Place: Raynham Hall
Location: Norfolk, England
Phone: Not publicly available
Hours: Private residence; not open to the public
Admission: Not applicable
Website: Not availabl https://raynhamhallmuseum.org
History: Raynham Hall, located in Norfolk, England, is a stately country house that has been the seat of the Townshend family for nearly 400 years. Construction began in 1619 under Sir Roger Townshend and was completed in 1637.
The hall is renowned for its architectural significance, being one of the earliest examples of Italian-influenced design in England.
Hauntings: The most famous specter associated with Raynham Hall is the “Brown Lady,” believed to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686–1726), sister of Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. According to legend, after being discovered in an affair, Lady Dorothy was confined to the hall by her husband, Charles Townshend, until her death from smallpox in 1726. Her apparition, characterized by a brown brocade dress, has been reported by various witnesses over the centuries.
Personal Experiences:
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1835: During a Christmas gathering at the hall, Colonel Loftus and another guest reported encountering a figure in a brown dress with empty eye sockets.
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1836: Captain Frederick Marryat, a friend of Charles Dickens, stayed at Raynham Hall to investigate the hauntings. He allegedly encountered the Brown Lady, who grinned malevolently at him, prompting him to fire a pistol at the apparition.
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1926: Lady Townshend’s son and a friend claimed to have seen the ghost on the staircase, identifying her from a portrait of Lady Dorothy.
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1936: Photographers from Country Life magazine captured an image purported to be the Brown Lady descending the main staircase. This photograph has become one of the most famous ghost images in the world.
Paranormal Activity Rating: High (Frequent activity)
For a visual exploration of the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, you might find the following video informative: