The Musters Family Spirits

The Legend

Within the elegant Georgian walls of Colwick Hall Hotel, two sorrowful women from centuries past refuse to leave the home they knew in life. Their stories, though separated by circumstance, are united by tragedy and loss. Visitors to this stately Nottinghamshire estate have long reported encounters with these melancholic figures—one forever hiding from a violent mob, the other eternally mourning a love that was never meant to be.

The History

Colwick Hall’s connection to the Musters family stretches back generations, but it was the tumultuous events of 1831 that would forever mark the house with supernatural significance. Sir John Musters, the hall’s owner, was a staunch opponent of the Reform Bill—legislation that sought to address inequalities in parliamentary representation. His political stance made him deeply unpopular with local reformers.

On the night of the riots, an angry mob descended upon Colwick Hall with violent intent. They ransacked the grand house, causing severe damage to the property and terrorising its inhabitants. Ann Musters, Sir John’s wife, fled in terror and concealed herself in the shrubbery surrounding the estate, listening in horror as her home was violated. The psychological trauma of that night proved too much for her fragile constitution. Just four months later, in 1832, Ann Musters died—her spirit broken by the attack she had witnessed.

But Ann is not alone in her eternal vigil. The hall also plays host to the shade of Mary Ann Chaworth, a woman whose tragic story predates the riots by several decades. Before her marriage into the Musters family, Mary Ann had captured the heart of the young Lord Byron. Their romance, however, was deemed unsuitable by her family, and Byron was spurned. He would later immortalise her in his poetry, but for Mary Ann, marriage to John Musters brought little happiness. She is said to have died filled with regret for the path not taken.

The Hauntings

The ghost of Ann Musters manifests most frequently in the grounds where she once hid for her life. Witnesses describe seeing a frightened female figure crouching amongst the vegetation, her face pale with terror, seemingly oblivious to those who observe her. This spectral re-enactment of her darkest night plays out repeatedly—a classic residual haunting trapped in an endless loop of fear.

Inside the hall, Ann has also been encountered in the east wing, appearing as a sorrowful presence that drifts silently through rooms she once called her own. Staff members have reported sudden drops in temperature and an overwhelming sense of sadness when entering certain chambers.

Mary Ann Chaworth’s spirit takes a different form. She is most often seen gliding through the corridors of Colwick Hall, her ethereal figure dressed in period clothing. Those who encounter her describe a beautiful woman with an expression of profound melancholy—as if she is forever searching for something, or someone, lost to her.

The attic spaces of Colwick Hall are also reputed to be haunted, though the identity of this third presence remains unclear. Unexplained sounds, footsteps, and an unsettling atmosphere have been reported by those who venture to the upper reaches of the building.

Witness Accounts

Over the years, both staff and guests at Colwick Hall Hotel have come forward with their experiences. Hotel employees have spoken of glimpsing figures in period dress disappearing around corners, only to find the corridors empty upon investigation. Guests staying in the east wing have reported feeling an invisible presence watching them, and some have awoken to the sensation of being observed by unseen eyes.

One particularly compelling account describes a guest who, whilst walking the grounds at dusk, observed a woman in Victorian dress hiding behind a hedge. Assuming it was a re-enactor or fellow guest, they approached to speak with her—only for the figure to vanish completely as they drew near.

Investigation and Evidence

The hauntings at Colwick Hall have attracted the attention of local paranormal research groups over the years. Investigations have recorded anomalous temperature fluctuations in the east wing and captured unexplained sounds in the attic areas. The weight of historical documentation—including contemporary accounts of the 1831 riots and records of both women’s deaths—provides a compelling foundation for the supernatural claims.

The hall’s listing with Historic England as a Grade II* building ensures its architectural significance is preserved, whilst local historians continue to research its colourful past, including the tragic stories of the Musters women who cannot seem to leave.

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This ghost story is part of the haunted history of Colwick Hall Hotel. Book a stay to experience the paranormal atmosphere for yourself.