Carlisle Castle: Nine Centuries of Border Ghosts

Carlisle Castle has been besieged more times than any other castle in Britain. For over 900 years, it has guarded the volatile English-Scottish border, witnessing endless warfare, executions, and imprisonment. It held Mary Queen of Scots and saw the last battle fought on English soil. Such a history has left it crowded with ghosts.

The History

Border Fortress

Built by William II (Rufus) in 1092, the castle was captured and recaptured by English and Scottish forces numerous times over the following centuries. It remained a working military installation until 1959.

Notable Prisoners

• Mary Queen of Scots was held here in 1568
• Hundreds of Jacobite prisoners after the 1745 rebellion
• Scottish nobles and rebels throughout the Middle Ages

The Licking Stones

In the dungeon, smooth stones testify to centuries of desperate prisoners licking moisture from the walls—the only water available to those left to die.

The Hauntings

Mary Queen of Scots

Scotland’s tragic queen has been seen:

• In the chambers where she was held
• A tall, elegant woman in 16th-century dress
• Her presence brings profound sadness
• She appears to be waiting for rescue that never came

The Dungeon Prisoners

The castle’s most active area is the dungeon:

• Moaning and crying from empty cells
• Figures in ragged medieval dress
• Chains rattling
• The overwhelming sense of despair and thirst
• The licking stones seem to attract paranormal activity

The Jacobite Ghosts

After the 1745 rebellion, hundreds of Jacobite prisoners were held here in terrible conditions:

• Soldiers in Highland dress
• Speaking in Gaelic
• Some appear wounded or dying
• Mass hauntings near the prison areas

The Border Reivers

The lawless horsemen who raided both sides of the border for centuries:

• Mounted figures in the castle grounds
• The sound of hooves at night
• Wild, violent spirits
• Aggressive presence near the gates

The Headless Ghost

A headless figure walks the inner ward:

• Believed to be an executed prisoner
• Carries his head under his arm
• Medieval or Tudor clothing
• Appears at midnight

Lady in Grey

A woman in grey has been seen throughout the castle:

• Quiet, reserved presence
• Possibly a medieval noblewoman
• Often seen in the keep
• Disappears when acknowledged

Modern Activity

As an English Heritage site with ongoing military connections, the castle is well-documented:

• Security cameras have captured unexplained figures
• Tour guides regularly report experiences
• EVP recordings in multiple languages
• Physical phenomena including doors opening and objects moving

Visiting

Carlisle Castle is managed by English Heritage and houses the museum of the Border Regiment. Its long history and atmospheric dungeons make it one of the most compelling haunted sites in northern England.

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Nine centuries of warfare, imprisonment, and execution have filled Carlisle Castle with the dead. From the licking stones of the dungeon to the chambers where a queen awaited her fate, the spirits of the Border remain.