Raynham Hall History, Travel Information, Facts And More
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME
Raynham Hall
COUNTRY
United Kingdom
ADDRESS
Raynham Hall, 1 Raynham Hall, East Raynham, Fakenham NR21 7EP, United Kingdom
RAYNHAM HALL PICTURE
More Information
About Raynham Hall
Raynham Hall is one of the more famous houses when it comes to haunting. The infamous ?brown lady? is a resident that often presents herself to the guests. With a history spanning 400 years and controversial tales and evidence, the site remains a topic of much debate about the authenticity of paranormal activities and the existence of spirits and ghosts.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Raynham Hall
- Raynham hall was built in the early years of the 16th century. It was built by Sir Robert Townshed, designed by Inigo Jones. It is still owned by the successors of Sir Robert. Its architecture is an interesting blend, across time and rule. The exterior has touches of Dutch influences and also the classic Georgian style.
- It has remained the seat of the Townshend family all these years. In 1713, Charles Townshend, the second Viscount Townshend, married Dorothy Walpole, the sister of England's first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole.
- Charles's 2nd marriage was a failed one as well. Legend has it that Dorothy at one point was the mistress of a certain lord Wharton, during her marriage to Charles.
- The discovery of the affair enraged Charles so that he held his wife prisoner and announcing her fake death and even went as far as hosting a fake funeral! Dorothy remained isolated and a prisoner and ultimately died of smallpox in the year 1726.
- The first sighting of the "brown lady", Dorothy, came to light in 1835, when a guest at a celebration dinner claimed to have witnessed a lady with hollow eye sockets. Soon after, Charles Dickens's friend, Captain Frederick Marrayat wished to stay at Raynham hall to discredit the rumors of its haunting. He would soon discover that it was no tale. He recounted the experience to his daughter, after the brown lady supposedly chased him down the hall with a gun in her hand!
- A photographer from country Life magazine had been taking pictures at the hall when his assistant noticed a figure gliding down the grand oak staircase. When he took another picture, the result was satisfying. The "mist-like" apparition was introduced to the world as the supposed "brown lady" of the castle. The photograph went viral and was critiqued and examined and judged to be free of any editing or tricks.
- She was entombed in the family crypt of the church across the Raynham parkland. But rumors began to circulate that she was not resting peacefully. And soon enough, the sightings became more frequent.
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