Interior courtyard. |
It is said England has as many ghosts as it has apple trees. Its long rich history is pointed to as the reason for this.
The British Tourist Board recently calculated that the country has at least 10,000 haunted locations. This is a lot of ghosts for a country that would easily fit within the state of Oregon.
Most castles in England lay claim to at least one ghost. Arundel, a medieval Castle located in west Sussex is said to have more than one.
Arundel Castle |
Castle Keep |
Roger de Montgomery established Arundel on Christmas Day in 1067. He was the first Earl of Arundel and is said to haunt the castle. His apparition is seen in the Castle Keep.
Another spirit seen is of a young woman who after she experienced a tragic love affair leapt to her death off Hiorne Tower, which is within the park. Multiple witnesses have seen her in the moonlight—dressed in white.
Hiorne Tower |
Library has remained the same for centuries. |
Yet another ghost at Arundel is known as the Blue Man. This spirit has been seen since the 1630s most often in the castle’s library. It is believed he lived at the castle. He is thought to be a Cavalier for his dress reflects the period of King Charles l.
Arundel also has the spirit of a white owl. This bird is seen fluttering in one of the windows. It is a harbinger for when seen it foretells the imminent death of a resident of the castle.
It is believed this bird is connected to a time when one of the Dukes of Norfolk—this family has owned the castle for more than 850 years—kept a colony of American owls before Arundel’s restoration in the late 1780s.
A young boy, a servant was beaten to death. His ghost is seen in the area of the castle’s kitchen. This poor lad is still seen scrubbing pots and pans.
As recent as 1958, a footman in training, was crossing the ground floor to turn off the drawbridge lights when he spotted only the upper half or head and shoulders of a man. This figure had long hair and was wearing a grey tunic.
Today, the Duke of Marshal the 18th Earl of Norfolk owns Arundel. Its grounds are open to the public.
Just of few of the gardens. |