It seemed quite fitting as we begin this month of October—a month people enjoy celebrating all things ghoulish, that I would be writing my thirteenth post for Originality by Design. I decided to share with you something I ran across in my writing research that I found rather fascinating: Haunted Castles!
As old as the castles of England are, there are bound to be ghosts in the closets… or more appropriately and historically factual, hiding in cupboards, lurking in darkened stairwells, or wailing from long ago used dungeons or torture chambers.
While there are tons of great castles scattered throughout Europe, I’ve chosen to focus on the castles of England for this post. Except for one, which I’ll start with: Hermitage Castle.
Considered “the guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Scotland,” Hermitage Castle is said to be steeped in a history filled with conspiracy, killing, anguish and treachery. Built around 1240 by Nicholas de Soulis. Folklore has it that one of his descendants was involved in the Black Arts and that de Soulis made a pact with the devil who promised him immunity from harm by iron weapons or hanging. Wreaking havoc on his enemies, this evil man also tortured his tenants and kidnapped and sacrificed local children, until the people finally turned on him, capturing him and plunging him into a boiling pot… since ropes and steel couldn’t be used.
It’s said his spirit still wanders the grounds, as well as those of his victims. Visitors have been known to hear loud, prolonged screeching, or feel a cold hand run down their backs. The heavy gate swinging on its hinges making one feel as if he or she was being entombed in the vault within the belly of the castle. It’s definitely not a place I’d like to be at night.
Chilling Chillingham: It doesn't look all that dark and foreboading until you learn about its history. Another castle occupying a strategically important location on the border of two feuding nations, this stronghold can be found in the village of Chillingham in the northern part of Northumberland, England. Originally a monastery in the late 12th century, it’s hard to believe the place is marketed as being one of the most haunted castles in Britain. Hundreds of paranormal events have been recorded there, which may be due to the one purpose the castle itself was built: for killing.
Owned by the Grey family (coincidence?!!), the castle was considered the first line of defense against invading Scots. Those taken prisoner were subjected to great horrors in the dungeons located in the deepest darkest holes of the castle. The torture chambers had floors that sloped in order to drain away the blood. It’s estimated that thousands of Scots died in those chambers considered to have come straight from hell. Run by a man by the name of John Sage who was believed to have tortured somewhere around fifty people a week for over three years, he had every imaginable torture device. Iron maidens, racks, cages, and others that can still be found inside the castle today.
The man who committed heinous acts on men, women, and children met his demise in the courtyard of the same castle, being strung and mutilated by the relatives of some of those he tortured.
Having seen so much terror and tragedy, it seems unlikely the castle would not be haunted and visitors are seldom disappointed. Feelings, smells, and apparitions have all been reported as well as pulled hair, scratched arms, and even a bite or two. That said, I’m sorry to say its Ghost Tour dates are completely sold out for 2019.
Let’s jump down and visit Lancaster Castle in the English county of Lancashire. Believed to have been founded on the site of an old Roman fort built in 79 AD, the castle is the oldest standing building in Lancaster. Owned by The Duchy of Lancaster (FYI: the current Queen of England is the Duke of Lancaster), the castle is often referred to as John O’ Gaunt’s Castle. Until 2011, the castle was a fully functioning prison and throughout its history, it saw its share of religious persecutions, well over two hundred executions, and the notorious Pendle witches were kept and tried at Lancaster in 1612. These men and women were part of a family of local peasants that lived in the nearby Pendle hills. Supposedly in league with the devil, they made clay effigies using human hair and teeth, and ten of them were charged with murder using witchcraft and sentenced to death. Political adversaries were also often held at and executed at the castle. Most executions at Lancaster were not as gruesome as the deaths at Chillingham, instead being accomplished first by public hangings and later in a private execution shed built especially for the hangings.
Ghosts from Lancaster's past have been seen numerous times by both visitors and former inmates. Even during the daytime tours, people have been pushed and shoved by unseen forces at such a common rate that the guides have come to expect it. Considering its history, how could anyone expect anything less?
Majestic in size as well as historical significance, is another castle that touts itself as perhaps England’s most haunted castle. Dover Castle, located in the southern county of Kent is considered the “Key to England” the castle had immense strategic importance. It was England’s best line of defense to protect the country from enemies passing through the English Channel. In its time, Dover Castle was a prison, a fortress, and a royal palace with eerie passageways that have been the home to many ghosts, including King Charles. If you’re brave enough, you can spend the night at Dover Castle and take a walk through secret passageways and medieval tunnels. Perhaps you’ll see the ghost of a decapitated drummer boy or the mysterious woman in her crimson dress.
For the last haunted castle we’ll look at, though certainly not the last one in England, we’ll head to Arundel Castle, ancestral home of the dukes of Norfolk in Sussex, England. This castle may be our youngest, dating back to the 19th century… don’t let that fool you. It’s steeped in Medieval history, having been built over the remains of at least one and more likely two previous castles.
From phantom cannon sounds to actual apparitions, this castle is supposedly haunted by numerous ghosts, including the Earl of Arundel (who has appeared to a lot of people), a Blue Man in the library, and a young woman who jumped to her death. The castle is also purported to have its own “death omen” in the form of a phantom white bird that flutters against windows to warn of impending death.
Steeped in history, every castle I’ve studied in my research of Medieval England has had some sort of ghost story. From the hauntingly beautiful to the downright scary, they’ve all added to the richness of and provided deeper glimpses into a past we can only experience through stories and imagination, allowing us into lives of people who lived long ago… and some that remain, perhaps darker and less human than others.
A few years ago I was forced to face up to the fact that I couldn’t continue with my full-time job and provide the necessary care for a family member with health problems. I’d been doing just that for ten years and it was becoming a progressively more difficult balancing act. So, I decided to take early retirement. That freed up some time… time that I wanted to be just for me, and time that I wanted to be productive.
Having worked in various sectors before becoming a full time mum, Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree. 
