The Haunting of Raynham Hall

Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, has been home to the Townshend family since the seventeenth century—and allegedly to the ghost of Dorothy Walpole, the “Brown Lady,” since her death in 1726. The ghost became internationally famous when she was photographed descending the main staircase in 1936, producing one of the most analyzed ghost photographs in history.

Dorothy Walpole

Dorothy Walpole was the sister of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister. She married Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend, in 1713. The marriage was turbulent. Lord Townshend was known for his violent temper, and Dorothy allegedly had affairs during their union.

When Lord Townshend discovered Dorothy’s infidelity, according to legend, he locked her in her rooms at Raynham Hall, where she remained until her death in 1726. Official records state she died of smallpox, but local tradition holds that she was confined and possibly starved.

Whether this imprisonment actually occurred is disputed by historians. What is certain is that Dorothy died at Raynham Hall and that reports of her ghost began not long after.

Early Sightings

The first recorded sighting occurred in the 1720s or 1730s, when servants reported seeing a woman in brown walking the corridors. Over the following century, numerous sightings were reported, including by guests who knew nothing of the legend.

In 1835, Colonel Loftus encountered the Brown Lady twice during a house party, describing her as wearing a brown brocade dress with a face that “seemed to consist only of bones and hollow eyes.”

In 1836, the noted author Captain Frederick Marryat stayed at Raynham Hall specifically to investigate the ghost. He reportedly encountered her in a corridor and fired his pistol at her, the bullet passing through her image without effect.

The 1936 Photograph

On September 19, 1936, photographers Captain Provand and Indre Shira were at Raynham Hall taking photographs for Country Life magazine. While photographing the oak staircase, Shira saw what appeared to be a veiled figure descending the stairs.

He shouted to Provand to take the photograph. Though Provand saw nothing, he triggered the camera. When the plate was developed, it showed a translucent, veiled figure on the staircase.

The photograph was published in Country Life on December 16, 1936, and became one of the most famous ghost photographs ever taken. It has been analyzed repeatedly, with some experts claiming evidence of double exposure and others finding no sign of manipulation.

Modern Analysis

The photograph continues to generate debate. Skeptics have proposed double exposure, camera movement, or reflections as explanations. Believers point to the photographers’ professional reputation and the circumstances of the shoot.

Digital analysis has been inconclusive. The image shows something, but whether that something is a ghost, a photographic artifact, or a deliberate fake remains contested.

Subsequent Activity

Reports of the Brown Lady continued after the photograph, though sightings became less frequent. Some have speculated that the photograph itself somehow released or diminished the haunting.

The Townshend family has maintained the tradition, and Raynham Hall’s ghost remains part of its identity.

Assessment

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall represents the intersection of documented history, long-standing tradition, and physical evidence in the form of a photograph. Dorothy Walpole was real; her unhappy marriage and death at the hall are historical facts. Reports of her ghost span three centuries.

The 1936 photograph is either compelling evidence of the paranormal or a clever fake that has never been definitively exposed. It remains the single most famous ghost photograph, and whatever its true nature, it has ensured that Dorothy Walpole, the Brown Lady, will never be forgotten.