The Ghosts of Parham House

Parham House, a magnificent Elizabethan manor in West Sussex, has been lived in continuously since 1577. The house contains fine paintings, furniture, and textiles spanning centuries. It also contains ghosts that represent different periods of its long occupation.

The House

Built in 1577, Parham House sits in deer park below the South Downs. The grey stone building has changed little externally since its construction. Inside, the Great Hall, Long Gallery, and intimate family rooms create an atmosphere of timeless elegance.

The Grey Lady

A woman in grey Elizabethan dress has been seen in the Long Gallery. She walks the length of the gallery before fading near the far window. Her identity is unknown, though she is presumed to be an early resident of the house. Her appearances cause no alarm.

The Cavalier

A man in Civil War-era clothing has been seen near the Great Hall. Parham’s owner during the Civil War was a Parliamentarian, so the presence of a Royalist ghost is unexplained. He may be a prisoner or a visitor from that turbulent time.

The Kitchen Ghost

Staff have reported a presence in the medieval kitchen, one of the oldest parts of the house. Pots and utensils move when no one is present. Some have seen a figure in working clothes tending the great fireplace that once heated the household.

The Deer Park

Ghostly deer have been reported in the park, running in formation as if being hunted. The phantom hunt, complete with the sound of horns and hounds, has been experienced by visitors to the grounds, particularly at dusk.

Assessment

Parham House represents over four centuries of continuous occupation. The variety of reported ghosts, from Elizabethan to Civil War to servant class, suggests that the house has accumulated spiritual residents from each period of its history.