The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the most famous ghosts in British history, made legendary by a 1936 photograph that purportedly captured her image on the main staircase. The ghost, believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, has been reported for over two centuries and became an icon of supernatural photography.

The Legend

Lady Dorothy Walpole was the sister of Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister. She married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, in 1713. Legend holds that when Townshend discovered Dorothy had been unfaithful, he imprisoned her in a remote part of Raynham Hall until her death in 1726.

The ghost of a woman in brown brocade began appearing in the hall shortly after Dorothy’s death. She was seen gliding through corridors, descending the main staircase, and standing in bedrooms. Her most distinctive feature was her face, which witnesses described as skull-like, with hollow, empty eye sockets.

Notable Sightings

King George IV reportedly saw the Brown Lady while staying at Raynham Hall in the early 1800s. He was so terrified that he refused to spend another night in the house, declaring “I will not stay another hour in this accursed house, for I have seen that which I hope to God I may never see again.”

In 1835, Colonel Loftus saw the apparition twice. His second encounter was on the staircase, where he observed a woman in brown satin with empty eye sockets where her eyes should have been. Captain Frederick Marryat, a famous novelist, reportedly fired a pistol at the ghost, the bullet passing through her.

The Photograph

On September 19, 1936, photographers Captain Provand and Indre Shira were taking pictures of Raynham Hall for Country Life magazine. While photographing the main staircase, Shira claimed to see a veiled figure descending. He quickly triggered the flash, and Provand took the picture.

The developed photograph showed a translucent, shrouded figure on the staircase. Country Life published the image, and it became one of the most analyzed ghost photographs in history. No definitive proof of manipulation has been established, though skeptics have proposed various explanations including double exposure and light leaks.

Legacy

The Brown Lady photograph remains one of the most famous paranormal images ever captured. Raynham Hall continues to be associated with the ghost, though sightings have been rare in recent decades. Some believe the photograph somehow released or satisfied Dorothy’s spirit.