Felbrigg Hall

This beautiful Jacobean and Georgian hall is home to one of England’s most literary ghosts - a phantom librarian who continues his scholarly work centuries after death, alongside other spirits from the Windham family’s long and often tragic history.

The Phantom Librarian

The most famous ghost of Felbrigg Hall haunts its magnificent 18th-century library:

The Spectral Scholar:

• An elderly gentleman in 18th-century dress
• Seen among the bookshelves
• Appears to be cataloging or reading books
• Books moved overnight to different positions
• The sound of pages turning in empty room
• A studious, peaceful presence
• Most active in evening and early morning

The library contains over 5,000 books, many original to the house. The ghost is believed to be William Windham III (1750-1810), a renowned scholar, book collector, and politician who was devoted to this library.

William Windham’s Story:

• Distinguished politician and scholar
• Friend of Samuel Johnson and Edmund Burke
• Built up the magnificent book collection
• Died from injuries sustained fighting a fire
• His love for his books may keep him here

The Grey Lady

A female apparition in the older parts of the house:

• Grey dress from the 17th century
• Seen in corridors and on staircases
• Identity unknown, possibly a Windham family member
• Silent and melancholic
• Most often seen near the Great Hall
• Brings intense cold

William Windham II (“Mad Windham”)

William Windham II (1717-1761), known as “Mad Windham”:

• His eccentric spirit felt throughout the house
• A presence in the Dining Room
• Known in life for bizarre behavior
• May account for doors opening unexpectedly
• Objects moved to strange positions

The Servant Ghosts

Victorian-era staff continuing their duties:

• Figures in servant livery on back stairs
• The sound of cleaning in empty rooms
• Footsteps in the service corridors
• Most active in early morning
• Appear to be unaware of modern times

The Cabinet Room

Strong phenomena in this room:

• Unexplained cold spots
• The scent of old tobacco
• A male presence
• Feeling of being watched
• Papers rustling with no wind

The Gardens and Woods

Felbrigg’s extensive grounds have their own spirits:

• A figure in a long coat walking the woodland paths
• Possibly William Windham III, who loved walking
• Most seen at twilight
• The sound of footsteps on gravel paths
• A peaceful, contemplative presence

The Great Hall

The oldest part of the house (1620s):

• Flickering shadows
• Footsteps when empty
• A heavy, ancient atmosphere
• The scent of woodsmoke from long-cold fires
• Jacobean-era figures glimpsed briefly

Additional Activity

National Trust staff report:

• Books found open to specific pages
• Library ladder moved during the night
• The sound of someone working in empty rooms
• Doors that refuse to stay closed
• Cold drafts with no source
• A scholarly atmosphere in the library

The Windham Tragedy

The last Windham died in 1866, ending the male line. The house passed through various hands, creating a sense of loss and abandonment that may contribute to its hauntings. The final Windhams’ attachment to their ancestral home seems to transcend death.

Felbrigg Hall is now managed by the National Trust. Unlike many haunted houses, the atmosphere here is more scholarly and melancholic than frightening - particularly in the library, where the phantom librarian continues his endless work among the books he loved in life.