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Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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Castle Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana

Sentry

Location: Baconsthorpe (Norfolk) - Baconsthorpe Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Soldier unknown, EVP July 2018
Further Comments: The former soldier who still patrols the battlements is blamed for the stones that are occasionally thrown into the moat, breaking the normally still waters. A visitor who recorded audio in the gatehouse (empty at the time) caught a snippet conversation between a man and woman.

Waiting Lady

Location: Balbriggan (County Dublin) - Ardgillan Castle, bridge in garden over railway known as The Lady's Stairs
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 October (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This phantom woman is said to be waiting for her husband to return. He was a keen swimming, but drowned one night, leaving his wife on the bridge awaiting his return. One version of the story says that whoever sees the ghost on Halloween will be picked up and thrown into the ocean.

Hovering Light

Location: Ballachulish (Highland) - Castle Stalker
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Prior to a death of a Stewart chieftain
Further Comments: An orb of brilliant light was said to appear and hover over the castle just before the death of a clan Stewart chieftain.

Black Andrew

Location: Ballchraggan (Highland) - Balnagowan (or Balnagown) Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Andrew terrorised the neighbourhood, raping and murdering the locals. They decided to act against the laird, storming his castle and hanging him by the neck from the highest window. Now his shade remains within the walls of the building, though he still harasses visiting women. A much gentler shade has been seen here, a young green-eyed girl who smiles fondly at passers-by.

Brian

Location: Ballincollig (County Cork) - Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1930s
Further Comments: It was said that a dark room in the castle was home to a ghost named Brian, who would appear on horseback to anyone who ventured into the structure.

Lady Isobel Shaw

Location: Ballygally (County Antrim) - Ballygally Castle Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Lady Isobel jumped to her death from an upper window to escape a slow lingering death administrated by her husband. She now knocks on various doors before running away. Madame Nixon is named as another ghost to be found here and can be recognised by the rustling of her dress.

Danish Captain

Location: Ballyheigue (County Kerry) - Ballyheigue Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: This ghost was once a well-treated prisoner in the castle, who died trying to protect the building from a large scale robbery.

Cleaners

Location: Ballymoy (County Antrim) - Ballymoy Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Saturday (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Invisible wraiths are said to sweep the castle clean each Saturday.


An old drawing of Bamburgh Castle.

Olde Knight

Location: Bamburgh (Northumberland) - Bamburgh Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This armour clad knight is also often heard stomping about the castle, sometimes rattling his chains. A ghostly woman in a green cloak is sometimes seen falling from the top of the castle, vanishing before she hits the ground.


The ghost of Bertha.

Bertha

Location: Banchory (Aberdeenshire) - Loch of Lees Castle (no longer standing?)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Annually (exact date unknown)
Further Comments: Bertha died after being poisoned by her lover's mother, not impressed with her son's choice of woman. Bertha had her revenge; she appeared post-mortem and scared her murderer to death. Bertha now returns to the scene of the crime once a year, though no one knows the exact date. Another version of the story places the ghost at Crathes castle, rather than Lees.

Pregnant Lady

Location: Banff (Aberdeenshire) - Castle of Park
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This woman hanged herself rather than face becoming a single parent. A phantom monk has also been reported within the building.

Lord Banff

Location: Banff (Aberdeenshire) - Inchdrewer Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Banff's servants murdered their master, who then set the castle alight to conceal their crime. The ghost of Banff is said to have returned, though no one is sure how it manifests.

Donald Campbell

Location: Barcaldine (Argyll and Bute) - Barcaldine Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The same figure that briefly appeared post-mortem at Inverawe House, Donald's shade is said to be full of loathing and hate. A blue lady is said to appear and listen to any music played on site.


An old postcard of Barnard Castle in County Durham.

Lady Ann Day

Location: Barnard Castle (Durham) - Castle and River Tees
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A couple of versions of this ghost story exist. One has Lady Ann Day being tossed into the River Tees by her murderer, with her ghost of Day reliving her deathly plummet. The second version says Day died of natural causes, and her ghost would be seen at night wearing a red cloak as she crossed the river, possibly sitting on the shoulders of her husband.

Monk with Whip

Location: Barnwell (Northamptonshire) - Barnwell Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The strong gusts of wind that are felt on windless days are blamed on a murdered monk, who walks this area with a whip.

Father and Son

Location: Bebington (Lancashire) - Leasowe Castle (also known as Mockbeggar Hall)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Many years ago, this couple were captured by the castle's owner. Rather than be tortured, the father killed his son and then killed himself - their ghosts have since been reported standing over peoples' beds.

For Sale

Location: Beckington (Somerset) - Beckington Castle (also formally Ravenscroft School, 1945 - 1970)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: The castle is noted as possibly being the first building in the UK which used its haunting as a selling point when being sold off in the late 1910s. A location report by the Wessex Paranormal Research Organisation states that a former pupil at the site had seen a dark shadow pass through a wall.


Belvelly Castle in County Cork.

Moreno

Location: Belvelly (County Cork) - Belvelly Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Moreno was a Spanish bard who killed Dion, an Irish bard, in self-defence. However, Dion was well-liked, and one of his followers poisoned Moreno. The Spaniard's ghost is now said to sing on moonlit nights in his mother tongue. The castle is also reputed to be haunted by Lady Margaret Hodnett, described as 'faceless' by some.

Drowning

Location: Bennethead (Cumbria) - Maiden Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Legend says this hillfort to have been built by a king to protect his daughter after being told at her birth she would die by drowning. The princess lived in the fort until reaching her teenage years, when she stumbled and drowned in a barrel filled with water.


An old postcard of Berkeley Castle.

Edward II Screams

Location: Berkeley (Gloucestershire) - Berkeley Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 21 September (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Murdered on orders of his wife Queen Isabella (her fate is documented elsewhere in this database), the anniversary of the King's death is marked by his screams echoing around the castle. The skin of an animal was once on display near the entrance; a local legend said it belonged to a giant toad discovered in the dungeon, although it was more likely to belong to a seal.


An old postcard showing Berry Pomeroy Castle.

Blue Lady de Pomeroy

Location: Berry Pomeroy (Devon) - Berry Pomeroy Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: After being raped by her father, this former member of the de Pomeroy family now haunts the ruins of the building for the crime of killing her own child. The child has also been heard crying and screaming in the building. The castle also lays claim to possessing a phantom cavalier, and a ghostly black dog.

Margaret

Location: Berry Pomeroy (Devon) - Dungeon, Margaret Tower, Berry Pomeroy Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Left to starve to death in the dungeon by her sister (they both chased after the same suitor), Margaret now haunts the area. Visitors have reported feeling something brush past them on the staircase down to the room.

Scottish Piper

Location: Berwick upon Tweed (Northumberland) - Berwick castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghostly Scot plays his pipes while pacing up and down one of the ruined battlements.

Lord Hope

Location: Betchworth (Surrey) - Betchworth Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: While chasing an escaping prisoner, Lord Hope killed the man, who Hope later discovered was his son. Now the lord walks the area in regret.

Mary Littleton

Location: Birmingham (West Midlands) - Maxstone Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Mary was pushed down the staircase here after a furious argument with her husband - her shade lingers on.

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