The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, is the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole. Unlike many other haunted tales, we have photo proof of Lady Dorothy’s ghost on the stairs of Raynham Hall, taken by Captain Hubert C. Provand and his assistant, Indre Shira, on September 19, 1936. The two were taking photos of the stairway when suddenly, a foggy mist appeared in the image of a woman walking down the stairs. Needless to say, they quickly took the picture, which has been exciting ghost enthusiasts for decades. (You can see the photo here.)
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, aka Lady Dorothy Walpole
Lady Dorothy Walpole was the sister of Robert Walpole, who is considered the first Prime Miniter of Great Britain. Dorothy was the second wife of Charles Townshend, 2nd Viscount Townshend. Charles was known to have a violent temper, a crucial detail to the legend.
Legend has it that Lady Dorothy was having an affair with Lord Wharton, a nobleman and politician, who was notorious for his life of debauchery. And quite the charmer, so it seems. Charles, in a rage, forbade his wife from ever leaving Raynham Hall. She remained in the home until her death from smallpox in 1726 at the age of 39. Some wonder if she truly died from smallpox or if something more sinister happened to her.
If you like spooky places, you may also enjoy reading about The Haunted Crescent Hotel.
The Sightings of The Brown Lady
The sightings of Lady Dorothy in ghostly form began in 1835 at a Christmas party. Witnesses described her as glowing white with no eyes and wearing a brown brocade. The following year, a guest stumbled upon her in the hall. Terrified, he grabbed his gun and shot at her, only to find that the bullet had gone right through her. In 1926, her ghost was sighted again on the staircase. And, of course, in 1936, photo evidence of her haunting was finally taken by Provand and Shira.
Some believe the image to be a double exposure, while others find it compelling. Whatever the case, the story is intriguing, albeit sad. It seems as if Lady Dorothy was cursed to more than just a lifetime at Raynham Hall.
