Colwick Hall Hotel Hotel

Colwick Park, Racecourse Road, Nottingham, NG2 4BH

4-star Georgian country house hotel and wedding venue set within extensive parkland

Colwick Hall Hotel harbours some of Nottinghamshire's most compelling and well-documented ghostly residents, their spectral presences deeply rooted in the tragic events that unfolded within these Georgian walls. The paranormal activity here is remarkably consistent, with multiple witnesses over many decades reporting encounters with the same ethereal figures. The most frequently encountered spirit is believed to be Mrs Ann Musters, whose final months were marked by the terror she experienced during the Reform Bill Riots of 1831. Staff and guests have reported seeing a spectral woman hiding among the trees and shrubbery on the grounds, recreating her desperate flight from the violent mob that ransacked her home. This heartbreaking apparition appears to be trapped in an eternal loop of fear, forever seeking shelter from an attack that occurred nearly two centuries ago. Indoors, her presence is particularly strong in the east wing of the building, where she manifests as a shadowy figure moving silently through the corridors. Equally poignant is the ghost of Mary Ann Chaworth-Musters, Lord Byron's first and arguably most influential love. Known locally as the White Lady, she has been spotted both within the Hall's corridors and on the grounds near the lake. Some witnesses describe her as wearing a flowing white gown, her melancholic figure drifting through the landscape that once witnessed her unhappy marriage. The connection between Mary Ann's spirit and the nearby church grounds suggests her ghostly presence extends beyond the Hall itself, perhaps eternally wandering the paths she walked in life. Beyond these named spirits, Colwick Hall resonates with unexplained phenomena that suggest multiple unseen presences. The former servants' quarters are particularly active, with the sounds of children's laughter echoing through empty rooms and disembodied footsteps pacing overhead. Some guests have reported waking in the night to shouting voices and the unsettling sensation of being physically poked by invisible hands—an experience that leaves even the most sceptical visitors questioning what truly dwells within these ancient walls. The lake and surrounding grounds have their own spectral reputation, with the White Lady appearing at the water's edge during twilight hours. Whether this is Mary Ann Chaworth-Musters or the mysterious Lady Evelyn—a heartbroken Victorian-era resident also said to haunt these shores—remains unclear, but the persistent nature of these sightings suggests something genuinely otherworldly lingers in this beautiful but melancholy landscape.

Spirits: Mrs Ann Musters (Lady of the Hall), Mary Ann Chaworth-Musters (The White Lady/Byron's Lost Love)...