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Haunting of The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

Step into the haunted history of ghostly encounters at Raynham Hall, one of the most haunted house in England.

By Tim Trott | Reported Ghosts and Hauntings | December 21, 2007

​Prepare to be spooked as we delve into the eerie tales surrounding Raynham Hall, known as the most haunted house in England. From ghostly apparitions to unexplained phenomena, this historic residence has a chilling history that will send shivers down your spine. Join us on a bone-chilling journey through the haunting of Raynham Hall.

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the most famous hauntings in Britain because of the strange shape captured by photographers from Country Life magazine in 1936. The image is said to be that of the Brown Lady, a spirit that has been known to haunt the house. The 'Brown Lady' is so named because of the brown brocade dress it is claimed she wears.

According to legend, the 'Brown Lady of Raynham Hall' is the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686-1726), the sister of Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. She was the second wife of Charles Townshend, who was notorious for his violent temper. The story says that when Townshend discovered that his wife had committed adultery with Lord Wharton he punished her by locking her in her rooms in the family home, Raynham Hall.

Portrait of Lady Dorothy Walpole
Portrait of Lady Dorothy Walpole 

Lucia C Stone was the first to record a reference to the ghost at Christmas 1835. The ghost was described as "an aristocratic-looking lady with one horrific feature, where her eyes should have been, were only empty sockets, highlighted in a face that glowed with an unearthly light."

Raynham Hall, Norfolk
Raynham Hall, Norfolk 

On the 19th of September 1936 two professional photographers, Captain Provand and his assistant Indre Shira, were taking photographs of the hall for 'Country Life' magazine. The photographers were photographing Hall's main staircase when Shira saw a misty form ascending the stairs. He shouted to the captain that there was something on the stairs, and asked if the Captain was ready, he replied "Yes" and took the cap off the lens, while Shira pressed the trigger for the flashlight.

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, one of the most famous ghost photographs of all time, originally taken for Country Life and first published in December 1936.
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, one of the most famous ghost photographs of all time, originally taken for Country Life and first published in December 1936.

Raynham Hall has a reputation for being the most haunted house in England, and for good reason. Countless reports of ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena have been documented throughout its history. From the infamous Brown Lady, a ghostly figure is often seen descending the grand staircase, to the eerie sounds of footsteps and whispers in the dead of night, the haunting of Raynham Hall is a bone-chilling experience that will leave you questioning the existence of the supernatural. The grand staircase, in particular, is a hotspot for ghostly activity, with many claiming to have seen the ghostly figure descending its steps.

Raynham Hall has a long and eerie history that has earned it the reputation as the most haunted house in England. The house dates back to the 17th century and has been the site of numerous ghostly encounters. One of the most famous apparitions is the Brown Lady, believed to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole. She is often seen floating down the grand staircase, her face shrouded in a veil. Visitors have also reported hearing unexplained footsteps and whispers throughout the house, adding to the spine-chilling atmosphere.

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