The Hauntings of Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace has a growing reputation as one of the most haunted buildings in the UK.

It is believed to be home to several wandering souls, one of which appears to have been even caught on camera. In this article, we look to document the most well known ghosts of Hampton Court.

The Fire Door Ghost

In 2003 interesting footage was caught on CCTV over looking one of the fire doors at the palace. The CCTV had been checked by security guards who were becoming increasingly annoyed with someone opening this particular fire door.

On several occasions, they has heard alarms ringing near an exhibition hall, indicating that fire doors had been opened. When they went to investigate, the door was closed again. The CCTV was then inspected, and the guards were in for a spooky shock! They watched as he cameras showed the door flying open for no apparent reason and then closing again. This then happened a second time, and a figure in period dress appeared in the doorway.

A palace guard said: "I was shocked when the camera footage showed an eerie figure in period dress in the doorway. It was incredibly spooky because the face just didn't look human. "My first reaction was that someone was having a laugh, so I asked my colleagues to take a look. We spoke to our costumed guides, but they don't own a costume like that worn by the figure. It is actually quite unnerving."

The Ghost of Katherine Howard

Home to King Henry VIII, it is no surprise that the restless souls of one of his executed wives should roam the corridors and rooms today.

Catherine Howard was Henry's 5th wife, and was held t the palace under house arrest due to committing adultery, before her execution at the Tower of London. An 1897 book about the palace says she was reportedly seen on several occasions, dressed in white and floating down one of the galleries shrieking and crying.

Jane Seymour

Another of Henry's wives, Jane Seymour, lost her life at Hampton Court during childbirth. It is said that she still walks the cobbles of the courtyard today, carrying a lit candle.

Nurse Sibell Penn

Henry's son Edward had a nurse by the name of Sibell Penn. Sibell was buried in the palace grounds in 1562. During building work in the 1820's her grave was disturbed. At a similar time to this happening an odd whirring noise began to be heard in the south-west wing of the palace. The sounds were traced and followed by workmen, who uncovered a small room containing an old spinning wheel. It's ages was correct in terms of Sibel Penns lifespan, and is beleived to have been her spinning wheel.

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