More Spooky Norfolk Stories

Pull Up A Chair & Keep Warm By The Fire...

Just as you thought it was safe to read your copy of Harnser’s Blog I thought, as its *that* time of the year again, to trawl the Ed Archives (imagine the Library at Hogwarts School and you won’t be too far out) and bring you a few more ghost stories from that very special part of the world that we call home….

Norfolk is frequently referred to as the most haunted county in England. And with good reason. Our quiet lonely lanes, ancient roads, echoing salt marshes and eternally twisting coastline have long been the focus of late night  conversations, an occasionally tall but always haunting tale of ghostly apparitions and manifestations.

Hardly surprising for a county with such a rich, long and occasionally dark history.

Take the story of the brown lady from Raynham Hall for example. You may have seen the famous photograph of the light and ethereal figure walking down one of the staircases of the ancient seat of the Townshend family.  

It was taken in 1936 by a photographer working for Country Life magazine who, whilst setting up to capture an image of the staircase noted what his assistant later described as, “...a vapour form gradually assuming the appearance of a woman.” The figure is said to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole who, when her alleged adultery was discovered by her husband, was doomed to be forever locked into her rooms of the home she still wanders today, trapped and unable to wander any further than the staircase she is most famously associated with.

The famous photo of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall descending the staircase (Image in Public Domain)

Would you set up a lonely vigil at the foot of those stairs to see if the legend is true-even for one night?

I’ll pass on that one.

A much talked about spectral tale in the 1970’s centred on the old squash courts at the old RAF base in Bircham Newton. It had since been converted into a training centre for the construction industry yet, in and around those courts, the events of World War Two never quite went away with tales of ghostly games of squash being played there at night time long after the base became home to students rather than servicemen and women. One night, despite the courts being locked up and in darkness, some returning students heard the sound of a boisterous game in process within. The story goes that some US Airmen had, prior to a bombing mission, agreed to meet there afterwards for a game but, sadly, never returned-at least physically. Were the sounds heard by the students on that long, dark night those of the brave airmen’s ghosts finally enjoying their long overdue game?

Spooky squash courts in Bircham Newton (Evelyn Simak/geograph)

A popular destination for many visitors to Norwich is the Maids Head Hotel. It is a building rich in history, so much so that you can feel it all around you whenever you are in the building and have reason to wander its large rooms and long corridors. Part of it dates back to the 13th century and it is believed that, in 1587, Queen Elizabeth spent a night in the building on one of her numerous tours of the nation. No ghostly sightings of the Virgin Queen have been shared but there have been many others reported there, including that of a woman dressed in grey whose presence is accompanied by a strong scent of lavender. Thus, even if you do not see her, be aware of that scent, one which indicates her gentle presence as she takes one of her sedate walks around this atmospheric building.

The very fine Maids Head Hotel in Norwich supposedly has a spook or two (Dr Neil Clifton/geograph)

The Ship Hotel in Brancaster is supposedly haunted by the ghost of the young Lord Nelson’s Nanny whilst, in Thetford, the fifteenth century Bell Hotel has a main suite bedroom that is said to be haunted by a hooded monk. Down on the ground floor of The Bell there are often reports of sightings of Elizabeth Radcliffe, a onetime landlady, still, it would seem, intent upon watching over her former residence. The Bell is also the scene of countless unexplained ‘happenings’ such as a feeling of being watched, else a chill in the atmosphere or unexplained and heavy footsteps, all things which contribute to its reputation as one of the most haunted buildings in the county and one well worth a visit if you fancy a spot of ghost hunting.

Elm Hill in Norwich is the scene of the ghost of Father Ignatius, a holy man who, it is said, placed curses whilst he was living on several folk who subsequently died. Forced to leave the City by enraged locals, his spirit now walks Elm Hill in the twilight, carrying a large black Bible in his hand as he continues to harass and curse those who would be unwary of his presence.

Looking down Elm Hill in Norwich (Rob Farrow/geograph)

Norwich Castle was the site of a haunting in the early part of the nineteenth century when the prisoners being held there were reported to have been “scared half to death” by something which was recorded as being ‘indescribable’-a chilling thought in itself. The Castle is still the location of several modern day ghost stories with museum staff reporting sightings of an old lady said to float around the grounds. There is a story that says the hill on which the castle proudly stands conceals the grave of an ancient King, buried alongside his hoard of silver and gold.

Is anyone prepared to disturb the spirits of the Castle by taking a closer look?

Finally, if you find yourself travelling the road between Fakenham and Norwich, be aware of the strange tale of the black wolf, a relative of our old friend (see Harnser’s Blog from 24.12.2021) Black Shuck perhaps? It was reportedly seen by a driver who said that, as he passed, it slowly and very deliberately looked up from the carrion it was feeding upon to meet and fix its eyes upon his, before returning to its kill.

There’s a good dog.