Blenheim Palace

Woodstock
Oxfordshire
OX20 1PX

History

Blenheim Palace, once the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, is now home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and is set in 2100 acres of parkland and formal gardens. The palace was originally created to celebrate victory of the French during the Wars of the Spanish Succession and was a gift to the first Duke of Marlborough from the Queen and a grateful nation, with the promise of funds to build such a house, because he skilfully led the Allied forces into battle as a military commander in 1704. However the Duchess, a strong formidable woman, was not happy with such a grand residence and often argued with the architects and even fell out of favour with the Queen herself. Funds dried up and the building of the palace came to a halt in the summer of 1712. The palace was finally completed at the Duke’s own expense.

Subsequent Dukes and Duchesses have made considerable differences to the palace through horticulture and innovation but it was the 9th Duke who created the formal gardens and restored the Great Court, replanting the entrance avenue and the Grand avenue, that made the biggest contribution to Blenheim. He was also responsible for the complete redecoration of the State Rooms.

During the World Wars the palace was used for the various means to help the war effort. Winston Churchill, the grandson of the 7th Duke and close friend of the 9th, was born at Blenheim and spent a great deal of time at the palace.

The palace is now a World Heritage Site and is preserved by the present Duke who has committed his life to the preservation of Blenheim.

Paranormal Activity

The Dean Jones Room, named after the first duke’s former chaplain, was once said to have been haunted by the man himself but it was said he never appeared again once Churchill was born in that very room.

Blenheim is also reportedly haunted by a ghost of a Roundhead soldier who is said to appear sitting huddled over an empty grate, near to the fire, in one of the bedrooms.

The palace is also said to be the home of a poltergeist, which once forced the royal commissioners to leave the palace.

Treasurer's House

Minster Yard
York
North Yorkshire
YO1 7JL

History

Treasurer’s House has a history that dates back to over 2,000 years ago with recent excavations showing ancient Roman foundations. Originally the home to the treasurer’s of York Minster, this large town house was built on a Roman road and is home to some exquisite collections along with its Edwardian servants’ quarters in the attics and its thirteen period rooms. The house was restored between 1897 and 1930 by a local industrialist, Frank Green and has undergone many alterations over the years with its cellars being restructured in 1953.

Paranormal Activity

An apprentice plumber, working alone, is said to have heard the sound of a horn when working within the cellars only to be followed by the apparition of a man on a horse, wearing a helmet and armour in the style of a Roman soldier. Behind the vision, it was believed the plumber then recorded seeing an army of soldiers, all helmeted and wearing red kilts and green tunics, with some carrying short swords or spears. To be noted is the apparitions apparent marching, the soldiers were said to be marching within the floor of the cellar up to their knees, as if the ground was below the level of the cellar floor. It is believed that the soldiers were following the Roman road that runs through the old town house. The plumber also reported that many of the men looked weary and wounded as if surviving just after a battle.

The cellar is closed to the general public but a CCTV camera is set-up near to the area and recent research has shown that along with Roman foundations found during recent excavations, York was indeed inhabited by a 9th Legion of Rome who later were to go missing and were never to be found.

Bodidris Hall

Llandegla
Wrexham
LL11 3AL
North Wales

History

A Bodidris Hall of some kind dates back to even the Dark Ages with its area often a scene of bitter fighting between the English and the Welsh in medieval times. The original hall was burned down by an English army in 1401 but rebuilt after the Glyndwr wars in 1465. Monks have passed through the hall centuries ago as well, often stopping here to perform prayers.

Paranormal Activity

Black-robed Cistercian monks are said to haunt the hall along with a medley of other ghosts one of which is of a lady called Margaret Lloyd who lived around the 16th Century. She is said to have married in the family at the hall but died during her mid fifties.