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The Tower of London
 The
Tower of London is perhaps one of the most famous castles in all the
world, and for several centuries of English history, there was not a
more blood-drenched battlement in all of England. As testament to the
Tower's violent past, several spectral personalities have walked it's
ramparts for nearly 800 years.
One of the earliest recorded sightings
occurred in 1241, when 71 years after his murder in Canterbury
Cathedral, St. Thomas Becket was seen by priests at the Tower. It is
recorded by the priests witnessing the apparition that the Archbishop's
spirit apparently objected to expansion work being carried out on the
grounds and struck the new walls with a cross, causing them to crumble
to the ground.
 One
of the most frequently reported spectral sightings is of Queen Anne
Boleyn, the second of King Henry VIII's wives. Anne Boleyn was one of
several of the wives that Henry had beheaded. She has been seen many
times over the years by the guardsmen patrolling the grounds. One of
the sentries even faced court-martial charges over the spirit.
It seems
one early morning while on guard duty, he saw a figure in a brown
velvet gown emerge from the mist and move toward him. He challenged the
figure several times and received no reply. The guard approached with
bayonet fixed, and as he did, he noticed that the figure's bonnet
appeared completely empty.
The figure did not stop advancing, and the
soldier ran it through with his bayonet. Bolts of white fire shot back
down his rifle knocking him unconscious. Later that morning, his
superiors found him and accused him of sleeping on duty; a very serious
offense in the military. In his court-martial hearing however, the
court had learned that Anne Boleyn's spirit had again been seen just
outside the little chapel where she spent her last night before
execution.
While there are many more reported
specters that inhabit the infamous Tower, one of the most frightening is
that of Margaret, Countess of Salisbury. At Margaret's beheading, she
managed to get free of her guards and ran screaming through the yard.
The ominous masked executioners chased her and when she tripped, dragged
her screaming and kicking back to the executioner's block.
Margaret
screamed and struggled as the men tried to hold her down, causing the
executioner's axe to miss three times. By now Margaret had gone
completely insane, and fought all the harder. On his fourth try, his
axe tore into only half of her throat. Her screams turned into bloody
gurgles. On the fifth drop of the axe the executioner found the mark
and Margaret's head rolled silently into the basket. Margaret
reportedly reenacts her horrific execution every year, on it's
anniversary.
by:
Dr. Von Zuko 1998©
 Hampton
Court Palace London, England
For over 500 years Hampton Court Palace,
in the London Borough of Richmond on the River Thames, was home to many
of Briton’s most famous monarchs. Hampton Court Palace played a
significant role in Briton’s history, certainly witnessing centuries of
grand and wondrous accomplishments for the betterment of mankind, but
also the darker side of political intrigue and a myriad of human
foibles. In its time, it has witnessed the best of people and the worst
of people, through wars, plagues, and governance. It has witnessed the
ushering in of new life, just as it has witnessed the uninvited specter
of death. It should come as no surprise then, that Hampton Court Palace
is considered to be one of the most haunted locations in England.
Since earlier times, numerous paranormal events and strange spectral
sightings have been reported. Today is no exception with visitors and
staff alike, reporting unusual occurrences all through the palace and on
the grounds. One of the more well known ghostly encounters of Hampton
Court Palace is said to be with Catherine Howard.
In about 1525 King Henry VIII of England embarked on building the palace
on the site of an earlier 14th century manor house. Hampton Court Palace
would be his royal residence and home to his family. It was also to
later be home, albeit briefly, to his fifth wife Catherine Howard. Henry
married Catherine shortly after his annulment from his fourth wife, Anne
of Cleves.
As history relates, two of the six consorts of Henry the VIII, lost
their heads to the executioners axe for alleged treasonous acts and
issues of moral character. Unfortunately, Catherine Howard was one of
them, and before their second year of marriage had past, young Catherine
was accused of adulterous acts and treason and was summarily sentenced
and executed. Of course one certainly can not be accused of adultery and
treason without co-conspirators therefore, a court acquaintance, (and
possibly lover) Thomas Culpepper and a court secretary Francis Dereham
were accused of complicity, imprisoned and sentenced to be executed.
Thomas was beheaded at Tyburn and his head impaled on a pole an
displayed on London Bridge, and Francis was drawn and quartered (an
agonizingly slow form of execution) with his head later removed and also
displayed at the bridge.
According to a popular narrative; upon the realization of her fate,
Catherine ran through the corridors of Hampton Court to find King Henry
so that she may plead for her life (she was a mere 18 years old.) The
king’s guard stopped her just outside of Henry’s chamber and refused her
audience with Henry. Catherine became hysterical and the guards took
hold of her and drug her kicking and screaming through a long gallery,
now referred to as “The Haunted Gallery.” They locked her in her bed
chamber to await her imprisonment and execution.
Today, many who visit the Haunted Gallery, or work at the palace as tour
guides or maintenance crews, experience unexplainable events.
When in the Gallery, an unexpected cold breeze suddenly materializing as
though someone is rushing by has startled many visitors. At least one
visitor recounts that she felt someone right up behind her and could
feel a breath on her neck as if someone were attempting to whisper to
her.
There are frequent reports of a diaphanous apparition of a lady in
white who unseeingly drifts by the un-expecting witness. Even more
unnerving are the inexplicable anguished screams that seem to emanate
from no where.
While The Haunted Gallery is the most talked about area of the castle,
strange phenomena and apparitions have occurred all through the castle
and its outdoor gardens. In one of the more recent accountings
(12/21/2003), video footage from one of the Hampton Court Palace’s newly
installed security cameras appears to have captured a figure in 15th or
16th century clothing (with no face). In the video the figure is closing
a metal door. What makes this interesting is that according to staff
members, this is a security and fire door that is always kept locked,
yet they have periodically found it unlocked and open.
If you ever have the good fortune to visit Hampton Court Palace, you may
get much more for your admission fee then you may have counted on. Don’t
be surprised to have an occasional uneasy feeling or to experience a
sudden chill in one of the long galleries, or perhaps you’ll catch
something at the corner of your eye that you won’t believe!
by: Dr. Von Zuko 2008©
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