Gainsborough Old Hall
One of England's best-preserved medieval manor houses, haunted by a Grey Lady and the spirits of its Tudor and Stuart residents.
Gainsborough Old Hall is one of the most complete medieval manor houses in England, a magnificent timber-framed building dating from around 1460. The hall has hosted royalty—Richard III held court here in 1483, and Henry VIII stayed with Catherine Howard in 1541 during their doomed marriage. The building later sheltered Separatists who would eventually sail to America on the Mayflower. This rich tapestry of history has left the hall pervaded with spectral presences, making it one of Lincolnshire’s most haunted historic buildings.
The most famous ghost at Gainsborough Old Hall is the Grey Lady, seen throughout the building but particularly on the grand staircase and in the long gallery. Witnesses describe her as wearing a grey medieval or Tudor gown, appearing melancholic and sometimes wringing her hands as she walks. Her identity is disputed—some believe her to be a member of the Burgh family who built the hall, while others suggest she may be connected to the tragic Catherine Howard, who was arrested for adultery shortly after her visit and later executed. The Grey Lady is often accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature and the scent of roses or lavender.
Beyond the Grey Lady, the Old Hall is home to numerous other paranormal phenomena. The kitchen area, one of the finest medieval kitchens in England, is said to be haunted by phantom servants, with visitors reporting the sounds of cooking, the clatter of pots and pans, and voices calling out orders when the area is empty. Shadow figures are frequently seen moving through the great hall and chambers. The tower area is particularly active, with reports of aggressive paranormal activity including people being pushed or grabbed by invisible hands. Staff members have documented objects moving on their own, footsteps in empty corridors, and the sensation of being watched. Some have reported seeing a man in Tudor dress, believed to be a former owner, and the ghost of a small child playing in the courtyard. Gainsborough Old Hall’s ghosts seem to reflect every era of its long history, creating a truly haunted time capsule.