Pevensey Castle - Lady Pelham's Vigil
The Roman fortress and Norman castle where William the Conqueror landed is haunted by Lady Pelham, who defended the castle during her husband's absence.
Pevensey Castle stands on the site where William the Conqueror first landed in 1066, with Roman walls dating back to the 4th century. The castle is haunted by the ghost of Lady Joan Pelham, who famously defended the fortress in 1399 during a siege while her husband Sir John Pelham was away. Lady Pelham’s spirit has been seen patrolling the battlements and towers, apparently still keeping watch over the castle she so valiantly protected.
Witnesses describe seeing a woman in medieval dress walking the walls at dawn and dusk, her figure translucent against the ancient stone. She appears most frequently near the inner bailey and the main gatehouse, the very areas where the siege was most intense. Some visitors report feeling a protective presence, as though the Lady is still ensuring no harm comes to those within the castle walls. The sound of footsteps on the battlements when no one is visible has been reported by castle staff for generations.
The haunting of Lady Pelham reflects her fierce loyalty and courage in life. She successfully held the castle against overwhelming odds for several months until her husband returned with reinforcements. Her spirit seems bound to the location not by tragedy but by duty and devotion. Modern visitors and staff continue to report encounters with the phantom defender, making Lady Pelham one of Sussex’s most inspiring ghosts, a warrior woman still standing guard centuries after her death.