The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
The most famous ghost photograph ever taken. Lady Dorothy Walpole, imprisoned by her cruel husband, still descends the oak staircase in her brown brocade dress.
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is perhaps the most photographed ghost in history. The famous 1936 photograph, showing a luminous figure descending the main staircase, has never been conclusively debunked and remains one of paranormal research’s most compelling pieces of evidence.
The Ghost’s Identity
The Brown Lady is believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686-1726), wife of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend. According to historical accounts:
- She reportedly had an affair before her marriage
- Her husband discovered the affair after their wedding
- He imprisoned her in Raynham Hall
- Official records state she died of smallpox in 1726
- Local legend claims she was pushed down the stairs
- Her ghost wears the brown brocade dress she often wore in life
Early Sightings
The Brown Lady was first reported in 1835:
Christmas 1835: Colonel Loftus, a guest at the hall, twice encountered a female figure in a brown brocade dress. Her face was described as “gaunt and horrible”—with dark empty sockets where her eyes should be.
1836: Captain Frederick Marryat, a famous naval author, stayed at the hall to investigate. He reportedly encountered the ghost in the corridor and fired his pistol at it. The bullet passed through the figure and lodged in a door.
The Famous Photograph
On September 19, 1936, photographers Captain Provand and Indre Shira were taking photos for Country Life magazine when Shira saw something on the staircase:
“I saw an ethereal veiled form coming slowly down the stairs. Rather excitedly, I pressed the trigger.”
The resulting photograph shows a luminous, veiled figure descending the staircase. It was published in Country Life on December 26, 1936, and has been analyzed countless times since:
Arguments for authenticity:
- The photographers were professionals with reputations to protect
- Contemporary analysis found no evidence of double exposure
- Multiple witnesses were present during development
- The figure matches historical descriptions
Skeptical arguments:
- Camera movement could create blur effects
- Light leakage or reflection is possible
- The image could be manipulated during development
No definitive explanation has ever been accepted by both believers and skeptics.
Later Sightings
The Brown Lady has continued to appear:
- Guests have reported seeing a female figure on the stairs
- Cold spots occur in the gallery
- The smell of perfume has been noticed in empty rooms
- Some visitors report feelings of being watched
However, sightings reportedly declined significantly after the 1936 photograph. Some researchers suggest the attention somehow “drove away” the ghost; others propose the spirit finally found peace.
The Hall Today
Raynham Hall remains a private residence of the Townshend family. While not open to public tours, it remains one of the most famous haunted houses in Britain, primarily due to that one extraordinary photograph.