&Castles

It is amazing that many of Scotland's castles are associated with apparitions, strange noises and ghosts,  - they have histories in some cases going back as far as over 600 years. Here you have some of them. It has been very difficult to select from a list of 150. There are also links to castle web sites where you can learn more about the castles and see illustrations of the buildings (but probably not the ghosts...)

Culzean Castle, Ayrshire

There had been a castle here on the cliffs overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The earlier castle had been built by Sir Thomas Kennedy (who was murdered on the sands at Ayr in 1602).  In the 18th century, Robert Adam designed his masterpiece for the Earl of Cassillis  - incorporating some of remaining parts of the former castle. Whenever one of the Kennedy family is about to get married a ghostly piper is said to play there. He is also supposed to play on stormy nights. There is also a ghost of a young woman in a ball-gown (reported as recently as 1972), but no-one seems to know who she is.

Ackergill Tower, Caithness

Ackergill Tower has had a terrible history over the last 600 years. It was owned by the Keith family who was always fighting with the Gunns and Sinclairs who came from the same part of the country. The castle is said to be haunted by the ghost of Helen Gunn who was kidnapped by one of the Keith family who brought her back to Ackergill Tower. She threw herself from the battlements of the tower rather than submit to her captors.

Auchen Castle, Dumfries and Galloway

The original Auchen Castle dates back to 1220. The original Castle is now in ruins next to what was the home farm for the next Auchen Castle built in 1849. The castle is located near Beattock. This castle is reportedly haunted by a child with a transparent complexion who walks the corridors, main staircase and grounds in the very early hours of morning.

Balcomie Castle, Fife

Since the 16th century, the castle has had many owners . It is famous because Mary of Guise stayed there on her way to marry King James V. At one time it had fine plaster ceilings but these were taken to Ayrshire to be incorporated into Dean Castle. The ghost in Balcomie Castle is said to be of a young man who was starved to death in the castle because he would not stop whistling!

Baldoon Castle, Galloway

This castle was owned by the Dunbars of Westfield from 1530 to 1800. Now it is a ruin. Baldoon Castle's ghost became the subject of a novel by Sir Walter Scott - "The Bride of Lammermuir". Forced by her parents to abandon the man she loved, she married David Dunbar but became insane and killed him on her wedding night. Ever since those events in the 17th century, she is said to wander around the castle dressed in white, blood-spattered clothes but is most often seen on the anniversary of her death.

Brodick Castle, Isle of Arran

Much of the castle was created in the 19th century but incorporating parts which date back to the 13th century (though there may have been a Viking fort on the site even earlier than that). It was originally built by the Stewarts and was captured by the English during the Wars of Independence. In 1406 an English fleet sailed into the Clyde and destroyed much of the original castle. Considerable additions were made to the castle when Cromwell's forces occupied it in the middle of the 17th century. For much of its life the castle has been owned by members of the Hamilton family. The older part of the castle is said to be haunted by a "Grey Lady" who starved to death in the dungeons of the castle because she had the plague. A man has been reportedly seen sitting in the library and a White Deer is reputedly seen in the grounds of the castle whenever a chief of the Hamiltons is close to death.

Claypotts Castle, Angus

The oddly shaped Claypotts Castle (two of its round towers have projecting rectangular rooms at the top) dates from the 16th century. At one time the castle was owned by John Graham of Claverhouse, known as "Bonnie Dundee" or "Bloody Clavers" depending on which side you were on during the time of the Covenanters. The castle is said to be haunted by a "White Lady" who is seen at a window in the castle each 29 May. She is reputed to be the ghost of Marion Ogilvie who was the mistress of Cardinal Beaton who was murdered in St Andrews - on 29 May 1546.

Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire

Seven-storeys high, Craigievar Castle was owned initially by the Mortimer family and then the Forbes who completed the castle in 1626. It is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland and is said to be haunted by a member of the Gordon family who was murdered there by Sir John Forbes who forced him out of a high window at sword point. There is also said to be a fiddler - who is only ever seen by members of the Forbes family.

Craignethan Castle, Lanark

On an easily defensible position on a promontory overlooking the River Nethan, a tributary of the Clyde, Craignethan Castle had formidable defences - which were never put to the test. Originally owned by the Black Douglases it passed to the Hamiltons. Mary Queen of Scots is said to have spent the night there before the Battle of Langside and the castle is said to be haunted by her (minus her head, which was removed at her execution!). Other apparitions have been seen in the courtyard of the castle. In recent times, visitors to the castle have followed a a figure dressed in historical costume, thinking it was leading the way to a pageant - only to find the figure disappearing before their eyes...

Delgatie Castle, Turriff

Rising five storeys high, Delgatie Castle was the property of the Clan Hay who had a well-earned reputation for their fighting qualities. But the Clan supported the Jacobites in both 1715 and 1745 and forfeited the castle as a result. The castle is reputed to be haunted by a red haired woman and during the Second World War an entire detachment of troops who were billeted there fled from the castle in bare feet as they were confronted by the ghostly apparition.

Castle Fraser, Aberdeenshire

Held by the Frasers since the 15th century, the castle is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. While there are no reported ghosts in the castle, in the 19th century a young woman was murdered in the castle and her body dragged down the stairs. It was said that the stains on the stone stairs kept reappearing, despite strenuous efforts by the servants. The stair is now covered in wood.

Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire

Dating back to the 13th century, Fyvie Castle is highly decorated with towers and dormer windows. It has been owned by a number of wealthy families over the years - Lindsay, Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon, Leith, many of whom left their mark on the building. It is said to be haunted by several ghosts including a "Grey Lady". When building work was being carried out in the early part of this century a skeleton was found in a secret room. The Grey Lady was seen frequently thereafter - until the bones were returned to the room when things quietened down again. Another ghost, a "Green Lady" is said to be Dame Lillias Drummond who was starved to death by her husband, Sir Alexander Seton, who then remarried soon after. The ghost is said to have scratched her name on the window sill of the bedroom being used by the newlyweds - and the name can still be seen there.

Glamis Castle

Glamis has a reputation for being one of the most haunted castles in Scotland - and that is saying something! With its pointed turrets it looks more like a Disney creation than a Scottish castle. It was home to Queen Elizabeth, the mother of the present Queen. Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister was born in Glamis. Earlier in its history, however, the young and beautiful Lady Glamis was accused by King James V of being a witch and was burned at the stake in 1537. Her ghost is the "Grey Lady of Glamis". Another ghost is said to be the 4th Earl of Crawford who haunts a room where he played cards with the devil. The large bearded ghost of "Earl Beardie" is also said to have been seen on many occasions.

Lordscairnie Castle, Fife

Little remains of the original keep and tower of the 15/16th century building which was built for the Earls of Crawford. The loch which used to surround the castle has been drained and it is said that treasure is buried nearby. The 4th Earl of Crawford is said to be seen playing cards with the devil at midnight each New Year's Eve.

Castle of Park, Banff

This castle incorporates a 16th century tower house and a green lady is said to appear from an upstairs window. The story goes that she is a servant who was dismissed from her post because she was expecing a child and subsequently committed suicide. Yet another ghost in the castle is a monk who was reputedly murdered by being walled up in the castle. Residents say they feel as though they are being watched - and objects mysteriously move from one room to another but it is the former servant, the green lady who is given the blame for this!.

English Ghosts&Castles

England is a rich land in history, tradition and legend. In its rural areas there are more than 1,400 castles, many of which are reputed to be inhabited by ghosts and other supernatural beings. Here you have a nice description of castles that you cannot miss ...

Chillingham Castle

Known as "the most haunted castle in England", Chillingham Castle, located in Northumberland, to the north of the country, has earned a terrible reputation for its huge collection of lost souls. The most famous of his ghosts is "Sad Boy", whose cries of agony resonate at midnight through a passage inside the castle. It is said that in the next room, after hearing the screams, a boy image appears for a few seconds sorrounded by a dim light. Some years ago, the bones of the boy were discovered hidden behind a wall in a room near the place where the noises usually occur.

Old Wardour Castle

Built in the fourteenth century, Old Wardour Castle in Wiltshire, southwest of the country, is known as the most romantic of England. Located in a very rural area, overlooking a lake, the castle was used as the setting for the film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. However, it was here that Lady Blanche Arundell during the English Civil War in the seventeenth century, was besieged with his servants by Cromwell's men for almost a month. The castle was taken at the end of this term, and Lady Blanche Arundell captured and executed. It is said that her ghost walks every evening from the castle to the lake, while cold air invades the atmosphere.

Berry Pomeroy Castle

Not far from the Dartmoor National Park, Devon, lies the enchanted castle of Berry Pomeroy. Today, a romantic ruin, XIII century castle is home to many ghostly apparitions, the most common of which is the White Lady. She appears in dark dungeons that are below the castle and on the bastions. Her appearance was reported in 1987. She is believed to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who was imprisoned in the dungeons by her own sister, and subjected to slowly starve.

Hampton Court Palace 

It is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London, and the historic county of Middlesex; it has not been inhabited by the British Royal Family since the 18th century. The palace is located 11.7 miles (18.8 kilometres) south west of Charing Cross and upstream of central London on the River Thames. It was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favourite of King Henry VIII, circa 1514; in 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the palace was passed to the King, who enlarged it.

The following century, King William III's massive rebuilding and expansion project intended to rival Versailles was begun. Along with St. James's Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII.

The rumour goes that Catherine Howard's ghost haunts the Haunted Gallery. Visitors have claimed to have had unpleasant encounters. Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife and mother of Edward VI once has been seen walking towards Edward's room. Henry VIII has also been seen in ghost form. People also claimed to hear the sounds of an old woman, and the sounds of a spinning wheel. After time had passed, a new room containing an old spinning wheel in constant use had been found.

In late December 2003, security cameras at Hampton Court Palace captured a startling image. Security guards were unsettled to repeatedly find a fire door open when no one was apparently around. Upon checking the security tape, they were shocked by a ghostly figure, closely resembling King Henry VIII (who died in the 1500s). 

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle was constructed by William the Conqueror and it is one of the largest castles as well as the oldest continuously occupied castle in the world. It was Henry II in the last third of the 12th century who rebuilt the round Tower in stone instead of the wood in which it had formerly been constructed.  

It is said to be the present Queen's favourite residence and interestingly enough one of the ghosts said to haunt Windsor Castle is that of her namesake Elizabeth 1st.  Apparently she glides through the library wall into a locked up room and also on occasions her presence is felt or perhaps her footsteps heard in other areas of the castle.

However, possibly the most famous ghost associated with Windsor Castle may be found in the depths of Windsor Forest.  His name is Herne the Hunter and he is even referred to in Shakespeare's 'Merry Wives of Windsor'.  The story goes that Herne was Richard IIs favourite huntsman who had at one time saved the King's life. The King made him head huntsman.  Sadly however he was soon dismissed from his post because he appeared to have lost all his skills and in a deep depression he hanged himself from the branch of an oak tree in Windsor Forest.  

It is said that on certain dark stormy nights, a ghostly band of hunters led by Herne himself are to be seen galloping wildly through Windsor great Park along with a pack of equally ghostly hounds.  Any sighting of this band of spectres is always thought to be a portent of some kind of national disaster soon to occur! 

Tower of London

The Tower of London is the symbol of English sovereignty as well as being the repository of the Crown Jewels.  A White Tower was built on the site by William the Conqueror in 1078 AD upon the old Roman walls and it was completed in 1097 AD.  Since that time, many Kings and Queens have added towers to the structure resulting in the tower which we see today.  There have been torture chambers in the crypt of the White Tower and many executions have taken place out on Tower Green and it is the latter fact which probably explains the numerous ghosts which have apparently been sighted within the walls of this magnificent edifice.

Probably the earliest recorded ghost at the Tower would be that of the martyred Saint Thomas Becket whose ghost first appeared during the 13th century at the time when the Traitor's Gate was being built.  This was witnessed by a priest. 

In 1804 AD, a soldier in the Tower named Corporal Jones saw a woman in a white dress with a red pattern on it coming towards him but as she approached, he realised that what he thought was a red pattern was in fact blood and that the woman was headless! 

Certainly the most famous ghost said to haunt the Tower of London would have to be that of Anne Boleyn (one of Henry VIII's wife).  Anne was executed on Tower Green in 1536 AD and her headless corpse was buried under the floor of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula.  It's  said she has appeared in the corridor of the White Tower and at the King's House which is a residence of the Governor of the Tower.  

Many other stories haave been told about this tower and its ghosts!

Welsh Ghosts&Castles

Bodelwyddan Castle

Close to the village of Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, Denbighshire in Wales, was built around 1460 by the Humphreys family of Anglesey as a manor house. Its most important association was with the Williams-Wynn family, which extended for around 200 years from 1690. The castle was bought from the Humphreys by Sir William Williams, Speaker in the House of Commons from 1680-1681. The castle which stands today was reconstructed between 1830 and 1852 by Sir John Hay Williams, who employed the architects Joseph Hansom (inventor of the Hansom cab) and Edward Welch to refurbish and extend the house, though the Williams' family fortunes had started to decline since the 1850s, due to the loss of the main source of income for the estate, lead mining.

There have been many reports of ghost sightings at the castle, including that of a soldier in one of the galleries. Sir John Hay Williams wrote in 1829 that, during a period of refurbishment, human bones were found near one of the chimneys. They were built back into the wall, which means they remain there to this day. The castle has also been the subject of two episodes of Living TV's Most Haunted and Syfy's Ghost Hunters International.

Caerphilly Castle

It is a medieval fortification in Caerphilly in South Wales. The castle was constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century as part of his campaign to conquer Glamorgan, and saw extensive fighting between Gilbert and his descendants and the native Welsh rulers. Surrounded by extensive artificial lakes, it occupies around 30 acres (120,000 m2) and is the second largest castle in Britain. It is famous for having introduced concentric castle defences to Britain and for its large gatehouses. A green-dressed woman wanders about the towers and many ghosts of soldiers patrol over there.

Gwrych Castle

It was erected between 1819 and 1825 at the behest of Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, grandfather of Winifred Cochrane, Countess of Dundonald. From 1894 until 1924, when the Countess died, it was the residence of the Dundonald family. The Countess left the castle in her will to King George V and the then Prince of Wales (who later became King Edward VIII). However, the gift was refused and the castle passed to the Venerable Order of Saint John. In 1928, the Earl of Dundonald purchased the castle for £78,000, selling the contents to meet the cost.

The most important ghost in the castle is a woman who lives in the north part of the castle. When the ghost appears, it smells terribly awful and the temperature goes down. In February 2010 a ghost was apparently photographed at the castle and featured in The Sun newspaper.

Denbigh Castle

Denbigh Castle was a fortress built following the 13th-century conquest of Wales by Edward I. The castle, which stands on a rocky promontory above the Welsh market town of Denbigh, Denbighshire, was built upon an earlier Welsh stronghold. It was defended by a unique triple-towered gateway. The current Denbigh Castle was built on the site of a former Welsh stronghold held by Dafydd ap Gruffydd, the brother of Llywelyn the Last.

A dark shapeless figure has been seen dashing around the Goblin Tower. This is said to be the son of the castle's builder. He was falsely accused of having an affair with the land owner's daughter, and was thrown to his death from the partly completed tower. A grey (or white) lady has also been observed in the area. Another local legend says that a dragon once resided in the castle. A man with eight fingers on each hand finally killed the creature.

St Donats Castle

St Donats Castle is a medieval castle which dates to the 12 th century. It now houses Atlantic College, a private boarding school founded in 1962, as the first of ten United World Colleges. In the 13th century St Donats was held by the de Haweys family who also had estates in Somerset and Dorset. The heiress John de Hawey married Sir Peter de Stratelynge (Stradling), a Swiss who was in command of the castle at Neath in 1296. He died soon afterwards so it was either his sons or Joan's second husband John de Pembridge who built the castle in the early 14th century. 

St Donats is reputed to be haunted by several ghosts which include Lady Stradling. Her ghost is said to wear a long flowing dress and high shoes, and is said to have been murdered at the castle. She is often seen in the Long Gallery with her appearance being said to be a warning of impending disaster. Other ghosts witnessed at the castle are said to be an old woman resembling a ‘witch', who is seen in the Armoury. A phantom ‘Panther' which has been witnessed in one particular corridor. One of the bedrooms is said to have ‘bright lights' which are said to look like ‘bright eyes'. Invisible hands are reported to play the piano even when the lid is closed.

Roch Castle

Built in the 13 th century by a Norman Knight, Roch Castle marks the northern limit of the Norman Conquest of West Wales. In the 1630’s it was home to Lucy Walter who later became consort of Charles II and mother of the Duke of Monmouth. In 1644 it was garrisoned for King Charles I but surrendered to Cromwell’s troops later that year.

After the Civil War it slowly fell into ruin until it was restored in 1900 by the first Viscount St David’s, friend and frequent host to Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts movement, and to David Lloyd George, Great Britain’s Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922.

The castle is said to be haunted by Lucy Walters, who has been seen floating through locked rooms wearing a white dress and she maybe the cause of the noisy running footsteps which mysteriously disturb the sleep of guests on occasions.