The most haunted country houses in Britain
There is a startling variety of ghosts on offer in the country houses of England: some are famous, like the headless ghost of Anne Boleyn at Blicking Hall, and others are shrouded in mystery, like the 'Radiant Boy' of Chillingham Castle. Phantom choirs, headless horses, and even a haunted monkey are just some of the characters you're likely to meet in these paranormal hotspots. Many hit shows have also chosen to use these haunted country piles as locations and backdrops for film and TV, like Chillingham Castle which was used for Most Haunted, or Oakley Court, a gothic mansion between Windsor and Maidenhead that was used in several Hammer films, including The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Horror of Dracula (1958), and The Brides of Dracula (1960).
And if you don't see a ghost? Well, they're beautiful and historic places to visit nonetheless, though you might want to don your garlic necklace and pack your holy water if you're looking for a good night's sleep at these country inns, rural castles and historic estates…
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire was the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's 1895 gothic novel Dracula, and it's easy to see why.
A religious site since 657AD, the abbey has been inhabited by monks and other men of religion since. The dramatic facade of the thirteenth-century Benedictine church now dominates the ruins and is often illuminated around Halloween, providing the backdrop for wandering storytellers and live performances of Dracula.
As for less fictional ghosts, it is said that a phantom choir can be heard each January 6th at dawn and sightings of a coach pulled by headless horses have also been reported.
Ham House, Surrey
On the outskirts of London, Ham House in Surrey survived the highs and lows of the Civil War and now stands as one of the best insights into 17th century life in the country. In 1770 Horace Walpole, author of the first ever gothic novel, said of Ham House: 'At every step one's spirits sink. [...] Every minute I expect to see ghosts sweeping by'.
One overnight investigation concluded there may be as many as 15 ghosts in residence, including a King Charles spaniel, a duchess whose first husband died in mysterious circumstances, and a gloomy young man who jumped to his death after being turned down by the one he loved.
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chilling by name, chilling by nature, Chillingham Castle in Northumberland is regularly declared the most haunted castle in England and as a result has drawn many TV 'ghost hunting' programmes to film here including Most Haunted. The castle has a stunning array of ghosts and the creepy atmosphere to match. Alongside this the dungeon houses a collection of torture instruments that were actually used - enter if you dare! The castle's most famous ghost, a young boy, was documented by Leonora Tankerville, the lady of the house, in 1925:
'Perhaps our principal and most famous apparition was known as the "Radiant Boy", which used to be seen in what is now called the Pink room. There, when from the Clock tower the hour of midnight sounded, were heard the cries and moans of a child in pain and in agony of fear. Always the noises came from a spot nearest to a passage cut through the ten feet thick wall, into the adjoining tower; and, as the blood-curdling cries died slowly away a bright halo of light began to form close to the old four-poster bed. Anyone sleeping there saw, gently approaching them, the gure of a young boy dressed in blue, and surrounded by the light.'
Pendennis Castle, Cornwall
With a turbulent military history dating back to the Elizabethan period and running right up until World War II, Pendennis Castle in Cornwall has accumulated its fair share of ghostly tales.
During a wedding at the castle, guests are said to have heard the sound of furniture being loudly moved in the room above. Upon investigation nobody was there - only a chair moved halfway across the room. It is believed the ghost of Captain Melville (a governor who had lost an arm in battle) was dragging his chair to the window to watch the ships as he had always done in life.
When Pendennis was besieged during the Civil War, the castle occupants were forced to slaughter their horses for food. The custodian's family have been regularly kept awake by the sound of horses' hooves outside, but upon investigation, no horses have ever been found. If you want to go beyond a day trip, you can now stay in The Custodian's House in the grounds of the castle from £315 a week.
Blicking Hall, Norfolk
The magnificent Blicking Estate in Norfolk was reportedly the birthplace of ill-fated wife to Henry VIII Anne Boleyn. Legend has it that on May 19th - the anniversary of Anne's execution - her headless ghost wanders the halls, carrying her severed head. The ghost of Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn, is also said to haunt the property. Because of his greed and ambition he was cursed to cross a dozen Norfolk bridges before cockcrow for a thousand years: his route begins at Blicking and ends at Wroxham.
Aston Hall, Birmingham
It's a stretch to describe Aston Hall as a country house since it is, in fact, in the middle of Birmingham's urban sprawl. But when it was built in the 17th century for its first owner Thomas Holte, it was firmly a rural idyll. Among the ghosts seen in its grounds are the Green Lady, believed to be Holte's housekeeper, and the spirit of his daughter Elizabeth, who was prevented from marrying the man she wanted and kept in captivity for 16 years, until, it is said, she lost her mind and died.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon
Tucked away in a wooded valley, the romantic ruin of Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon conceals the dark history of the unfortunate Pomeroy family. The most famous sighting is of a mysterious 'white lady', rumoured to be the ghost of Lady Margaret Pomeroy, who was starved to death by her sister in a jealous rage over a man. Dogs reportedly hate to walk near the castle, parts of which date from as early as the fifteenth century. Cameras and videos are also said to disrupted by a sinister presence. Centuries ago, two of the Pomeroy brothers rode to their deaths over the edge of the castle ramparts, and recent visitors have reported hearing the sound of galloping hooves…
The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
This former inn with has reputation for paranormal activity and calls itself the ‘most haunted building in England.’ At over 800 years old the inn is the oldest building in the historic town of Wotton-under-Edge. It's incredibly quaint on the outside and was once the heart of the town, but it now functions as a full time paranormal location which you can visit via tours and open days.
Drumlanrig Castle, Scotland
This fortress turned aristocratic mansion in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, is now home of the 10th Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. It is also known for its ghostly apparitions and dark history. The castle is an exquisite example of 17th-century Renaissance architecture and holds a number of world famous artworks by the likes of Rembrandt and Holbein. The most reported ghost at the castle is apparently Lady Anne Douglas, whose spirit lingers around the vast rooms carrying her own severed head. Another well known ghost in the castle is the a giant yellow monkey who haunts the ‘Yellow Monkey’ room in the castle; there are no known records of any monkeys at the castle, so its origins are unknown.
