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Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
The most famous ghost photograph ever taken. Lady Dorothy Walpole descends the staircase, her empty eye sockets staring. She was locked away by her husband for alleged adultery. Her ghost still walks Raynham Hall.
1835 - Present
Norfolk, England
100+ witnesses
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the most famous ghosts in England, known for a photograph that remains one of the most analyzed supernatural images ever taken.
The Ghost
According to documented accounts:
The Brown Lady is believed to be:
- Lady Dorothy Walpole (1686-1726)
- Sister of Britain’s first Prime Minister
- Married to Charles Townshend
- Allegedly confined for adultery
- Wearing a brown brocade dress
The Legend
Lady Dorothy’s story:
- She married Lord Townshend in 1713
- He discovered her previous affair
- She was confined to Raynham Hall
- She died in 1726 (officially of smallpox)
- Rumors say she was imprisoned until death
Notable Sightings
1835: Colonel Loftus saw her twice over Christmas.
1836: Captain Frederick Marryat shot at the apparition.
1926: Lady Townshend and her son saw her.
1936: The famous photograph was taken.
The Photograph
The 1936 image:
- Taken by photographers from Country Life magazine
- Captain Provand and Indre Shira
- Shows a veiled figure on the stairs
- Has been analyzed extensively
- Never definitively debunked
The Image Analysis
Experts have noted:
- The figure appears luminous
- A double exposure is possible
- The photographers swore it was genuine
- No one has proven it fake
- It remains controversial
Raynham Hall
The location:
- A country house in Norfolk
- Seat of the Townshend family since 1619
- Still privately owned
- Beautiful Georgian architecture
- The staircase is central to sightings