The Ghost of Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded in 1536 on charges of adultery and treason. Her ghost is one of England’s most frequently reported, appearing at the Tower of London, Blickling Hall, and other locations connected to her life.

The Tower of London

Anne was executed on Tower Green and is buried in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula. Guards and visitors have reported seeing her walking near the execution site, sometimes carrying her head under her arm. She has been seen looking out from windows.

Blickling Hall

Anne’s childhood home in Norfolk is reportedly haunted by her ghost. Each year on the anniversary of her execution, May 19, a ghostly coach drawn by headless horses arrives at the hall. Anne sits inside, carrying her head on her lap.

Other Locations

Anne has been reported at Hever Castle, her family home. Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, and Salle Church in Norfolk also report her presence. She seems bound to places that held meaning during her brief, tragic life.

The Sightings

Witnesses describe a woman in Tudor dress, sometimes headless, sometimes whole. She often appears distressed or melancholy. Some reports describe her praying or weeping. The ghost seems unaware of observers.

Assessment

Anne Boleyn’s violent death and the injustice of her execution may explain why her spirit is so unsettled. Her ghost is one of the most widely reported in England, seen by tourists, guards, and historians alike across nearly five centuries.