The Duchess of Ham House
In a riverside mansion near London, staff say the scent of roses drifts through rooms, a dog that isn't there scampers past, and the house's old duchess still keeps watch.
What was reported
Ham House, a grand 17th-century house on the Thames at Richmond, was the home of Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, a powerful and ambitious figure of the Restoration court. She is said never to have left: visitors and staff have described a woman in old-fashioned dress, the tapping of her cane, and her presence in the room that was hers.
Other stories tell of the sound of a small dog, the smell of tobacco and roses, and footprints that appear on the floors.
Explanations offered
Old houses are full of draughts, creaks and smells from old materials, and stories in famous houses tend to grow with retelling. The National Trust, which owns Ham House, runs tours about its supernatural reputation.
- When
- Reported for centuries
- Where
- Ham House, Richmond, London, England, UK
- Witnesses
- Staff, visitors and security guards
- Status
- Unexplained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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