Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire

History

Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire is actually part of a huge Country Park, with 200-odd acres of woodland, as well as formal gardens and parkland. The centrepiece of the grounds is the castle itself.

Originally a manor house, it was built for Sir John Stanhope (Jr - his farther was also Sir John!) in 1633, the building undertook a huge amount of re-design work in the 1800's by James Wyatt for General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington. Eventually in 1968 the current Earl of Harrington sold the estate to the Derbyshire County Council and they opened - and the grounds - to the public as part of their "Countryside Act". Lucky us!

Hauntings

One of the commonest ghosts that resides here, also comes in one of the commonest forms - a white lady. It's said that she's Maria Foote, who married the 4th Earl of Harrington. She's often witnessed with a "forlone, longing" look on her face and also walking the grounds with a white "wolfhound" looking dog.

A scullery maid was said to have commited suicide in the mid 18th century, she was thought to have been pregnant as the time. Could she be responsible for the (very odd) sound of raindrops in the kitchen? Bearing in mind no water has been falling at the time, or leaky pipes either, this is a very odd, unexplainable phenomenon.

The most grumpy spirit at the house is that of Jim Booth, the old gamekeeper. He's been caught on video jamming doors and then pulling them out of people's hands - apparently annoyed at people's intrusions around the building!

Local boy and Historian, Richard Felix (of most haunted fame) does regular ghost walks around this, and many other buildings in Derbyshire. Worth checking out!

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