The Haunting of Lamb House

Lamb House in the ancient town of Rye, East Sussex, is famous as the home of American novelist Henry James. The Georgian townhouse, now owned by the National Trust, is said to be haunted by multiple spirits, including possibly James himself.

The House

Lamb House was built in 1722 for James Lamb, a wealthy merchant. Henry James lived there from 1898 until 1916, writing some of his finest works including “The Turn of the Screw” and “The Wings of the Dove.” The house’s literary associations add layers to its ghostly reputation.

Henry James

Staff and visitors have reported seeing a heavy-set man in Victorian dress in the garden and study. The figure matches descriptions of Henry James in his later years. Given that James wrote some of literature’s most sophisticated ghost stories at Lamb House, his own haunting seems appropriate.

The Grey Lady

A female apparition in grey has been seen on the staircase and in the bedrooms. Her identity is unknown, though she may predate James’s residency. She appears silently and fades when observed directly.

The Garden Room

The Garden Room, where James worked on “The Turn of the Screw,” is said to be particularly atmospheric. Visitors have reported feeling a presence, hearing typing sounds, and experiencing sudden cold. The room where James imagined his literary ghosts may have attracted real ones.

E.F. Benson

After James’s death, author E.F. Benson lived at Lamb House and wrote his “Mapp and Lucia” novels there. He also wrote ghost stories. Some believe his spirit, too, remains at the house, adding another literary ghost to its collection.

Assessment

Lamb House represents a unique convergence of literary ghost fiction and actual reported hauntings. The concentration of authors who wrote ghost stories at this location creates an interesting question about whether imagination can manifest reality.