The Grey Lady of Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace, the magnificent Tudor residence on the banks of the River Thames, is considered one of the most haunted buildings in Britain. Among its many reported spirits, the Grey Lady is perhaps the most frequently encountered. She has been seen by hundreds of visitors and staff over nearly two centuries, drifting silently through the ancient corridors in what appears to be Tudor-era clothing.

The Palace’s Haunted History

Hampton Court was built by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1514 and seized by King Henry VIII in 1529. The palace witnessed some of the most dramatic events of the Tudor period—Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, the imprisonment and death of Catherine Howard, and the birth of the future Edward VI. Five of Henry’s six wives spent time within its walls.

With such turbulent history, it is perhaps unsurprising that Hampton Court has accumulated a substantial roster of reported ghosts. Jane Seymour, who died there after childbirth, has been reported walking with a candle. Catherine Howard allegedly runs screaming through the Haunted Gallery. But the Grey Lady is the most commonly reported apparition.

Identity and Description

The Grey Lady is described as a tall, slender woman in grey Tudor-era clothing, possibly a nun’s habit or a noblewoman’s mourning dress. She appears solid and three-dimensional, often mistaken for a costumed guide until she vanishes or passes through a wall.

Her identity is uncertain. One theory suggests she is Dame Sybil Penn, nurse to the sickly Prince Edward and later to Queen Elizabeth I. Dame Sybil served the Tudor household loyally for decades and died of smallpox in 1562. She was buried in the old church at Hampton, and her ghost was reportedly first seen after her tomb was disturbed during church renovations in 1829.

Dame Sybil Penn Connection

When St. Mary’s Church in Hampton was partially demolished in 1829, Dame Sybil’s tomb was disrupted. Almost immediately, strange noises began emanating from a wall in the palace. When the wall was examined, workers discovered a previously unknown room containing an antique spinning wheel. This was identified as Dame Sybil’s private chamber.

Following this discovery, a woman in grey began appearing throughout the palace. She matched descriptions of Dame Sybil and seemed particularly attached to the former royal apartments and the area where her chamber had been found. The timing of her first appearance—immediately after the tomb disturbance—seemed more than coincidental to Victorian observers.

Notable Sightings

A palace employee in the 1940s reported a chilling encounter. Working late one evening, she entered a corridor and found herself face to face with a woman in grey. Assuming it was a visitor who had stayed past closing, she approached to direct the woman out. The figure turned, revealing a face of shocking pallor, then walked directly through a solid wall.

In the 1970s, two visitors independently reported seeing a woman in Tudor dress standing by a window in the Queen’s apartments. When they looked more closely, she faded from view. Neither visitor knew the palace was reputed to be haunted.

A security guard making rounds in the 1990s observed a woman moving through a locked door. He followed but found the room beyond empty and could find no way she could have exited.

The CCTV Incident

In 2003, Hampton Court gained international attention when CCTV cameras captured what appeared to be a figure in period dress emerging from a fire door. The footage, recorded on three consecutive days, showed the heavy door flying open and a robed figure stepping through. Security guards who investigated found no one present.

The footage was analyzed by various experts. Some declared it a sophisticated prank; others found no evidence of tampering. Hampton Court officials stated they could not explain the images. The incident renewed public interest in the palace’s paranormal reputation.

Other Haunted Locations

The Grey Lady has been reported throughout the palace but favors certain locations. The Clock Court, at the heart of the palace, is a frequent sighting spot. The Haunted Gallery, where Catherine Howard allegedly ran screaming before her arrest, produces reports of grey figures. The Chapel Royal and its surroundings are also associated with her appearances.

Staff members report encountering the Grey Lady most often in the early morning hours before the palace opens to visitors. These quiet moments seem to encourage manifestations. Night security guards have numerous accounts of seeing her during their rounds.

Patterns of Activity

Those who have studied the Grey Lady reports note certain patterns. She is most often seen in autumn and winter, though sightings occur year-round. She appears most frequently in the evening and early morning. She never speaks, makes no noise, and seems unaware of witnesses.

Her behavior suggests residual haunting—a psychic imprint repeating endlessly rather than an interactive spirit. She follows the same paths, appears in the same locations, and never responds to those who see her. If Dame Sybil Penn is the Grey Lady, she may simply be going about the duties she performed for decades in life.

Investigation and Research

Hampton Court has been investigated by numerous paranormal research groups. Thermal anomalies, electromagnetic fluctuations, and unexplained sounds have been documented. Some investigators report feeling watched or experiencing sudden temperature drops.

The palace’s management takes a balanced approach. They acknowledge the ghost stories as part of Hampton Court’s heritage without making definitive claims about their reality. Guided ghost tours are popular, drawing visitors who hope for their own encounter.

Legacy

The Grey Lady of Hampton Court represents one of the most enduring and well-documented apparition reports in England. The combination of a historically significant location, hundreds of witnesses over nearly two centuries, and the intriguing connection to Dame Sybil Penn makes this a compelling case in the study of apparitions.

Whether she is the ghost of a loyal Tudor servant, a psychic recording of past events, or something else entirely, the Grey Lady continues to appear to visitors and staff at Hampton Court Palace, maintaining her silent vigil through the centuries.