Ettington Park Hotel: The Original Haunting

Ettington Park Hotel is famous as the filming location for The Haunting (1963), widely considered the finest haunted house film ever made. But the production company didn’t need to add any ghosts—Ettington Park had plenty of its own. The Shirley family seat for centuries, this Gothic Victorian mansion has accumulated ghosts from multiple eras, making it one of Britain’s most haunted hotels.

The History

The Shirley Estate

The Shirley family owned land at Ettington from the 12th century. The current house dates from the 1820s, with elaborate Victorian Gothic extensions.

Film Location

In 1963, director Robert Wise chose Ettington Park as the exterior location for The Haunting, based on Shirley Jackson’s novel. The production reported strange occurrences during filming.

Hotel Conversion

The house became a luxury hotel in 1985 and has operated as such since, despite—or perhaps because of—its supernatural reputation.

The Hauntings

The Grey Lady

The most frequently seen ghost:

• A woman in grey Victorian dress
• Seen throughout the hotel
• Particularly in the Long Gallery
• She seems sad and searching
• Possibly a former Shirley family member

The Children

Child spirits play at Ettington:

• Running in the grounds
• Laughter from empty rooms
• A boy and girl in period dress
• They seem unaware of modern guests
• Playing games from centuries past

The Library Ghost

Something inhabits the library:

• Books move on their own
• The sensation of being watched
• A presence felt but rarely seen
• Intellectual energy persists
• Scholars may have died here

The Drowned Lady

A female figure associated with water:

• Seen near the river
• Wet footprints appear indoors
• The smell of water accompanies her
• She may have drowned nearby
• A tragedy echoes on

The Priest

A religious figure has been seen:

• In the ruins of the old church
• Also inside the hotel
• The Shirleys were devout Catholics
• Priests were hidden here during persecution
• His ministry continues

The Haunting Connection

The film shoot experienced phenomena:

• Equipment malfunctioning
• Strange sounds
• Cast and crew unease
• The building seemed to cooperate
• Fiction met reality

Modern Activity

As a luxury hotel, Ettington Park offers comfort and ghosts:

• Guests regularly report experiences
• Staff have documented phenomena
• Certain rooms are particularly active
• The hotel embraces its reputation
• Ghost weekends are offered

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Ettington Park Hotel was chosen to represent the haunted Hill House because it looked the part. But the filmmakers discovered that Ettington didn’t need to act—it was genuinely haunted. The Grey Lady, the children, the library presence—all were waiting for their close-up.