The Many Ghosts of Chillingham Castle

Freaky Friday

There are literally all the ghosts at this place. It's incredibly haunted! I’ve compiled a list of the most notable ghosts and occurrences from this location for you, dear readers.

The White Pantry Ghost

The story goes that one night, a footman (who is a male servant ranked just below the butler and can assist if he’s the head footman—just a fun fact for you) encountered a Lady in White. Some stories say he was about to go to sleep, while others claim he was on guard. Either way, he described her as a “frail figure,” very pale and sickly. He said she begged him for water. Assuming she was one of the castle's guests, he went to fetch her some. Then, suddenly, he remembered he was locked in, and no visitor could have possibly entered. When he turned back, she was gone. Investigators believe that her appearance and request for water may suggest she was poisoned, which could explain her demise.

The Ghost in the Chamber

This entity has never been reported visually, but its presence is felt. People describe it as an energy that influences the atmosphere in the Chamber. It’s said that “there is a sense of something unseen yet distinctly moving. It can feel like a chill, a dark, creeping sensation, or perhaps just an oppressive atmosphere.”

The Voices in the Chapel

It’s said that the voices of two men can be heard conversing, but their words remain indistinct. They seem aware of their surroundings because when someone tries to listen in, the ghosts stop their conversation. Additionally, two skeletons were discovered in an underground vault here, leading to speculation that these are the voices. Another skeleton, identified as that of a girl, was also found, though her story is largely unknown. It is believed she may have been hiding in the chapel. Her ghost is particularly active with female visitors, often playing with their hair and attempting to communicate. It’s noted that the area where her body was found has a noticeable shift in atmosphere and is filled with sadness.

The Ghosts in the Courtyard

This area was the site of mass executions, so there’s undoubtedly a lot of trauma and death associated with it. People have reported hearing disembodied cries and seeing dark, shadowy apparitions.

The Blue Boy

This is the castle’s most famous ghost, also referred to as the Radiant Boy. He is said to appear in one of the castle’s bedrooms known as the Pink Room. The story goes that the apparition of a young boy, illuminated by blue light, would emerge from a wall in this room. Reports indicate that blue orbs of light and the cries of a child can often be heard emanating from the same wall. In the 20th century, the skeletal remains of a young boy, along with fragments of blue clothing, were discovered hidden behind that wall. Tragically, many believe he was walled up alive, as his fingers’ bones and nails were worn down and broken from trying to escape.

Lady Mary Berkeley

She is said to have lived in the castle with great sadness because her husband, Lord Grey of Wark and Chillingham, left her for her sister—who, in my opinion, is equally unlikable. Her apparition has been seen from her old living quarters, looking out of the windows on the upper floor.

Finally, I’ll discuss three areas known for their ghostly activity rather than specific ghosts. First is the King Edward Bedroom, where a dark and sinister presence reportedly attacks those who enter.

The area with the trees used for executing people (where they were hung by their feet and left to die) has reports of light anomalies, disembodied voices, and footsteps.

Lastly, there’s the Devil’s Walk, which is similar to the hanging trees area, and also features light anomalies and footsteps.

For more information on ghost tours, visit

https://chillingham-castle.com/ghosts

Have a Spooktacular weekend & I’ll see you next week for another Freaky Friday!