Dover Castle Ghosts
The 'Key to England' has guarded the coast for nearly a thousand years. Its tunnels, battlements, and dungeons are home to Roman soldiers, medieval prisoners, and WWII spirits.
Dover Castle, the largest castle in England, has defended the English coast for nearly a thousand years. With a history spanning from the Roman era through World War II, it harbors spirits from every age.
History
According to historical records:
- An Anglo-Saxon fortification stood here before the Norman Conquest
- William the Conqueror strengthened it in 1066
- Henry II built the current great keep in the 1180s
- Secret wartime tunnels were dug during the Napoleonic Wars
- WWII operations including Dunkirk evacuation were commanded from here
The Underground Tunnels
Dover Castle’s network of tunnels is particularly active:
The Hellfire Corner (WWII tunnels):
- Officers and soldiers are seen in period uniform
- Sounds of typing, telephones, and radio transmissions
- The bustle of wartime activity heard in empty corridors
- Staff report being asked questions by figures who then vanish
The Napoleonic Tunnels:
- Soldiers from the early 1800s have been seen
- Lantern light glimpsed in closed sections
- Footsteps echo with no one present
The Medieval Tunnels:
- Older spirits linger in the deeper passages
- Screams attributed to prisoners
- Cold spots regardless of season
St. John’s Tower
The tower is perhaps the castle’s most haunted location:
A Woman in Red:
- Multiple witnesses have seen her
- Appears distressed or searching
- Vanishes when approached
- Her identity is unknown
The Blue Boy:
- A child in blue clothing
- Seen playing in empty rooms
- Associated with feelings of sadness
- May be connected to children’s remains found in the castle
The Keep
The Norman great keep has its own spirits:
Phantom Soldiers:
- Medieval guards seen on the battlements
- Walking set patrol routes
- Disappear when followed
The Drumming:
- A headless drummer boy is heard
- An old legend about a boy sent to find an escape tunnel
- He drummed as he went—until the drumming suddenly stopped
The Roman Pharos
The Roman lighthouse adjacent to the castle is one of Britain’s oldest standing buildings:
- Roman soldiers have been seen near it
- An ancient presence felt by many visitors
- Cold emanates from it even on warm days
World War II Spirits
The castle’s role in WWII has left recent ghosts:
- A woman in 1940s dress appears in the officers’ quarters
- The sounds of the Dunkirk operation replay
- Military personnel from the era are seen and vanish
- Equipment seems to operate briefly on its own
Staff working evening shifts report the strongest activity—as if the castle comes alive when visitors leave.
Modern Investigation
Dover Castle has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations:
- Equipment malfunctions are common
- EVPs have been recorded
- Temperature variations documented
- Multiple investigation teams have had experiences
The castle is managed by English Heritage, which acknowledges its haunted reputation.