Moseley Old Hall

Moseley Old Hall earned its place in history on September 8th, 1651, when the defeated King Charles II arrived as a desperate fugitive following his catastrophic loss at the Battle of Worcester. The Catholic Whitgreave family risked execution by hiding the king in their house, concealing him in a priest hole when Parliamentarian soldiers came searching. Charles spent two perilous days at Moseley, disguised as a servant, before continuing his escape route to France. The courage of the Whitgreave family saved the monarchy, but the tension of those days left a lasting mark.

The ghost of Charles II himself is said to haunt Moseley Old Hall, particularly the room where he hid and the famous bed in which he slept. Witnesses describe seeing a tall man in 17th-century dress, sometimes appearing weary and anxious, other times walking with regal bearing. He is most often encountered on the staircase and in the King’s Room, occasionally accompanied by the scent of woodsmoke and leather. Some visitors report an overwhelming sense of being pursued or watched, possibly residual fear from Charles’s time as a hunted man with a price on his head.

The priest hole where Charles concealed himself during the search is a focal point for paranormal activity. People who enter the cramped space report difficulty breathing, feelings of panic, and the sensation of someone else being present in the tiny chamber. Phantom footsteps echo through empty corridors, and doors are heard opening and closing at night. National Trust staff have reported unexplained knocking sounds and the movement of objects, particularly items associated with the king’s visit. The spirits of Moseley Old Hall seem to endlessly replay those fraught days when the future of England hung in the balance.