Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall is one of the oldest manor houses in the northwest of England, with parts dating back to the 14th century. But it is an event from 1555 that has given the hall its most enduring and macabre legend: the Bloody Footprint. George Marsh, a Protestant preacher, was brought to Smithills Hall for interrogation by the Catholic magistrate Roger Barton during the Marian Persecutions. When condemned to death for heresy, Marsh stamped his foot in protest, declaring that his blood would leave a permanent mark as testimony to his innocence. He was burned at the stake in Chester, and allegedly a bloodstain in the shape of a footprint appeared on the flagstone where he stood—a stain that has never faded despite centuries of attempts to remove or cover it.

The Bloody Footprint remains visible in the hall’s entrance, and the area is a focal point for paranormal activity. Visitors report seeing the apparition of a man in Tudor clothing, believed to be George Marsh himself, standing near the flagstone with an expression of defiance and sorrow. Some witnesses have experienced sudden feelings of profound sadness, injustice, or anger when standing near the mark. The footprint area becomes notably colder than surrounding spaces, and some people report feeling as though they are being watched or judged. On certain nights, witnesses claim to hear the echo of a man’s voice proclaiming his faith and innocence, though the words are indistinct.

Beyond George Marsh’s ghost, Smithills Hall is home to numerous other spirits. The Great Hall and withdrawing room see frequent activity, with shadow figures, phantom footsteps, and objects moving on their own. The ghost of a woman in a green Tudor dress has been seen in the upper chambers, believed to be a member of the Barton family. Staff and visitors report doors slamming, unexplained knocking sounds, and the sensation of someone walking past them in empty corridors. The chapel area is particularly active, with reports of organ music when no one is playing and the scent of incense. Some investigators have reported being touched or pushed by invisible hands. The bloody footprint and the martyred soul it commemorates have made Smithills Hall a place of pilgrimage for both history enthusiasts and paranormal investigators, a site where faith, injustice, and the supernatural intersect.