Bolsover Castle: The Cavalier’s Delight

Unlike the military fortresses of earlier centuries, Bolsover Castle was built for entertainment. Commissioned by Sir Charles Cavendish and continued by his son William, it was designed as a place of romance, pageantry, and courtly love. In 1634, William entertained King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria with a lavish masque. The castle’s theatrical atmosphere seems to encourage its ghosts to perform.

The History

A Castle of Fantasy

The “Little Castle” was built in the early 17th century on the site of an earlier Norman fortress. It was designed to evoke medieval romance, with its mock-medieval tower and elaborate painted interiors.

The Terrace Range

The Terrace Range, with its vast gallery, was built to house the 1634 royal entertainment—one of the most expensive celebrations ever staged in England. The masque “Love’s Welcome to Bolsover” was written by Ben Jonson.

Civil War and Decline

William Cavendish was a Royalist general who fought for Charles I. After the Parliamentarian victory, he went into exile and the castle was damaged. He returned after the Restoration but never fully restored Bolsover.

The Hauntings

William Cavendish

The 1st Duke of Newcastle, master of Bolsover, has been seen:

• A Cavalier in extravagant 17th-century dress
• Walking through his creation
• Inspecting the state of the castle
• A grand, theatrical presence
• He seems pleased when visitors appreciate his vision

The Grey Lady

A woman in grey walks the Little Castle:

• Seen on the stairs and in the bedchambers
• Some identify her as a servant
• Others as a lady of the household
• Her expression is sorrowful
• She may have died from unrequited love

The Dancing Figures

In the gallery of the Terrace Range:

• Figures have been seen dancing
• The music of the 1634 masque
• Elaborate costumes catching glimpsed light
• The celebration continues centuries later
• Most commonly reported at dusk

The Kitchen Ghost

A servant figure haunts the kitchen areas:

• Going about their duties
• Preparing food for feasts long past
• The smell of cooking
• The clatter of pots and pans

The Horse Rider

William Cavendish was famous for his horsemanship:

• A phantom rider has been seen in the grounds
• A magnificent horse with a Cavalier rider
• Practicing the haute école movements Cavendish invented
• The horse and rider seem to float above the ground

The Wall Paintings

The Little Castle’s elaborate wall paintings are said to come alive:

• Figures seem to move
• Eyes follow visitors
• The symbolic images (of Venus, Heaven, Hell) create psychological effects
• Some visitors feel the paintings are watching them

Modern Activity

English Heritage manages the castle:

• Staff regularly report experiences
• Cold spots in the Little Castle
• Footsteps in empty galleries
• The sound of music from the Terrace Range
• Bolsover is considered one of Derbyshire’s most haunted sites

Visiting

Bolsover Castle offers one of the best-preserved Jacobean interiors in England. The wall paintings in the Little Castle are extraordinary, and the views across Derbyshire are spectacular.

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Bolsover Castle was built for fantasy and entertainment. William Cavendish created a world of chivalric romance, and in death, he and his guests continue to enjoy it. The masque never ended at Bolsover.