Five of the most haunted listed buildings

By Jim Sales Account Executive

Ruins of a stone abbey on a grassy hill with a small pond in the foreground under a bright, sunny sky.

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Whether you’re an avid believer or a little bit sceptical, it’s always interesting to read about alleged eerie sightings and stories from the past. In this article, we’ll go through our top five listed buildings, each with a spine-chilling story behind them.

Aston Hall

Grade I-listed Aston Hall in Birmingham is a red-bricked, Jacobean manor house designed by John Thorpe and built between 1618 and 1635. The property has developed several ‘ghost stories’ over the years, including sightings of the ghost of the very first tenant’s daughter, who was locked away for 16 years by her father, Sir Thomas Holte, until her death. She’s said to wander the halls alongside Holte’s houseboy and a ‘green lady’, thought to be his housekeeper.

There’s a hole in Aston Hall’s staircase which was made by a cannonball when the house was under siege during the English Civil War, so you can look out for ghostly Royalist soldiers too.

If you’re brave enough, you can book a ghost tour of Aston Hall here: Aston After Dark: Ghost Tour | Aston Hall | Birmingham Museums

Oxford Castle and Prison

Grade I-listed Oxford Castle and Prison has been recognised by the BBC as one of the most haunted buildings in the UK. With over 1,000 years of history, these buildings certainly have many stories to tell.

One of the castle’s most famous paranormal residents is Mary Blandy, one of Oxford’s most famous murderers. Mary was imprisoned at Oxford for poisoning her father, leading to his death. In 1752 Mary was sentenced to death and subsequently hung, which is believed to have happened in the castle yard. Her ghost has been spotted in multiple locations around Oxford Castle including the mound and at the Little Angel Inn.

The castle is open for ghost hunts, and you can even stay the night if you dare. Find out more here: Ghost Hunts – Oxford Castle & Prison (oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk)

Coastal town with a sandy beach, residential buildings, and a historic cathedral atop a hill in the background.

Whitby Abbey

Situated in Whitby, a small town in Yorkshire which was the setting for the famous Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Grade-I listed Whitby Abbey isn’t shy of a ghost story or two. It’s said to be home to the ghost of a young nun, Constance de Beverley, who was bricked up alive in the walls after breaking her vows, along with Hilda, the first Abbess. Reported sightings of Hilda have been in the highest window on the north side of the Abbey, where she appears for a few moments and then vanishes.

The cobbled streets, quaint cottages, and historic harbour of Whitby have helped it become a stand-out gothic town for visitors from across the world, which just makes it all the more suited to being one of the most haunted places in the UK.

Only remains of the Abbey are left, but if you’re feeling fearless there’s plenty more to do in the town, so why not plan a visit?

Pluckley Village

Pluckley is a village located in Kent which is home to over 70 listed buildings and is well known for being inundated with ghosts. The village has been featured in the Guinness Book of Records as Britain’s ‘most haunted village’ due to having more than ten ‘official’ ghosts.

Some of the spectres that are said to haunt the village include The Highwayman, The Red Lady, The School Master, and The Screaming Man. Pluckley’s reputation has drawn in various paranormal television programmes, as well as paranormal investigators for several years including Ghost Hunters International and Most Haunted.

You’ll struggle to find a location in the village that hasn’t got a ghost story or two to share, so if you’re feeling plucky, visit Pluckley.

Hampton Court Palace

Grade-I listed Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace built over five hundred years ago in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It’s believed that the ghost of Henry VIII has been spotted here along with two of his ex-wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard.

Jane died from post-birth complications at Hampton Court, only a few days after delivering Henry’s longed-for son, Prince Edward. A pale figure is reported to appear on the Silverstick Stairs, which once led up to the room in which Jane gave birth and died. The ghost of Catherine Howard is supposedly far more vocal and more frequently sighted than that of Jane Seymour. Catherine was beheaded at the Tower of London in 1542 for adultery and treason. However, it’s claimed that after she was arrested at Hampton Court, she broke free of her guards and ran along what is now called the Haunted Gallery, screaming out to the King for mercy. It’s claimed that these screams can still be heard today.

Dimly lit stone corridor with arched ceilings, illuminated by lanterns, and leading to a wooden door at the far end.

Unfortunately, the ghost tour at Hampton Court Palace for this year is sold out, but you can still visit at other times: Tickets and prices | Hampton Court Palace | Historic Royal Palaces (hrp.org.uk).

You don’t have to believe in ghosts to celebrate and enjoy the history of listed buildings. These buildings have many exciting stories to tell, so its always worth a visit. But maybe keep away at night-time, just in case…

Live with character. Insure with confidence.

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