Seaton Delaval Hall

This spectacular baroque mansion, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, is haunted by the tragic fire that gutted it in 1822 and by the notorious Delaval family, whose scandalous lifestyle and tragic deaths have left an indelible supernatural mark.

The Phantom Flames

The most dramatic and disturbing haunting at Seaton Delaval:

The 1822 Fire:

• A catastrophic fire destroyed the central block
• Family members barely escaped with their lives
• Priceless contents were lost
• The building was left a burnt-out shell for decades

The Ghostly Conflagration:

• Flickering orange light in windows of the gutted central block
• The smell of smoke with no source
• The sound of crackling flames
• Screams of terror echoing
• Heat felt on cold days
• Most active on the anniversary (January)
• Witnesses report seeing flames that aren’t there

Visitors and staff report the unsettling experience of seeing fire in windows, only to find the rooms empty and cold.

The Delaval Family Spirits

The Delavals were notorious for their wild lifestyle:

Sir Francis Blake Delaval (1727-1771):

• Famous rake and practical joker
• His presence in the State Rooms
• Laughter echoing through empty halls
• The sound of rowdy parties
• A mischievous, playful energy
• Objects moved as pranks

Lady Sarah Hussey Delaval:

• Wife of the last Delaval baron
• Seen in the gardens
• Dressed in late 18th-century mourning
• Lost several children
• A sorrowful presence
• Most often seen near the family chapel

The White Lady

A classic haunting in the East Wing:

• A woman in white flowing dress
• Gliding through corridors
• Identity uncertain - possibly a Delaval bride
• Brings intense cold
• Most active on moonlit nights
• Associated with tragedy

The Mahogany Hall Ghost

The magnificent Mahogany Hall experiences phenomena:

• Footsteps on the wooden floor
• The sound of dancing
• 18th-century music
• Figures in period dress glimpsed
• The scent of perfume and candle wax
• Party atmosphere in empty room

The Delavals were famous for their lavish entertainments, which may continue beyond death.

The Stable Block Hauntings

The impressive stable wings:

• Phantom horses heard
• Hoofbeats in empty stalls
• The sound of coaches arriving
• Grooms in period livery
• Most active at dawn and dusk
• Carriage wheels on gravel

The Vanbrugh Connection

Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect, died before completion:

• Some report a presence inspecting the building
• A tall figure in early 18th-century dress
• Examining architectural details
• Most active in the dramatic central block
• May be Vanbrugh checking on his masterpiece

The Burned Servants

Tragic deaths in the 1822 fire:

• Servants who died trying to save property
• Figures in early 19th-century servant dress
• Running through corridors
• Carrying objects as if rescuing them
• Panic and desperation in the air
• Most active in the gutted central section

The Gardens and Grounds

The extensive grounds have their own spirits:

• Figures in 18th-century dress walking paths
• Laughter from empty gardens
• The sound of outdoor parties
• Dueling pistol shots (the Delavals were notorious duelists)
• Most active in summer evenings

The Haunted Obelisks

Two obelisks in the grounds:

• Strange lights around them at night
• A meeting place for supernatural activity
• Figures appearing and disappearing
• May be connected to Delaval family burials

Additional Phenomena

National Trust staff and visitors report:

• Doors opening and slamming
• Unexplained cold spots
• The overwhelming smell of smoke
• Sounds of revelry in empty rooms
• A sense of tragedy and loss
• Lingering party atmosphere

The Delaval Legacy

The family’s history reads like Gothic fiction:

• Scandalous behavior
• Tragic early deaths
• Financial ruin
• The devastating fire
• Line dying out in 1814

This combination of excess, tragedy, and dramatic architecture has created one of Northumberland’s most intensely haunted houses. The phantom flames remain the most disturbing phenomenon - a supernatural echo of the disaster that transformed this baroque palace into a magnificent ruin.

Though partially restored, the central block remains roofless, a dramatic shell where the phantom fire still burns.