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Haunted Castles: Windsor, Edinburgh, Ireland, Ghosts And Paranormal Activity
By:
Published: November 9, 2007
Castles dotting the landscape of the British Isles have long been popular tourist attractions. Some of them are mere ruins, having succumbed to the elements over time. Others, however, have managed to retain their grandeur. They were constructed centuries ago, and through the ages, many of these structures and their ruins have developed reputations as being haunted.
England, Scotland and Ireland have too many reputedly haunted castles to count. The haunted castles that garner the most attention seem to be those whose histories are the most widely known.
Windsor Castle, for example, is one of the most visited of reputed haunted castles. Windsor Castle was commissioned by William the Conqueror in the years following the Norman domination of England in 1066. From then until now, the castle has protected generations of Royals, some of whose spirits are believed to presently reside there. King Henry VIII and one of the several brides who died on his orders, Anne Boleyn, have been witnessed by many visitors of the years. King George III has been spotted peering out the window of the very same room in which he was detained during his bouts of insanity. Queen Elizabeth I, the most recently departed of Windsor Castle's Royal spirits, haunts the castle's library.
The ghosts noted above are believed to be responsible for reports of paranormal activity within the castle. In addition to the unnatural appearances of the above, there have also been instances of unexplainable groans and footsteps being heard throughout the castle. Other ghosts have been heard or even felt by witnesses. Similar paranormal activity has been reported many haunted castles. Indeed, a team of scientists investigated Scotland's Edinburgh Castle and the surrounding town for evidence of such phenomena in 2001.
Edinburgh Castle's original structure is more than 900 years old. Edinburgh, like many haunted castles, served as a military fortress for many of those years. The castle's dungeon served as a prison during the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War. Those who died while captive in the fortress only account for a handful of the specters responsible for the haunting of Edinburgh Castle. Other restless spirits reside outside of the castle. These apparitions are said to be victims of the Black Death, which hit Edinburgh particularly hard.
The 2001 scientific investigation into the paranormal activity at Edinburgh, headed by Dr. Richard Wiseman, produced some intriguing results. A skeptic himself, the scientist had investigated and debunked other haunted castles. Dr. Wiseman was meticulous in his investigation, only allowing participants who were unfamiliar with the phenomenon of haunted castles. Two-hundred-forty volunteers spent 10 days exploring locations which may or may not have had reputations of otherworldly happenings. Dr. Wiseman's study produced no conclusive results; however, he was surprised that approximately half of his volunteers experienced unexplainable activity. Further, in most cases, observations of such activity took place in locations where it had been reported in the past.
As mentioned earlier, haunted castles exist throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The examples mentioned above are just two of the most popular of Britain's haunted castles. Most skeptics easily deny reports of ghosts and paranormal activity. However, the histories of these haunted castles and others were extremely turbulent and oftentimes violent. Believers in the paranormal would argue that the inhabitants' uncertain state of life would connect their souls to the haunted castles following their deaths. The truth will probably never be known. For now, the uncertainty surrounding the nature of haunted castles should be enjoyed by visiting tourists. After all, it could be the crowds that keep the ghosts around.
Sources:
"Castle Ghost Hunt's 'Curious' Findings." BBC News – Scotland. 17 April 2001. 8 Nov. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1282114.stm.
Ford, David Nash. "Ghostly Tales from Windsor Castle." BBC Berkshire Website. 10 Dec. 2005. 8 Nov. 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/20 05/10/12/windsor_castle_ghosts_feature.shtml.
Jones, Richard. "Dunluce Castle." Haunted Britain – Northern Ireland. 8 Nov. 2007. http://www.haunted-britain.com/Haunted_Irleland_No rth.htm.
Stefko, Jill. "The Ghosts of Windsor Castle." Suite101.com. 1 July 2007. 8 Nov. 2007. http://ghosts-hauntings.suite101.com/article.cfm/t he_ghosts_of_windsor_castle.
Wagner, Stephen. "The Ghosts of Edinburgh Castle." About.com: Paranormal Phenomena. 8 Nov. 2007. http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa04230 1a.htm.
Windsor Castle, for example, is one of the most visited of reputed haunted castles. Windsor Castle was commissioned by William the Conqueror in the years following the Norman domination of England in 1066. From then until now, the castle has protected generations of Royals, some of whose spirits are believed to presently reside there. King Henry VIII and one of the several brides who died on his orders, Anne Boleyn, have been witnessed by many visitors of the years. King George III has been spotted peering out the window of the very same room in which he was detained during his bouts of insanity. Queen Elizabeth I, the most recently departed of Windsor Castle's Royal spirits, haunts the castle's library.
The ghosts noted above are believed to be responsible for reports of paranormal activity within the castle. In addition to the unnatural appearances of the above, there have also been instances of unexplainable groans and footsteps being heard throughout the castle. Other ghosts have been heard or even felt by witnesses. Similar paranormal activity has been reported many haunted castles. Indeed, a team of scientists investigated Scotland's Edinburgh Castle and the surrounding town for evidence of such phenomena in 2001.
Edinburgh Castle's original structure is more than 900 years old. Edinburgh, like many haunted castles, served as a military fortress for many of those years. The castle's dungeon served as a prison during the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War. Those who died while captive in the fortress only account for a handful of the specters responsible for the haunting of Edinburgh Castle. Other restless spirits reside outside of the castle. These apparitions are said to be victims of the Black Death, which hit Edinburgh particularly hard.
The 2001 scientific investigation into the paranormal activity at Edinburgh, headed by Dr. Richard Wiseman, produced some intriguing results. A skeptic himself, the scientist had investigated and debunked other haunted castles. Dr. Wiseman was meticulous in his investigation, only allowing participants who were unfamiliar with the phenomenon of haunted castles. Two-hundred-forty volunteers spent 10 days exploring locations which may or may not have had reputations of otherworldly happenings. Dr. Wiseman's study produced no conclusive results; however, he was surprised that approximately half of his volunteers experienced unexplainable activity. Further, in most cases, observations of such activity took place in locations where it had been reported in the past.
As mentioned earlier, haunted castles exist throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. The examples mentioned above are just two of the most popular of Britain's haunted castles. Most skeptics easily deny reports of ghosts and paranormal activity. However, the histories of these haunted castles and others were extremely turbulent and oftentimes violent. Believers in the paranormal would argue that the inhabitants' uncertain state of life would connect their souls to the haunted castles following their deaths. The truth will probably never be known. For now, the uncertainty surrounding the nature of haunted castles should be enjoyed by visiting tourists. After all, it could be the crowds that keep the ghosts around.
Sources:
"Castle Ghost Hunt's 'Curious' Findings." BBC News – Scotland. 17 April 2001. 8 Nov. 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1282114.stm.
Ford, David Nash. "Ghostly Tales from Windsor Castle." BBC Berkshire Website. 10 Dec. 2005. 8 Nov. 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/20 05/10/12/windsor_castle_ghosts_feature.shtml.
Jones, Richard. "Dunluce Castle." Haunted Britain – Northern Ireland. 8 Nov. 2007. http://www.haunted-britain.com/Haunted_Irleland_No rth.htm.
Stefko, Jill. "The Ghosts of Windsor Castle." Suite101.com. 1 July 2007. 8 Nov. 2007. http://ghosts-hauntings.suite101.com/article.cfm/t he_ghosts_of_windsor_castle.
Wagner, Stephen. "The Ghosts of Edinburgh Castle." About.com: Paranormal Phenomena. 8 Nov. 2007. http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa04230 1a.htm.
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