Catherine of Aragon's Ghost
Kimbolton Castle stands tall in the Cambridgeshire countryside, its stone walls bearing witness to centuries of history. It's here that Catherine of Aragon, the ill-fated first wife of Henry VIII, spent the last two years of her life in imprisonment. Legend has it that her spirit still roams the castle's gallery, a melancholy presence reliving the heartbreak and betrayal of her fate. They say she died in one of the rooms within these walls back in 1536, and it's from this moment that her ghostly wanderings began.
The story of Catherine's imprisonment and death is well-documented. After her marriage to Henry VIII was annulled, she was stripped of her title and forced to live in various castles, including Kimbolton. It's said that another restless spirit haunts these halls - that of a young child who met a tragic end, thrown from the battlements and landing on a paving slab that still glows blue on the anniversary of her death. These tales of sorrow and loss have become an integral part of Kimbolton Castle's history, drawing visitors and ghost enthusiasts alike to experience the haunting for themselves.
Catherine of Aragon was imprisoned at Kimbolton Castle from 1534 until her death in 1536.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
The White Lady of Great Staughton
Unnamed farm on the moors, Great Staughton
In the rolling hills of Great Staughton, a small village in Cambridge, there's a farmhouse with a rather intriguing ghost story. The owners of this rural farmhouse once took the unusual step of removing all locks and bars from their doors. It wasn't a matter of trust or a desire for an open-plan home, but rather a response to a mischievous presence. Apparently, a white lady would appear at night, opening all the doors no matter how securely they were closed. This spectral visitor was quite enough to unnerve the family, leading them to take drastic measures.
The Crown Inn Ghost
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The Crown Inn in Great Staughton, Cambridge, is home to a rather intriguing ghost known as 'Old Pork-and-Lard'. This nickname was given due to the belief that the entity was a former landlord who also worked as the local butcher. What makes this haunting particularly poignant is that the landlord died just before the birth of his first child. It's said that this tragic circumstance may have contributed to his spirit remaining earthbound. Guests and staff have reported hearing footsteps in empty rooms, a sound that has become synonymous with the ghostly presence of Old Pork-and-Lard.
Dick Turpin Haunted Hotel
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The George Hotel in Buckden, Cambridgeshire, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Dick Turpin, the infamous English highwayman. According to legend, Turpin rides up to the hotel on his horse Black Bess, and both apparitions then vanish into thin air. Guests and staff have reported paranormal activity in several rooms, including rooms 100, 104, 105, 106, and 112. The activity ranges from invisible hands lifting bedclothes and pinching sleepers' legs to footsteps and doors unlocking by themselves. Room 106 is reportedly the worst affected. Some witnesses claim to have seen a man in a tricorn hat and black cloak, possibly Turpin himself, in the corridor, while others have encountered a woman on the stairs.
Grey Lady of The Lion Hotel, Buckden
The Lion Hotel, Buckden
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The Blue Lady of Abington
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The Tall Man of St Neots
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Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Kimbolton Castle

The Golden Lion Hotel
St Ives, Cambridgeshire

The Bell Inn
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

The Old Ferry Boat Inn
Holywell, Cambridgeshire

The Knife & Cleaver
Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire