Rufford Old Hall
A magnificent medieval manor with a spectacular great hall, haunted by a Grey Lady and the ghost of a young woman who died of a broken heart.
Rufford Old Hall is one of Lancashire’s finest examples of medieval timber-framed architecture, with its spectacular great hall featuring an intricately carved movable wooden screen and remarkable hammerbeam roof. Built around 1530 for the Hesketh family, the hall has a legendary connection to William Shakespeare, who may have performed here as a young actor under the patronage of Sir Thomas Hesketh. The building’s 500 years of continuous habitation have left it rich in history—and in ghosts.
The most frequently encountered spirit at Rufford Old Hall is the Grey Lady, seen throughout the building but particularly on the grand oak staircase and in the great hall itself. Witnesses describe her as wearing a grey or silver Tudor gown, appearing melancholic and lost in thought. Some believe she is Elizabeth Hesketh, who according to legend fell in love with a man deemed unsuitable by her family. Forbidden to marry, she died of a broken heart, and her spirit now wanders the hall where she lived her tragic life. She is most often seen at dusk, gliding silently through corridors, sometimes pausing to look out of windows as if waiting for someone who will never arrive. The scent of lavender often accompanies her appearances.
Beyond the Grey Lady, Rufford Old Hall experiences a wide range of paranormal phenomena. The great hall is particularly active, with witnesses reporting shadow figures moving among the ancient timbers, phantom footsteps echoing on the wooden floors, and the sensation of being watched by invisible eyes. Some visitors have heard period music—lutes and early instruments—playing faintly when rooms are empty, possibly residual echoes from Shakespeare’s time. The Victorian wing of the house also sees activity, with staff reporting objects moving on their own, doors opening and closing, and sudden cold spots. The ghost of a young child has been seen playing in the gardens, laughing and running before vanishing. National Trust employees have documented numerous unexplained incidents over the years, making Rufford Old Hall one of the most genuinely haunted properties in their care and a fascinating blend of historical grandeur and spectral mystery.