Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall, located in Preston, England, is said to date back to 1325 and has had four families own it over the span of seven centuries. These four families were the Southworths, the Bradylls, the Coopers, and the Harrisons. Other people did stay in the hall as some families rented it out to guests, plus it was an inn under the Bradyll family ownership. The most famous person said to have stayed in the hall is the English author Charles Dickens. The hall has also served as a private school for girls, but it is now a tourist attraction after having been saved from demolition by the 'Samlesbury Hall Trust'. According to the hall's official website, the location's archive has many gaps during which time what happened at the hall is unknown and open to conjecture. Regardless, the history of this location involves religious persecution, witchcraft, murder, and suicide.

As for the hauntings, it's said by the official Samlesbury Hall website that the location has thirteen different ghosts. The most prominent here is the White Lady, thought to be Dorothy Southworth; also referred to as Dorothea. Another is a priest who was said to have been beheaded in a room where it's said the blood stain couldn't be removed no matter how hard people tried. Other spirits reportedly include a man who killed himself and a black dog.

History

From around 80 A.D., the Romans occupied the Ribble Valley and estuary; even having large fortresses at Wigan, Ribchester, and Lancaster. The River Ribble was used as a power source, and so the Romans built a working fort where the Rivers Darwen and Ribble meet at Walton le Dale. They named this working fortress 'Belisama' after the goddess of water, fire, and the forge. It was after the Romans left Britain that Belisama became Samlesbury. Regarding the history of Samlesbury Hall, it somewhat dates back to 1185. During this year, the first recorded Lord of Samlesbury, Cospatric de Samlesbury, lived in the lower hall area. This area is seperate from Samlesbury Hall, but it shows there were occupants on nearby land as early as this date. The first hall on the Samlesbury Hall land was built by the D'Ewyas family during the year of 1259 on the banks of the River Ribble. Some sources have been a little more vague with the date this first house was built, with these sources saying it was built sometime prior to 1300.

I have found conflicting information saying the first house was apparently built from timber by Gospatrick, presumably an alternative spelling for the 'Cospatric' mentioned earlier. I believe this could be incorrect and that sources have potentially muddled up the seperate locations of Samlesbury Hall and Samlesbury Lower Hall. Regardless, the first house didn't last for too long as it was sacked and burned by Robert the Bruce and his invading scots following the Battle of Bannockburn which occured during 1314. It was sometime after 1320 that Alice D'Ewyas married Gilbert de Southworth, a nobleman from Warrington who had been born during 1270.

Alice, who has also been referred to as 'Alicia de Ewyas' in sources, was in line to inherit Samlesbury Hall; and so Gilbert married into ownership of the property. The Southworth family were the first to own what would become present day Samlesbury Hall, and they owned the property from 1325 until 1678. It was during the year of 1322 that the first house was sacked by Robert the Bruce in an event commonly referred to as 'The Great Raid'. There is some conflicting information as to exactly when the house was destroyed during Scottish raids. Sources have also said this event occured during 1323 and 1325. Apparently, during the raid, Robert the Bruce set fire to all the buildings in his path stretching down the River Ribble from Clitheroe to Preston.

It's thought that the current Great Hall was built under the instruction of Gilbert de Southworth between 1322 and 1330 to replace the old hall which had burnt down at the hands of the scots; however, it is said the Great Hall has characteristics of a later date. Regardless of this, the common concensus is that it was originally built around the year of 1325, with the official website saying the location dates back to 1325, making it the oldest part of the current building. Originally, Samlesbury Hall was a simple structure with a thatched roof, but it would later become a black and white half-timbered stately home. It has been said Samlesbury Hall was not built directly on the site of the first house, but close to it's location. When Southworth rebuilt the house, apparently for his bride-to-be, he placed a large moat around it. It's thought this was done to ward off more attacks from the Scots.

It has also been said that the Great Hall dates from the 1400s, and that during this time it would have possibly been an earth floor covered with rushes, featuring a central fireplace, with a thatched roof. The walls of the Great Hall were made with a wattle and daub infill. The 1400s date could be in reference to the date most of this area is from, but that's just speculation on my part as the official website does say the hall dates back to 1325. It was around the year of 1420 that Sir Thomas Southworth was given permission to build the chapel which is said to be dedicated to St. Michael. It was during Thomas' time that windows were taken from Whalley Abbey and installed in this chapel. There is currently a small Roman alter in the chapel which may have been found on Mellor Moor. Apparently, the chapel was originally built so that the house could be recognised as a manor-house. In order for it to gain this status, it needed a large household, a chapel and priest, a store of fish for fridays, a pond, a water mill, and a grain store.

Thomas, who has also been referred to as Thomas de Southworth, was Gilbert's great grandson and fought in the Battle of Flodden. He was also knighted for his roles in the wars against Scotland. An important detail to mention here is that sources have varied in how they spell the 'Southworth' name with some spelling it as 'Southwarth'. More contradictory information is that the source 'Lancashirepost.com' has said Samlesbury Hall was constructed by the Southworth family around the year of 1425. This contradicts the official website by exactly 100 years, so I'm going to trust the official website here.

Thomas Southworth also further improved the Great Hall during the 1500s by adding the large bay window and the great fireplace; plus, it's been said that Sir Thomas Southworth was responsible for much of the main fabric we see today. There would have been a large movable screen at the north end of the room, and remnants of this can still be seen in the faux 'minstrels gallery' located above the south end. This feature also incorporates parts of old furniture, including bedsteads, and it's thought to have been created when the hall was converted to the Braddyll Arms Inn years later. The west wing of the house, screen, and oriel bay were all built by Thomas Southworth. It's been said that Sir Thomas frequently found himself in trouble with the law, although he did hold the position of High Sheriff of Lancashire. He also oversaw the destruction of Whalley Abbey as a royal commissioner for King Henry VIII. The south range of the hall was rebuilt in brick under Sir Thomas' direction and it was probably one of the first buildings to have this done in Lancashire. The craftsmen who worked here had also created Rufford Old Hall.

It's been said that Lady Dorothy, also referred to as Lady Dorothea, Southworth was born sometime around the year of 1525 or 1530. She was the sister of Sir John and the daughter of Sir Thomas Southworth and Margaret Nee Butler, Thomas' second wife. She is said to have died within the hall, and is suspected to be one of the people haunting this location as 'The White Lady'. I will discuss her and her story in the 'hauntings' segment of this article as quite often tales around hauntings can stray from historical accuracy. It is also said that during the 16th Century, also known as the 1500s, a Catholic Priest was followed to the hall by soldiers and discovered to be hiding in one of the priest holes. Due to this, he was dragged out by the soldiers and beheaded.

It's said the priest was called 'Father Cuthbert' and that the room he was beheaded in was bricked up following the event. This priest is also said to haunt the location; so, as said earlier, it's best to be wary with this segment of history. A more specific date I've found for the beheading is 1582, but this date is accompanied by the information saying it was King Henry VIII's soldiers who killed the priest; something which couldn't have been the case as King Henry VIII died on the 28th of January 1547. I've also found a date for the beheading as being the year of 1580 as it was apparently during this year that a cleric was bricked up when caught mid-mass. The events sound very similar, but again, it couldn't have been under King Henry VIII's rule.

It was during the 1530s that the parlour was built, and this was used as the Southworth's private sitting room. It's also been said that the entrance hall was built during 1530, so I'm not sure if this is the same location as the parlour or seperate. 1530 is also the same year that the chapel was joined onto the main hall. The parlour also contains a possible priest hole inside the fireplace. It's said this priest hole dates from Elizabeth and times and could have led down to the sewer and moat. The reason for the priest holes and the hunting down of catholics is because England was a protestant country during this time, and so it was a crime to be Catholic. It was during the year of 1536 that King Henry VIII outlawed the Catholic faith because he had a problem with the Pope. Any practicing catholics had to hide their faith, and so this is what priest holes were for. The Southworth family even ended up losing their home for a time due to their refusal to accept any other faith.

Sources have said it was roughly during the year of 1545 that the south range of the hall was added. This means the rebuilding of the south range in brick, done by Sir Thomas, will have occured after the 1545 date. It was then during the year of 1558 that the protestant Queen Elizabeth I was crowned and her rule lasted until 1603. She was replaced by King James I during 1603, and he ruled until 1625. It was under his rule that many women were accused of witchcraft, and the king himself was interested in the topic. During the year of 1612, Lady Jane Southworth, who lived in Samlesbury Hall, underwent a savage witch trial before being acquitted. Jane had married into the clan during 1598 before being accused of witchcraft during the year of 1612. Others accused alongside Jane were Jennet Bierley and her daughter-in-law, Ellen Bierley. They were all accused by the fourteen year old Grace Sowerbutts; a girl who was both Jennet's granddaughter and Ellen's niece.

Jane's husband had recently died and his uncle, Christopher, who was a priest in the church of Rome, strongly objected to Jane as she would not be dissuaded from the parish church. Grace was sent to Christopher to learn her prayers, and it's thought that Christopher used this as an opportunity to coach Grace into accusing the three women of witchcraft. Grace's stories accused the women of abusing her and of killing a twelve month old baby. She also said the women dug up the baby's body from Samlesbury churchyard before cooking and eating it. The women were also accused of saving the fat and using it to make a magic ointment that would change their appearance. Grace did eventually confess that her story was made up and that she had been coerced by Christopher. The women were all spared from a death sentence, but they did go through a degrading trial to prove their innocence.

I have found that during the year of 1617, the Southworth family were protestants and so were granted honours. However, I have also found that Sir John Southworth, Sir Thomas' son, was imprisoned for refusing to conform to the reformed Church practice. Apparently Sir John inherited the hall and estate and he also served as High Sheriff, plus was an ecclesiastical commissioner tasked with enforcing religious laws. I've also found that Sir John's son, another John, was a Catholic priest and he was imprisoned in Lancaster Castle for three years from the year of 1627 for promoting his faith. So, with this information, I'm pretty confident that the Southworth family was Catholic.

It's said that Sir John's post of enforcing protestantism as the official religion didn't stop him from coming under suspicion of secretly being a Catholic, which he was. Due to his faith, he was fined, had lands siezed, and was summoned to London where he was forced to lodge with the Bishop to be 'persuaded' of his religious errors. Finally, he was imprisoned in New Fleet prison in Manchester but eventually recieved a pardon and his lands were returned to him. Sir John never abandoned Catholicism and his family still continued practicing their faith in secret despite all of the trouble it caused them. Later in Sir John's life, the hall was raided by Richard Bretherton, a local justice of the peace, in the hope of finding religious incriminating evidence. Records from this time tell us that among the 'superstious thinges' they discovered were 'papist books'.

In a hiding hole in the roof of the Great Hall were found two candlesticks, an alter canopy, and fourteen religious images which were all presumably to do with conducting a mass. This space could have been one of the three alleged priest holes that the house has and can still be viewed when visiting the hall today. Due to the two Johns and the religious persecution both faced, I can imagine that information about them both has been mixed up; so please bear that in mind when reading this article. It seems like I've found quite different information about them both, but its always best to be wary with scenarios where a father has named a son after themselves.

During the year of 1636, a plague was decimating London and it's said that John, Sir John's son, tended to four hundred Catholic sufferers. Despite this, he was apparently hauled from his bed, during the year of 1654, by Colonel Worsley. John confessed that he had been converting people to Catholicism and so was hung, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn. It's this kind of persecution which lends to the information that secret masses took place in the surrounding forests and that the family installed three priest holes in the hall. The upstairs long gallery today has a display featuring the case, vestments, and equipment for a priest to come to the house and give a mass in secret.

The Southworth family fortune waned, possibly due to the religious persecution, and so on the 10th of March 1678 Edward Southworth sold both Samlesbury Hall and the estate to Thomas Bradyll, alternative spelling Braddyll. I have found conflicting information saying this was done during the year of 1679. Even though I'm more inclined to believe the 1678 date as It's given a specific day of purchase, the official website has said the Bradyll, alternative spelling of Braddyll and Bradall, family owned the hall from 1679 until 1851. The official website, however, has also said the Southworths owned the property until 1678; so the correct date is uncertain. It's from here that the hall was leased to tenants as the Bradyll family never lived here. Their family seat was instead at Conishead Priory. Over the next century, the hall was divided into tenements and fell into bad repair under the Bradyll family ownership. The occupants during this time were hand loom weavers and labourers, and the absent Bradyll family did little to prevent further ruin of the building.

It was during the 19th century, also known as the 1800s, that the east end of Samlesbury Hall as built in a style that matched the rest of the location. Another addition to the location, although during the late 1800s, was the gate lodge. The lodge is grade II listed and was first listed on the 27th of February 1984. I have found sources discuss a 'gate house' and, assuming this is the same location as the 'gate lodge', this is currently a private cottage that up to six people can stay in. It was also during the 1800s that some restoration was conducted on the west wing of the hall; an area which was first built during the early to mid 16th century, also known as the 1500s. During the year of 1821, the carved wooden screen used to seperate the worshippers from the alter in the chapel was taken to Conishead Priory. This item can still be seen in Conishead Priory today. The chapel features a gallery for the Lord and his family to sit in while the servants worshipped below. Today the chapel is used for civil weddings.

During 1825, the Preston New Road turnpike was opened. This cut right by the corner of the south range of the hall and is still the main road today. This was an influential factor when it came to the hall being converted into an inn, during the year of 1833, due to the location's potion along the new and busy route. I have found contradictory information saying the hall became an inn during the year of 1830, not 1833; however, I'm not sure which is the correct date. The inn was called 'The Bradyll Arms' after it's family owners. Stables and a coach house were added, but both conversion and restoration resulted in damage being done while altering the hall to serve its new function. It's been said that it was during the year of 1826 that three skeletons were found in or around the moat of the property after excavations were done. These three skeletons will be discussed further in the hauntings segment, especially as sources can't decide if two or three skeletons were found.

Also, further contradictory information about these skeletons says they were found during the 1880s. Apparently, it was during this time that workmen were employed on the Preston Blackburn trunk road day drainage channels near the lawns of the hall, and they found two skeletons who were buried side by side. It's said Lady Dorothea's engagement ring was found on one of the skeleton's fingers, and so this is another reason why they will be discussed more later in the article.

During the year of 1845, the architect George Webster worked at Samlesbury Hall, possibly to add a large stone fireplace, upgrade the chapel, and remove woodwork which was to be transported to Conishead Priory. Webster also worked on remodelling Bank Hall, located near Bretherton. The third family to own the hall was the Cooper family, which the official website lists as owning the property from 1851 until 1862. There is slight confusion here as other sources have said John Cooper bought the property during 1846 and then let out the hall to a Mrs Mary Ann Harrison. Sources have even cited a third buy date of 1850. I'm inclined to believe the official website is correct with the 1851 date, but I don't know where other sources have gained the 1846 date from. I can assume sources which have said 1850 have referred either to the decade, or they've rounded down by one year.

When the property was leased to Mary, she used it as a co-educational boarding school. She established a Pestolozzian Institution at the hall, and this school has been said to be well ahead of it's time. It's been said the hall was being used as this Swiss style Pestalozzi school by the year of 1852. Its also been said the school was inspired by the romanticism movement and encouraged working with 'head, heart, and hands'. As mentioned earlier, the Cooper family ownership ended during the November of 1862 when Joseph Harrison, a prosperous iron works owner, philanthropist, and entrepreneur from Blackburn, bought the hall. Due to this purchase, Mary Harrison's school came to an end and she left the hall. Joseph was also a friend of Charles Dickens, and so it's said the author stayed at Samlesbury Hall during the year of 1867. It's been said Dickens stayed on at least one occasion, but I haven't found dates for any other visits.

It's said that Joseph Harrison never lived at Samlesbury Hall, but that his son, William, did. I've found a quote from Roger Frost, a Burnley Historian, which clears up a little bit of history around Joseph and Harrison's history. Roger told the Lancashire Telegraph: "I recall visiting some years ago, and the guide saying that Joseph Harrison had committed suicide in the building. This is not the case. It was William who committed suicide after he had been involved in a painful accident". It's said that Joseph Harrison restored the hall, and he definitely put money into it as he added the west end of the south range and installed the staircase that can be seen today in the entrance hall. This staircase features a double-tailed mermaid.

During 1878, there were cotton operative riots as workers went on strike over a pay cut. In response, a substantial body of men were installed at Samlesbury Hall. These men included fifty military personnel with an officer, plus twenty police constables with an inspector. It's said that william Harrison fell deeply into debt due to living a lavish lifestyle and, during the year of 1878, shot himself. I have found contradicting information saying that 1878 was not the year of his death. Apparently, it was during the year of 1879 that William fell heavily on some ice which resulted in a serious head injury and a fractured knee cap. Months later, a rabid dog bit a dog belonging to William, and William knew it would have to be shot after it started showing hydrophobic symptoms. William's gamekeeper strongly disagreed, and William was later found dead after shooting himself.

I've found that William's sister believed he had accidentally shot himself while loading the gun to shoot the dog. Also, William's brother, Henry, is said to have agreed that William was unlikely to have shot himself; but he did then admit that William had complained about his inability to read or sleep, plus claimed to have pains in his head. Henry also said that William hadn't been the same since his accident, and evidence of this was that William found it difficult to give clear instructions or write letters. I'm more inclined to believe that the rabies story about William's death is true as it has more detail, and doesn't lean into the sinister, but I don't know for sure. If you are a historian and know the correct version of events here, please do let me know by contacting thetrueparanormal1@gmail.com.

Joseph Harrison is said to have died a year after William's death, and I have found a specific date of the 18th of February 1880 following prolonged illness. It's also been said that Joseph died at Galligreaves Hall. This specific date indicates me that this is correct, and that William died during 1879 and Joseph died during 1880. I could be wrong though, so please do let me know if anything in this article is wrong or innacurrate and I will amend the article accordingly. It's been said that it was during the year of 1898 that the room which had been bricked up, following the incident with the priest, was reopened. Apparently servants refused to enter this room until the floorboards were replaced as apparently no matter how hard the stains were scrubbed, they would not disappear.

Apparently, it was during the late 1890s that Frederick Baines obtained the hall and poured lots of money into its upkeep. Baines was the High Sheriff of Lancashire and Mayor of Blackburn before dying during the early part of the 20th century, also known as the 1900s. Im unsure of how true Frederick's ownership is given the official website of the hall says the Harrison family owned it from 1862 until 1924. I have since found some more information about this which says the Harrisons let out the property to Frederick, also referred to as Fred, during the year of 1900 and he stayed until the year of 1909. After this year, the house was unoccupied and only looked after by caretakers.

Henry, William's brother, didn't live in the hall and instead lived in Blackburn where he served as mayor during the 1880 - 1881 period. Henry was Joseph's youngest son, and when he died during 1914 the estate was entailed to his nephew M. J. C. Johnston, the son of Henry's sister Agnes. There is more contradictory information here as apparently it was Henry who sold the estate and hall during the year of 1918, but this couldn't be the case if he died during 1914. It's said that this sale was to a group of Blackburn builders who planned to demolish it and build new homes on the land. I've also found information saying the builders bought the property during 1924, something which is more in line with the official website's dates. It was in response to this that the Samlesbury Hall Trust was founded to save the hall, and they bought it during the year of 1925. This Trust is still responsible for the upkeep of the hall today. As the official website for the hall says the Harrison family owned the property until 1924, I'm not too sure on if the builders did acquire the property or if there was just interest during the time before the Trust bought it.

The members of the Trust who saved the hall during the 1920s were local businessmen from Blackburn. These men were Dr S.A. Davies, Thomas Boys Lewis, J.W. Marsden, Frank Morton, and Henry Whittaker. Apparently it was six men who formed the trust, but I could only find five names. It was Thomas Boys Lewis, a wealthy philanthropist, who assembled these men to save the hall. It was also Thomas who presented the hall with the collection of oil paintings which were done by Sir Charles Holmes. The 'Samlesbury Hall Trust' which the men founded is a charity which aims to protect the hall for future generations and allows it to be used for the purposes of recreation for the local people.

It was on the 25th of July 1952 that Samlesbury Hall gained it's Grade I listing. I do believe that information around this location could have been mixed up with Samlesbury Lower Hall, a different site; especially where the early history about the first house is concerned. For example, Gospatrick's timber house could have been located on the site of Samlesbury Lower Hall. The Lower Hall is Grade II listed and was first listed on the 11th of November 1966. It's most recent amendment was on the 27th of February 1984 and it's located on Potter Lane. This different location of Samlesbury Lower Hall is said to date back to 1625. One source has said Samlesbury Hall gained a Grade II listing on the 27th of February 1984 with the then title as 'Lodge to Samlesbury Hall', but I have found this isn't in reference to Samlesbury Hall. It is instead referring to the gate house discussed earlier in the article. As far as I'm aware, Samlesbury Hall is still a Grade I listed location.

A major restoration of Samlesbury Hall occured between the years of 1968 and 1979. Today, the location has a recreated victorian kitchen, a world war one room with lots of objects and stories from the time, plus a timeline room showing the history of the hall laid out along with contemporary national events. The hall also has an art gallery, a cafe, a restaurant, and a shop. As of 2015, it is free to visit Samlesbury Hall. During 2025, Jason Karl, a trustee of the hall, published a souvenir book about the hall called 'A Journey Through Time' as part of the hall's 700th anniversary celebrations. I've also found that Sharon Jones was the director of the hall during 2025.

Hauntings

Samlesbury Hall claims to have thirteen ghosts which haunt the location, all of which it says are friendly, but the most discussed amongst sources is that of 'The White Lady'. There has been one source which has referred to her as 'The Black Nun', but this seems to be an outlier. The White Lady has been referred to as the most frequently sighted spirit in the hall and she's been seen by both staff and visitors. She has also been seen outside of the hall at a nearby bus stop, and bus drivers stop for her only for no one to get on.

It's thought that the White Lady is the spirit of Dorothy, also referred to as Dorothea, Southworth. The story around her is that her family were strict catholics and during the 17th century, also known as the 1600s, she fell in love with a boy from an Anglican aristocratic family. Her father forbid them to get married, so they melted in secret and decided to elope. Dorothy's brothers are said to have discovered the secret and so, on the night of the elopement, her brothers waited to ambush Dorothy's groom. They are said to have killed the boy and two of his friends. Dorothy was then sent away to a foreign convent where she is said to have died of a broken heart. Centuries later, three skeletons were found outside of the moat and it's the popular opinion that they relate to Dorothy's story.

There are a fair few inconsistencies between sources with the story told above. Some of these are that the story took place during 1426, not the 1600s, and that there were two murders with two skeletons being found, not three. Apparently Lady Dorothy was born around 1525 or 1530, and so this creates even more confusion around when this event took place. I'm inclined to believe it occured around the time of the 1500s, but I could be wrong. Lady Dorothy's lover has commonly been referred to as 'young de Houghton', but I've found he could have been called 'Richard de Houghton' from the nearby Houghton Tower. Alternative spellings for the lover's last name have been 'de Hoghton', and 'DeHoghton'.

Another spirit said to haunt the hall is that if a priest. This particular spirit haunts the Priest Room and the story says he was murdered by soldiers and decapitated in this room. The bloodstain is said to still appear where he fell, even after the floor was replaced by one of the hall's owners. This priest is likely to be Father Cuthbert, the priest who was found hiding in the hall and beheaded during the 1500s. There is also a story about 'the priest's knock'. This story says a cleric was bricked up during the year of 1580 after they were caught mid mass. Due to the proximity of the Father Cuthbert incident, and due to the story that the room was bricked up afterwards, I would assume this is the same story. However, the one about the knock says faint taps can be heard in the walls and a shadow is said to be seen kneeling. Visitors have also reported smelling incense.

Apparently, Sir John Samlesbury, has been seen in the Priest Room three times. Ot's been said that he is the original builder, but regarding the whole of the hall this isn't true. He may behave been the original builder of the priest room though. There has also been a report of a 'face in the fireplace' within this room. It's said this face was the disembodied head of Father Cuthbert, and that it appeared to one of the employees of Thomas Bradyll. This employee is said to have left the building and refused to return. The hall is also said to have a poltergeist and a black ghost dog who was first seen during 1612.

Another spirit is that of 'The Rose Lady'; a woman dressed in Georgian garb who has been spotted in the Rosarium. Her spirit has been experienced by four eyewitnesses over the years and she is said to be responsible for the strong scent of roses around the hall. There are allegedly also the spirits of both male and female schoolchildren here who are the subject of seven seperate accounts. It's thought that these children date back to when the hall was a private boarding school. William Harrison, the man who took his own life in the hall, is said to haunt it too.

Several blonde women have reported feeling the sensation of someone stroking their hair in the hall, and recently someone working at the hall has said they have heard a funeral taking place there when there wasn't one to be heard. There have been two accounts of a phantom funeral, one of which occured during the mid-nineteenth century, also known as the mid-1800s, when a guest was having dinner in the Great Hall. He went to his room for cigars and told of seeing a six horse carraige which had a driver with missing teeth and a patch over his eye.

From 1926, several people have reported to hear the ring of the 'psychic doorbell'. This sound is said to emerge from a long removed and defunct front doorbell of the building, and there are two accounts of this happening. One of these accounts came from a Mr Abram Sharpler, and the other was from a trustee from the 1950s. It is said bells ring on their own, although its uncertain if this comment was made in reference to the 'psychic doorbell' or just to bells on general.

Jason Karl, a trustee of the hall and Creative Director at 'AtmosFEAR! Scare Entertainment', has told 'Great British Life': "We have been rigorous, and actually discounted about eighty percent of the historical reporting as possibly fanciful or unreliable. As well as our most famous ghost - the Lady in White - we have confirmed numerous other ghosts both inside the house and in the grounds". The first published account of ghosts being at Samlesbury Hall dates back to a book which was written during 1873. Apparently the White Lady has haunted the hall since Elizabethen times and her story is recounted to visitors using both audio and visual media in the hall's Ghost Room which is located in the attic of the house. This space was opened to the public for the first time during the Autumn of 2023.

Since 2023, Samlesbury Hall has run an ongoing research project called 'The Samlesbury Hall Ghost Project'. This project records witness testimonies, historic encounters, and data from other sources to accurately record and document their supernatural heritage. The location runs 'Torchlight Tours' which is a tour guided by torchlight with an emphasis on the ghosts and mysteries of the hall. They've also hosted a 'Great Victorian Ghost Hunt' event. This event offered the chance to join the project on an interactive investigation inside the hall and adopted methods which psychical researchers used in the Victorian era. This event begun at 8pm on Friday the 19th of September 2025 and ended at 1am the following day.

The hall is no longer allowing external groups to hold their own ghost hunting events at the hall. The hall instead encourages people to take part in the hall's own events. Investigators in the 'Great Victorian Ghost Hunt' event were able to use a 'Tuttle Psychograph', a 'Winchester Séance Bell', a 'Kennard Talking Board', and a 'Spirit Board'. The event also allowed investigation of both the cellar and attic of the hall, locations which had not previously been available to other ghost hunting teams.

Paul Howse, from the Samlesbury Hall Ghost Project, has said: "Samlesbury Hall is one of the UK's Crown jewels in terms of supernatural heritage and as part of our 700th anniversary of the hall next year we thought it was about time we took our ghosts seriously. There are countless ghost hunting teams in the UK, but what we have created is totally unique in its approach. Rather than walking around in the dark with gimmicky flashing boxes, we are hardening back to the grand age of the Victorian era, and using techniques and equipment that psychical researchers used in the past".

A number of TV ghost hunting programmes such as 'Great British Ghosts', 'Paranormal Captured', 'Ghost Hunters International', and 'Most Haunted' have filmed at Samlesbury Hall for investigations. It's also said that voices can be heard late at night and door open on their own. There have also been reports of people feeling their hair being stroked from behind. Simon Entwistle has written in to the BBC on the 28th of October 2014 and in this he speaks about the ghost of Lady Dorothy, who he refers to as Lady Dorthea. He has said the following: "Sightings of the ghost of Dorothea have taken place over the years, always in the same area on the road and next to the yew tree and horse chestnut tree. She will stare at the ground and cry hysterically." Simon Entwistle continued by discussing his favourite sighting of Dorothy. He said the following:

"My favourite sighting took place in the year 1878, when the towns of Preston and Blackburn were experiencing cotton riots, and as a result troops were billited in both towns. The officers had the great pleasure of having the Long Gallery at Samlesbury for their quarters. Colonel Wolsley South Wales Borderers had just dined with his fellow officers, and turned in for the night when he became aware of the sound of crying. 'It's not one of my men' he said 'sounds like a woman to me.' He opened the curtains next to his bed, and looked outside on to the lawns, and there in the bright moonlight he could clearly see a female shape, standing next to the yew tree and horse chestnut.

He dressed quickly and ran across the lawns shouting 'marm can I help you?' The figure turned around and the Colonel was deeply shocked and indeed horrified to notice that the shape had no face just a hollow cavity. He swallowed deeply reaching for his pistol and ran back in side the Hall. He had a stiff drink from his flask. The Colonel had experienced the horrors of war in the Crimea, he had seen much bloodshed but had never witnessed anything paranormal before.

The following morning he had breakfast with the Harrisons and told them his story. They laughed and told him 'don't worry Colonel you have seen the White Lady, Lady Dorethea Southworth.'

You may ask why does she visit the yew tree and horse chesnut tree? Well way back in the 1880s workmen employed on the Preston Blackburn trunk road dug drainage channels near the lawns of Samlesbury Hall and found two skeletons buried side by side. It has been said but never confirmed that on one of the skeleton's fingers was lady Dorthea's engagement ring. It is believed that this was the final resting place of young de Houghton so cruelly murdered by Dorethea's Brothers all those years ago."

On the 24th of September 2014, a man called Ian emailed the BBC with his own story involving Samlesbury Hall. Ian said the following:

"I thought I would tell you this story about my father, Arthur, who used to be the M.D. at Samlesbury Hall several years ago. He told the story many times at dinners held at the Hall...

One night in the mid 19th Century a dinner was being held in the great hall at Samlesbury. During the evening one of the guests had to return to his bedroom to get some more cigars. As he walked through the parlour room he looked out of the window to see a six horse funeral carriage on the drive out side. The gentleman driving the horses looked up and straight into the eyes of the dinner guest. The driver had many missing teeth and a patch over one eye.

A little startled by this, the dinner guest ran back to the Great Hall and asked if any one else had seen or heard the horse drawn hearse - no one had seen or heard anything and laughed at our bemused and a little scared friend, accusing him of partaking in a little too much wine. The guest regained his composure and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

A week later and our dinner guest is in London for a business meeting. Staying at the recently refurbished Hilton Hotel. The hotel had just installed the latest elevators to assist some of the more infirm and aged guests staying there. Being allocated a room on the top floor of the hotel our intrepid friend decided to try the new-fangled elevator and pressed the call button to summon the elevator. Imagine his horror when the lift doors opened to reveal the driver of the hearse seen at Samlesbury the week before, dressed in the uniform of a lift attendant!

He panicked and started to run down the stairs to the lobby. After only a few seconds a terrible crashing noise was heard through out the entire building. On his arrival in the lobby our friend was greeted with a terrible sight. The lift cables had snapped and sent the car crashing to the ground floor. The lift doors had burst open with the impact and shattered several chairs and tables placed in front of them.

Picking his way through the debris to see if the lift attendant had been killed or injured he came across the hotel manager surveying the damage. There was no body or sign of blood inside the smashed lift car. "Where is your lift attendant?" asked our now very scared friend. "Lift attendant?" replied the hotel manager - "We dont have a lift attendant - why do you ask?"

On the same date of the 24th of September 2014, Peter Harrison wrote into the BBC saying:

"My family bought the house some time after the Southworths. it was Joseph Harrison, my great great great uncle, who found the skeletons in the wall. He restored the house but later went into bankruptsy and ended up shooting himself. He supposedly haunts the gallery above the great hall. the neighbour in the white lady story was a De Houghton, from the neigbouring manor Hoghton Tower. It's interesting stuff isnt it?"

Plus, Margaret from New Zealand also wrote to the BBC saying:

"I was so interested to find the Hall as my grandparents worked there in the 1881 Census as butler and domestic servants, a year before they married, Jane Russell was in Farnham Surrey in 1882, so perhaps she had seen The White Lady and decided to leave! My mother did not tell us about the Hall though I knew Jane was a servant. We are curious as to how The White Lady could write her story if she was insane!? Fascinating though. Thanks, it made my day."

Summary Of Hauntings

1. The White Lady, Dorothy/Dorothea Southworth

2. A priest, Father Cuthbert, beheaded, knocks in priest room, face in fireplace

3. Voices at night

4. Doors open

5. Hair stroked from behind, happens to blonde women

6. Phantom funeral, six horse carraige driver with missing teeth and eye patch

7. Poltergeist

8. Black dog

9. The Rose Lady

10. Schoolchildren, male and female

11. 'Psychic Doorbell', rings despite broken and removed

12. William Harrison

My Thoughts

I think there is likely to be an active haunting at this location, although I'm unsure on how extreme it will be. I don't like how muddied the information is here regarding years and events; especially around the ghost stories. I really like that the ghosts kind of do tie into the location's history, but I'd prefer it if that history was accurate and undisputed. By that, I mean things such as 'were there two skeletons or three?' Plus, 'where were the skeletons found and what year?' These kinds of innacuracies tell me that the stories have been taken by people and warped over the years. I don't know if this will have been done by the general public, or people involved in the paranormal, but the history definitely needs defining here.

I appreciate that the location has said they want to take their hauntings seriously and put proper research into it. However, they've also said they have thirteen ghosts and I counted twelve ghosts, including bits of activity like doors opening. If they are treating this seriously, then their research into the paranormal should be easily accessible online. This should outline exactly what each of the thirteen ghosts are, or who they are suspected to be, and it should detail the accurate history around them. I always feel this kind of research should never be locked away behind paywalls or out of public view; so, they should definitely make this research accessible to everyone.

As for if I believe the stories of funeral processions and decapitated heads, I'm doubtful. I do think hauntings will occur here; but I'm skeptical and think that stories will have been embellished. For example, I know Simon Entwistle is a fantastic storyteller; but he has a flair for the dramatic when telling his stories and so I wouldn't be at all surprised if he embellished or emphasises things here and there. It's what makes his stories entertaining, and so I wouldn't blame him for doing this if he does. However, it's this kind of scenario which could have taken certain stories and added a skeleton here or there. Plus, this article featured a quote saying that the location's own tour guides have said incorrect information in the past. This kind of thing really starts to make the presence of inconsistencies make all that more sense.

So, with Samlesbury Hall I do think it will be haunted. I also think it will be actively haunted. However, I'm aware the location has really leant into the fact it's haunted and by not letting other groups investigated there, they are controlling the paranormal information; whether positive or negative. I think it's great that they've said all their spirits are friendly, but is this to attract tourists who may otherwise be put off by a paranormal presence? They've said they have thirteen ghosts, but who are they all? There are lots of questions which I haven't found answers to, and so I'm reluctant to believe all of what I've read about this location. It would be an interesting place to visit, and to investigate, but I wouldn't go in expecting severed heads and funeral processions.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this article! It was really interesting to write about a place with so much grisley history, especially as it's a manor house and not somewhere traditionally dark like a castle. The next article will hopefully be published on Friday the 12th of December and it will document an experience shared during OVERNIGHT's Haunted Homies series. The following article, hopefully to be published on Monday the 15th of December will document a haunted location in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.

If you want to follow The True Paranormal you can do so on buymeacoffee, Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter), Tumblr, and Pinterest. You can also subscribe to The True Paranormal on YouTube, or directly to this website through the bar on the left which will give you email notifications. That bar also lists all of the links which will take you to The True Paranormal's various social media platforms. If you want to contact me about your own experiences, or about anything at all paranormal, you can email thetrueparanormal1@gmail.com

A Donation Message

If you've enjoyed this article, it would be massively appreciated if you could donate anything you can towards The True Paranormal. With your donations, I can continue to build up the database and document haunted locations, paranormal experiences, the individuals who are involved in the paranormal, plus more. If you are interested in donating, then you can do so when I am live on tiktok, or through buymeacoffee at the following link:

buymeacoffee.com/thetrueparanormal

Thank you to everyone who has donated to The True Paranormal on tiktok and buymeacoffee over the last year! It's really made a huge difference in supporting the work I do here as it means I can keep doing what I enjoy, and hopefully one day I can do it full-time. Due to the quantity of people who have shared article and donated, I can't thank each of you individually here anymore; but I'm going to work on a place to do that so that you all get good public recognition. At the end of each article I will instead be thanking anyone who is an active subscriber or active fan club member on tiktok. So, thank you very much to Nathan Zorbotron, Bonelespizza, and Tegs for subscribing. Also, thank you very much to Tegs, ElliotConnolly, d.b, mando edits, Bonelespizza, J@x0n, TheSnuggleDuck, Harry, Max Warfield, mary christiansen apologist, MKAFC123, v Endemic, 🧛🏻‍♀️🗡'elissia,🦴/, AverageSam🎥📼, Sarhan Mahmood, Nathan Zorbotron, Just Ninjago, Doom, Rain, and Henryhb for being active members of the Imp Club. If anyone else subscribes or becomes a fan club member, they will be added to the list and thanked at the end of each article for the duration of their active membership. If I've missed any names, please do send me a message on tiktok and I will add you to the end of the next article as sometimes tiktok doesn't tell me the names of all my active fans.