Notoriously haunted
Each issue we investigate the most ghostly buildings in Britain. Here we take a look at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire
Rising majestically above a wooded ridge, Bolsover Castle is renowned for its magnificent architecture and breathtaking views over Derbyshire’s Peak District. But the building also has another claim to fame – it’s one of the UK’s most haunted places.
In fact, when charity English Heritage asked its staff to vote for its spookiest site, Bolsover Castle topped the poll.
It’s hardly surprising given the numerous spectres said to walk the grand residence, built in the early 17th century as a lavish retreat for aristocrats.
According to the survey by English Heritage, staff working at Bolsover Castle regularly experience other-worldly activity. Doors slam and mysterious footsteps and faint ghostly voices are heard. Night watchmen claim they’ve seen eerie lights. And, locking up late one night, a staff member was walking away from the castle when she heard a bloodcurdling scream. But when she rushed back to investigate, the castle was empty.
Lucy Hutchings, regional director at English Heritage, says: ‘Bolsover Castle definitely has a dark side.’
The Grade I-listed stately home was built by nobleman
Sir Charles Cavendish on the site of a ruined Norman castle. But Sir Charles died before the mansion was completed and it was inherited by his son Sir William, who completed the work his father had begun. He hosted extravagant parties at the castle, including banquets for King Charles I in 1634.
Now open to the public, visitors describe so many spooky incidents that a special book is kept for them to record their experiences. And castle property manager Louise Fountain says the same sightings crop up again and again.
‘People often say they’ve seen a small lady dressed in black
and white Victorian clothing,’ reveals Louise. ‘In the 19th century, the castle was used as a vicarage and the housekeeper was Mrs Robins. People have observed her so often in what was once her bedroom that staff now call it Mrs Robins’ room.
‘Weddings were held at the castle until a few years ago and brides getting ready in that room told us it suddenly turned icy cold, or they’d witnessed a strange grey mist.’
Mrs Robins has even been said to have pushed people out of the room.
‘Another story is that in the kitchen people see a young woman cradling a bundle wrapped in cloth,’ Louise says. ‘Then she throws the bundle into the kitchen fire. But when they look again, no one’s there.’
Legend has it a maid working at the castle became pregnant out of wedlock and when her infant was born she threw it into the kitchen fire, driven to the dreadful act by fear and shame.
The grounds of the castle, which was built on an ancient burial ground, appear to be as haunted as the inside.
‘Children often say they’ve played with a little boy in old-fashioned clothing in the area of the grounds known as the Fountain Garden,’ says Louise. ‘And people walking in the garden reveal they’ve felt a child putting its hand in theirs.
‘On top of that, people say they can hear soldiers marching on the driveway. A grey lady is seen walking through a wall where there was once an entrance to the castle. A member of staff was standing alone on the steps leading up to the castle when she was pushed. So many things happen that it’s really difficult to find a rational explanation for.’
In 2017, ITV’s This Morning sent viewers Denice Watson, Rebecca Longhurst and Maria Dawson for a spooky sleepover at Bolsover Castle – along with Mr Ted, a haunted teddy bear.
The shoot was almost cancelled after a crew member was rushed to A&E with a mystery illness after being alone for a few hours with the creepy toy, which owner Debbie Davies claimed had been heard growling and caused headaches and nausea.
After showing Denice, Rebecca and Maria around the castle by lantern light, Heather Redmond from English Heritage took them into a room known as the Pillar Parlour, designed by Sir William Cavendish.
‘It’s thought he still haunts the room now, over in that corner next to the fireplace,’ she told the nervous women.
Jo Lockwood from paranormal investigation team Phantasmic Paranormal watched on night vision CCTV as the women bedded down on the floor with Mr Ted sitting on a chair nearby.
Within half an hour, Jo spotted mysterious lights floating across the room. One of the cameras monitoring the room lost power after a wire appeared to have been pulled from it. And during a session with a spirit box, a paranormal investigation device that transmits ghosts’ voices, a spirit was heard telling the women to leave Bolsover Castle.
With such an impressive roll-call of phantoms, Bolsover Castle has surely earned its reputation as one of the country’s haunted hot spots.