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The fair country of England is quite famous for its ghostly apparitions from the shade of Hamlet's father in the play 'The Tragic History of Hamlet', the ghost of Marley in the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and to the delightful Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. For the lover's of ghostly spirits there are today many old manor houses, castles and abbeys in the British Isles that are rumored to be haunting grounds for an assortment of spooks. Here are a number of edifices compiled by the National Trust of England that would be of interest to ghost hunters and also for other visitors.
BICKLING HALL, NORFOLK:
Blickling Estate is a treasure trove of romantic buildings, beautiful and extensive gardens and a landscaped park. You might hear the dying groans of Sir Henry Hobart who was killed in a duel, or witness Ann Boleyn's unhappy spirit wandering through the stately manor in your vis
BUCKLAND ABBEY:
In the 13th cent Buckland Abbey was home to the Cistercian monks who built the Abbey and worked and farmed the estate grounds. Later two swashbuckling seafaring adventurers – Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Francis Drake – changed the shape of the abbey to their tastes and the fate of the country with their daring deeds. Today both of their spirits, accompanied by hell hounds, are rumored to haunt the former abbey.
COTEHELE, CORNWALL:
Cotehele is a sturdy Tudor manor house with many stories and legends that will interest the visitor through a guided tour. The rooms and halls are ornamented and festooned with tapestries and adorned with textiles, arms and armor, pewter, brass and old oak furniture. A visitor can explore the pleasant Valley Garden, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote, the Upper Garden or the two orchards planted with local apples and cherries. Yet it is haunted by the sounds of strange music, hazy figures and there is musky strange smell that permeates the interior.
EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL:
Visitors to the edifice can examine the exquisite embroideries and blackwork, oak furniture and pewter in the interior of the Manor House. A visitor can also enjoy strolling through the gardens of East Riddlesden with pink cherry trees, clematis, borders, daffodils and soothing lavender beds. Yet, despite the tranquility there are spirits that haunt the estate. One will encounter the White Woman who drowned in the ground's fish pond or meet the Grey Lady whose husband locked her in her room and starved her to death.
RUFFORD OLD HALL, LANCANSHIRE:
The hall is one Lancashire's finest 16th-century Tudor buildings, where William Shakespeare once performed for the owner, Sir Thomas Hesketh, and his esteemed guests.. As with all historic edifices it is decorated and ornamented with a fine collection of furniture, arms, armor and tapestries. The estate grounds are delightful where a visitor can enjoy the gardens, topiary and sculpture and a walk in the woodlands, alongside the canal. You will meet the spirit of the Lady in Grey, Elizabeth Hesketh who became ill while her husband was at war overseas. She vowed she would not leave this world without saying goodbye to her dear husband, who never returned.
HAM HOUSE, SURREY:
Ham House, rich in history, lore and atmosphere, is one of a series of grand houses and palaces alongside the River Thames. Ham manor house is largely the vision of Elizabeth Murray, Countess of Dysart, who was deeply embroiled in the politics of the English Civil War in the 1670's and subsequent restoration of the monarchy. The fine interiors and historic gardens make this a fascinating place to visit. The spirit of the Countess lingers there – maybe she can't bear to leave her masterpiece she created or she is paying for her misdemeanors during her play at politics.
Outside of 'ghostly encounters', The National Trust of England founded in 1895 to preserve places of historic interest or natural beauty permanently for the nation and visitors alike to enjoy would be of interest. Every one of the National Trust's historic houses is unique and holds the secrets of those who once lived and worked there; the garden and landscape surrounding these interesting and well ordered historical sites promises amazing views and different beauty with each season. Also the National Trust looks after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages to the attention of visitors. –
Are you planning a trip to the UK? Then why not make the most of your visit with the National Trust Touring Pass? A 7 or 14 day pass with maps will give you free entry to over 300 historic houses and gardens in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
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