Tamworth Castle

The Holloway
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B79 7NA
www.tamworthcastle.freeserve.co.uk

History

Tamworth Castle is a typical Norman motte and bailey castle thought to date from the 1180s. Since then numerous additions and alterations have been made by succeeding generations of owners. The oldest surviving section within the Shell-Keep, apart from the Tower itself, is the north wing. The Banqueting Hall was added in the early 15th century and the Warder's Lodge at the entrance to the courtyard is Tudor. Unfortunately the castle was much neglected in the 18th century, but between 1783 and 1811 extensive alterations were made. There has been some confusion over the identity of the castle's first Lord. There is evidence that it was held by both Robert de Despencer and Robert Marmion. Robert de Despencer evidently left no male heir so either a daughter or a niece married into the Marmion family. But as the name Despencer means Steward it is now believed that they may have been the same person. The Marmions held the castle until 1291 when Philip, the last Baron, died. In 1423 the castle passed to Sir Thomas Ferrers of Groby. From the Ferrers, the castle passed by marriage to the Shirleys of Chartley in 1688, Earls of Northampton in 1715, and finally to the Townshends of Raynham in 1751. In 1897 the castle was purchased by Tamworth Corporation for the sum for £3000, and was formally opened to the public on the 22nd May 1899. The castle was twice threatened with destruction. In 1215 King John sent an armed force to raze it to the ground in revenge for Sir Robert Marmion, the fifth Baron, having sided with the Barons against him. During the Civil War it was held by the Royalists in 1642. The Cromwellian forces captured the Tamworth in 1643 after a siege lasting two days. Cromwell ordered the castle's destruction, but, as in King John's time, the threat was not carried out.

Paranormal Activity

The castle is reputedly home to many spirits. The most famous ghosts are known to be the Black Lady and White Lady. The White Lady is said to have been captured and locked in the Tower by the wicked Sir Tarquin. But she eventually fell in love with him and is said to walk the battlements around the castle, weeping over her lover who was slain by Sir Lancelot du Lac, who came to rescue her. The Black Lady is allegedly the ghost of a nun called Editha who founded her order in the 9th century; her nuns were said to have been expelled from a nearby convent by Robert de Marmion. The angry prayers of the nuns were said to have called Editha from her grave. One night in 1139 after a lavish banquet, Marmion was attacked by the ghost of Editha, who prophesied that unless the nuns were restored to Polesworth, the Baron would meet an untimely death. Just before she vanished the spectre hit the Baron on the side with the point of her crosier; the wound was so terrible that Marmion's cries awoke the whole castle. His pain only ceased when this vow was taken and the nuns returned to Polesworth.

Sinai House

Staffordshire

History

The house is made up of 2 buildings that were moved up from the town. The house is grade 2* listed and is made up of Medieval, Jacobean and mid 1700's building. Although it looks very much like an Elizabethan manor much of it is a lot older. It has been called by architects 'the most important house in England to be in such a state'. Half the building is still derelict and dangerous to enter but the owners are in the process of restoring the house to its former glory.

The site is well known as an important historical site and is an ancient monument - it's an ancient medieval moated site, there is still part of the old medieval structure in the cellar. There is also circumstantial evidence to suggest that it was a Roman stronghold. In Medieval times the lord of the manor ruled his territory from here holding courts and trials in the manor. - It was then given to the local abbey and the two houses (the structure that exists now) were moved up here and the manor became a rest home for monks. After the dissolution of the monasteries Henry 8th gave the manor to the Paget family and it was part of the estate of the First Lord Paget, Baron of Beaudesert. In 1605 the two separate houses were joined together to make it look more like a grand manor house. Many Civil War skirmishes were fought on the land at Sinai House. 1730's - The bridge over the moat and the plunge pool were built again as a sign of wealth to make it look more gothic and grand. Lord Henry Paget, Earl of Anglesey and Uxbridge, was Wellington's 2nd in command at Waterloo. The story goes that Henry had his leg shot off whilst on his horse, Wellington turned to him and said 'Lord Paget, I do believe you've lost a leg', he calmly replied 'Sir, I do believe I have'. There were lots of poems and stories written about him. Henry was also a well known lady's man and went through a very high profile divorce. The Paget family owned the property until the early 1900's. When they sold it it was converted into 6 cottages, then eventually condemned and used to house pigs and hens.

Paranormal Activity

Both the owners regularly see figures, usually from the corner of their eye and also shadows going from one room to the other. They are also regularly convinced that the other one is standing right behind them only to turn around and there's no-one there. Their animals, particularly the cat, are often found yowling with their eyes focused intently on something that no-one else can see. Local legend is that there is a Grey Lady of Sinai House who was a maid seduced by one of the monks. When she became pregnant he murdered her and buried her in a field nearby. Apparently she walks across the bridge over the moat (particularly on New Year's Eve). The current owners have never seen her personally but various psychics and mediums have picked up on her presence so there may be some truth in the rumours. Recently a visitor to the house pulled over on the private road up to the house to let a hay cart pass, when they looked back there was no such cart to be seen. When the house was cottages people would regularly report seeing or hearing a phantom coach and horses drawing up on the driveway. People thought to be Cavaliers are heard fighting out by the moat bridge. In the past residents have experienced poltergeist activity such as crockery being thrown around in the Kitchen. People when standing at the front door have felt themselves being pushed into the house. On at least 3 occasions the owner has seen the 'Black Dogs of Sinai' in the dining room and kitchen, they look very lifelike and she knows at least 3 other people who've seen them too (they are thought to have been the abbot's dogs). The spirit of an old lady was detected in the attic room - it turned out that she was the mother of a visitor and was waiting for her.

Shugborough Hall

Cannock Chase
Staffordshire

History

Paranormal Activity

The former lady of the house, while never seen, makes her presence known by gently knocking on doors, and rustling her silken dress.