The ghosts of Ordsall Hall
MANOR HOUSE SAID TO BE
A 15th century manor house is reputed to be the most haunted building in Greater Manchester.
Although what remains of Ordsall Hall in Salford dates back to the 1400s, the original foundations of the home date back to the 13th century, probably first established in the time of Henry III.
The hall has long been thought of as one of the most haunted places in the region, with rumours of various ghosts in its many corridors and chambers.
The hall even has live ghost cameras set up in the building, meaning you can tune into them and hunt the paranormal from the comfort of your own home.
And Ordsall also offers ghost nights where you can stay over in the historic home, waiting for the apparitions to appear.
But who are the ghosts said to haunt Ordsall?
Ordsall Hall’s White Lady is believed to be the ghost of Margaret Radclyffe.
An important figure in late Tudor society, Margaret was the maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I, becoming an important figure at her court.
What little we know of Margaret stems from court letters written by Rowland Whyte to the Earl of Leicester, Robert Sidney, during the 16th century. They paint Margaret as a sensitive figure who stayed in her chamber for four days after the Countess of Kildare had insulted her.
She died on November 10, 1599, after supposedly starving herself to death.
According to records, her twin brother Alexander Radclyffe was killed fighting in Ireland during the Nine Years War.
This caused Margaret to fall into a deep sadness and, eventually, her death.
Often appearing as a woman
in white or as a candle floating on its own, Margaret is said to be searching for her twin brother to arrive back from battle. She reputedly haunts her ancestral home to this day, especially the Star Chamber.
Another ghost is that of young Cecily, a girl said to haunt Ordsall, particularly when children or school parties
visit the home.
Jilted on the morning of her wedding and, unable to cope with the heartbreak, Cecily is thought to have thrown herself to her death from the top of the main hall staircase.
It is said you can tell when she appears because the air is filled with the smell of roses.
Another apparition frequently reported at Ordsall is Sir John Radclyffe.
The former Lord of the Manor, who was a famed soldier, died during the Siege of Saint-Martin-de-Re in France when the English fought in the French Wars of Religion.
John is said to have haunted many female visitors to the hall.