Given the enduring
popularity of Henry VIII and his six wives centuries
after their deaths, it's unsurprising that people claim
to have seen them haunting numerous stately homes and palaces.
Ghosts are believed to haunt significant locations, particularly
if a person has died through highly emotional, cruel or callous circumstances.
Just as is the case with the larger part of Henry VIII’s wives.
So let's take a look at some of the most popular Tudor ghost stories
in this Halloween special.
It's a strange coincidence that Anne of Cleves
who had a relatively uneventful life despite the divorce, died naturally.
She was never reported to be tormented in a way
that would cause her to haunt any place.
Hampton Court Palace is rumoured to be home
to the Royals with the most restless spirits, including Henry VIII,
Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard.
For the most part, the ghosts appear to work in pairs.
For example, Henry and Anne Boleyn frequently appear at Windsor,
and a different Anne Boleyn harasses an apologetic Jane Seymour at Marwell Hall.
But let's begin with Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII first wife.
She died on the 7th of January 1536 at Kimbolton Castle.
This was as a result of her refusal to grant her husband a divorce in 1535
and she’d been exiled to this second home.
There were rumour's circulating at the time that she'd been poisoned
by either Anne Boleyn or Henry VIII,
or possibly both.
Despite the fact that she was interned at Peterborough Cathedral,
Catherine's spirit still lingers at Kimbolton where she was imprisoned
and eventually died.
Catherine spent the majority of her time in one chamber,
which is also where her ghost is alleged to have been seen.
Though it has also been seen walking along the inner gallery and in the corridors.
Kimbolton is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a young child
who died after falling from the battlements of the castle.
Anne Boleyn.
Henry VIII second wife, was his mistress for six years before
becoming queen for a brief period of time, Henry had her executed
at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest and high treason.
Anne was beheaded by a French executioner with a sword
early in the morning of May the 19th, 1536.
Anne’s Ghost is said to haunt
a greater number of locations then any other Tudor ghost,
perhaps as a result of her violent ending,
or maybe as a way to prove to the world
she was actually innocent.
The ghost of Anne Boleyn
is set to visit her former home at Hever Castle
where she's been seen walking over the bridge that spans
the river Eden in the castle grounds on Christmas Eve.
And even today,
you can see the massive oak tree where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn.
There have been reports of her ghost appearing there from time to time,
most frequently around the holidays.
Aside from Hever Castle, she's also been seen walking over a bridge
while holding her head high towards the Tower of London.
It's only fitting that
she'd visit this location the country's most spooky landmark.
Inside the tower, she's also been seen wandering the corridors and
in her tombs small chapel.
The other notable
location where she is said to haunt is Windsor Castle, where she has been seen
running through corridors, screaming on several occasions.
It’s said on the anniversary of Anne Boleyn's execution.
Her ghost will appear at Blickling Hall in Norfolk.
She arrives in a horse drawn coach bearing her severed head in her arms.
Once they arrive, the coach disappears, leaving only Anne behind.
In the next moment, she floats into the corridor and proceeds
to wander through the various rooms until the sun rises once more.
Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour,
delivered the male heir he so desperately desired.
Unfortunately, the delivery was a difficult time for the mother,
despite the fact that Jane survived the ordeal
long enough to hear about her son's christening just three days later.
It became increasingly clear that she was not going to make it.
She fell ill and died on October the 24th, 1537, at Hampton Court,
most likely from an infection contracted during childbirth.
On the 12th of October, the
anniversary of her son's birth, Jane allegedly returns to Hampton Court Palace.
A woman dressed in white has been seen walking on the cobbled grounds
and on the stairwell near the gallery with a candle in her hand.
The Seymour house at Marwell Hall, where she also floats
around, is another haunted location.
Let's move on to Catherine Howard, who appears to be quite content
with the fact that Anne of Cleves is resting in peace
and that no ghostly sightings of her have occurred.
However, for Catherine, despite her brief marital union to Henry,
she was found guilty of adultery and beheaded at the Tower of London
on February the 13th, 1542.
After word of a secret affair broke between herself and Thomas Culpeper.
In the weeks before
her death, Parliament passed a law, declaring it treasonous
and so punishable by death for a queen consort
who failed to disclose her sexual history to her husband.
By the time this bill was passed, Catherine had been waiting in Syon Abbey.
Since November of the previous year for a verdict to be delivered.
Catherine was placed under house arrest shortly after the allegations
were made public, and according to legend, she was able to elude her bodyguards
and fled down the Haunted Gallery of Hampton Court Palace
were she came across the king praying in the chapel.
It got to the point where she was shrieking with rage, repeatedly
banging on the doors until she was dragged away, still screaming.
In the gallery in question, many people claim to be able to hear her screams,
and they’ve been moved to tears by the experience.
Catherine was spotted walking across the gallery towards
the royal pew before she was pulled back.
Catherine Parr, Henry's final wife, lived on at the time
despite a turbulent union with her husband.
She married Thomas Seymour shortly after his death
and defying all conventions in the process.
After three failed marriages, she became pregnant for the first time
and gave birth to her only child, at Sudeley Castle.
It was also here she would die, and be buried.
Catherine's husband was rumoured
to have poisoned her in order to marry Catherine's stepdaughter, Lady Elizabeth.
But this has since been proven to be unfounded.
Catherine, clad in a green gown, is set to wander the Sudeley grounds.
But a younger Catherine is set to haunt Snape Castle,
her second husband's primary residence.
While the spirit of Sudeley Castle is said to be quite depressing.
Her counterpart at Snape is described as cheerful,
a peaceful ghost dressed in blue, which spreads a sense of serenity
among those who come into contact with her.
Henry's death at Whitehall on the 28th of January
1547, includes a long history of illness,
his chronic conditions had resulted in him becoming overweight.
But along with his third wife, Jane Seymour,
he was laid to rest at Windsor Castles, St. George’s Chapel
Both Windsor and Hampton Court are said to be haunted by his ghost.
When he visits Windsor, he groans in agony as a result of an ulcer on his leg.
And when he visits Hampton Court,
his ghost was allegedly captured on security video in 2003.
Elizabeth I, Henry VIII daughter, has also been spotted at Windsor wearing black
and her footsteps can be heard walking the library's floor.
The Tudor dynasty has produced some of history's most well-known royals,
Henry VII was successful in bringing the Wars of the Roses
between the houses of Lancaster and York to a close, paving the way
for the establishment of the highly successful Tudor family.
This monarchy lasted for 118 years, under Henry VII
son, Henry VIII rule and the reigns of their three children.
Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
England became one of Europe's most important colonial powers
during this period.
So there you have it, The ghostly tales of the Tudors.
What we are left with now, are distant memories.
But maybe just now and again,
you may see out the corner of your eye or hear something that tells you,
although the Tudors are long gone they may still be around.
And as vocal as ever!