Sutton House
A rare Tudor survivor in East London, haunted by the ghost of a Blue Lady, phantom dogs, and the spirits of centuries of residents.
Sutton House, built in 1535, is one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in Hackney and a remarkable Tudor survivor in modern East London. Built for Sir Ralph Sadleir, a courtier to Henry VIII, the house has witnessed nearly 500 years of London’s turbulent history—from Tudor intrigue to Victorian poverty, from wartime bombing to squatter occupation in the 1980s. Each era has left its mark, and many believe the building’s ghosts reflect this layered past.
The most famous apparition at Sutton House is the “Blue Lady,” seen throughout the building but particularly on the oak-paneled stairs and in the chambers of the Great Chamber. Witnesses describe her as wearing a blue Tudor dress, appearing solid and lifelike before vanishing suddenly. Her identity remains unknown, though some speculate she may be connected to the house’s earliest residents. Staff and visitors also report encounters with the “White Lady,” another female spirit seen in the Georgian period rooms, and the ghost of a Victorian housekeeper who appears concerned and hurried, as if still attending to her duties.
Perhaps the strangest phenomena at Sutton House are the phantom dogs—witnesses report hearing the patter of paws on wooden floors, barking, and growling, but no physical animals are present. The Little Chamber is particularly active, with reports of aggressive paranormal activity including objects being thrown, people being pushed, and an overwhelming sense of malevolence. Some visitors experience sudden nausea or dizziness in this room. The building’s Tudor chapel area also sees regular activity, with the scent of incense, shadow figures, and the sound of whispered prayers. National Trust staff have documented numerous unexplained incidents, making Sutton House one of London’s most haunted historic properties and a fascinating window into the capital’s spectral past.