Lumley Castle

Lumley Castle, a magnificent 14th-century quadrangular castle in County Durham, was converted into a luxurious country house and is now a hotel where guests can experience both medieval grandeur and genuine paranormal encounters. Built by Sir Ralph Lumley between 1389 and 1392, the castle’s stone walls conceal one of England’s most tragic ghost stories. The building’s impressive architecture, with its grand halls and stone-vaulted chambers, provides an atmospheric setting for the restless spirit that refuses to leave.

The castle’s most famous ghost is Lady Lily Lumley, known as “the Lily of Lumley” for her beauty and gentle nature. According to legend, Lily was murdered in 1395 by Catholic priests who disapproved of her interest in Protestant writings. The priests threw her from the castle’s well, and her body plummeted into the dark depths below. Her spirit has haunted the castle ever since, particularly manifesting in what is now called the Lily Suite. Guests staying in this room report being awakened by the sensation of someone sitting on their bed, cold hands touching their faces, and the overwhelming scent of lilies when no flowers are present.

Lily’s ghost appears as a beautiful woman in medieval dress, often seen gliding through corridors with a sorrowful expression. She is most active during the Christmas season, when her apparition has been witnessed by multiple guests simultaneously in the castle’s grand staircase and dining hall. Staff report objects moving on their own in her room, lights flickering, and the sound of a woman crying softly in empty chambers. Some visitors have attempted to communicate with her spirit during organized ghost hunts, and several have reported feeling an intense sadness and the touch of freezing hands. The castle has embraced its haunted reputation, offering ghost tours and themed events that allow guests to potentially encounter the Lily of Lumley.