The Pale Lady of Long Lee Farm
Long Lee Farm in Rowarth, Derbyshire, is home to a phantom woman in white, affectionately known as the Pale Lady. This ghostly figure was said to frequently walk through walls and closed doors, leaving residents and visitors alike with a chilling experience. The Pale Lady's presence may be linked to the 'Boggart Room', a space with a rather morbid history. It's said that an infant's coffin was stored here to avoid paying the Shroud Tax, a law that required a fee to be paid for burial shrouds.
The history of Long Lee Farm and the 'Boggart Room' dates back to a time when funeral customs and taxes played a significant role in the lives of the deceased and their families. In an effort to circumvent the Shroud Tax, families sometimes resorted to storing coffins in outbuildings or barns, like the 'Boggart Room' at Long Lee Farm. This practice, though unusual to modern sensibilities, highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between death, tradition, and taxation. The Pale Lady, as a haunting manifestation, may be a lingering presence connected to these historical events, her white attire possibly symbolising a mournful or ghostly state.
The Shroud Tax, introduced in the 17th century, required a fee to be paid for burial shrouds, leading some families to store coffins in outbuildings to avoid payment.