The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
One of the most famous ghost photographs ever taken shows her descending a staircase. The Brown Lady has haunted Raynham Hall since the 1830s—the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole.
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the world’s most famous ghosts, partly due to a photograph taken in 1936 that allegedly captured her image on a staircase.
The Legend
According to documented accounts:
The ghost is believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686-1726):
- Sister of Britain’s first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole
- Married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend
- Allegedly confined to Raynham Hall after an affair
- She died there under mysterious circumstances
The Sightings
1835: George IV saw the ghost while staying at Raynham Hall. He encountered a woman in brown standing by his bed and refused to stay another night.
1836: Captain Frederick Marryat (a novelist) stayed at the hall specifically to investigate. He and two companions saw a woman with empty eye sockets carrying a lamp. Marryat shot at the figure.
Later sightings: Multiple servants and guests reported seeing a brown-clothed woman on the stairs.
The Photograph
On September 19, 1936:
- Captain Provand and Indre Shira photographed the hall for Country Life magazine
- While photographing the main staircase, Shira saw a “vaporous form”
- He shouted for Provand to take the shot
- The developed photograph showed a translucent figure descending the stairs
The Photo’s Authenticity
The 1936 photograph has been:
- Published worldwide
- Examined by photography experts
- Called one of the most compelling ghost images ever taken
- Also accused of being a double exposure or manipulation
Arguments for authenticity:
- Both photographers maintained it was genuine
- Country Life published it
- No clear mechanism for fraud was identified
Arguments against:
- Double exposure was possible
- The photographers had motive (fame)
- The image is ambiguous
Lady Dorothy’s Story
The historical Dorothy Walpole:
- Had an affair before her marriage to Townshend
- Townshend was known for his violent temper (“Turnip Townshend”)
- She was allegedly imprisoned in Raynham Hall
- She died officially of smallpox, age 40
- Some believe she was murdered
Modern Status
Raynham Hall:
- Remains the seat of the Townshend family
- Is not regularly open to the public
- Continues to have a haunted reputation
- The 1936 photograph remains its most famous association