Burton Agnes Hall: The Skull That Would Not Leave

Burton Agnes Hall is one of England’s finest Elizabethan houses—and home to one of its most disturbing hauntings. Anne Griffith, who helped build the house and loved it passionately, asked on her deathbed that her skull remain within its walls forever. When her request was ignored, the consequences were terrifying.

The History

The Griffith Sisters

The hall was built between 1601 and 1610 by Sir Henry Griffith for his three daughters: Frances, Margaret, and Anne. Anne was deeply involved in the design and decoration, pouring her heart into every detail.

Anne’s Death

Shortly after the house was completed, Anne was attacked by robbers on the road. She was beaten and left for dead. For five days she lay dying, and her only request was that her head be severed after death and kept in the house forever.

Her sisters were horrified and refused. They buried her intact in the churchyard.

The Aftermath

What followed was terrifying: Crashes, banging, and screaming filled the house. Doors slammed with no one near them. Horrible groaning sounds echoed through the halls. The disturbances only stopped when Anne’s grave was opened and her skull was brought into the house. When the skull has been removed or disturbed, the haunting returns.

The Hauntings

“Awd Nance”

Anne Griffith, known locally as Awd Nance, manifests in multiple ways: A woman in Jacobean dress, a sad, dark-haired figure, she walks through the house she loved, her expression is sorrowful, and she is particularly seen in the Queen’s Bedroom.

The Screaming Skull

Attempts to remove the skull trigger phenomena: The entire house shakes, screaming fills the air, doors bang uncontrollably, animals panic, and the disturbances continue until the skull is returned.

The skull is now believed to be bricked into the walls—hidden to prevent further disturbances.

Anne’s Presence

Even with the skull in place, Anne remains active: Cold spots throughout the house, the sound of rustling dresses, a feeling of being watched, she appears near her portrait, and visitors feel her approval or disapproval.

Other Spirits

Anne is not alone at Burton Agnes: A child has been seen in the nursery, servants in Jacobean dress, a man in the garden, and the house feels fully inhabited.

The Warning

Visitors are warned not to speak disrespectfully of Anne: Mocking her has produced immediate reactions, photographs fail or show anomalies, people feel suddenly unwelcome, and Anne protects her home jealously.

Modern Activity

Burton Agnes Hall remains in private ownership (the Cunliffe-Lister family): The family acknowledges the haunting, staff regularly report experiences, visitors have photographed apparitions, the screaming skull legend is taken seriously, and Anne is considered a resident, not a ghost.

Visiting

Burton Agnes Hall is open to visitors and features an acclaimed garden and art collection. The atmosphere is welcoming—as long as Anne is treated with respect.

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Anne Griffith loved Burton Agnes Hall so much that she refused to leave it, even in death. Her skull rests within its walls, and her spirit walks its corridors. Woe to anyone who tries to separate Anne from her beloved home.

Sources

• Wikipedia search: “Burton Agnes Hall: The Skull That Would Not Leave”
• Historic England — Listed Buildings — Register of historic sites