Bolling Hall, The Haunted Mansion In West Yorkshire
Visit BradfordBolling Hall in Bradford, a haunted mansion with a history that dates back to the 11th century.
A structure has stood at the site of Bolling Hall in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, since at least 1086, when the property was mentioned in the Domesday Book under the ownership of “Sindi.” The Bolling family owned the manor by around 1350, and it changed hands several times over the centuries.
In the 17th century, the mansion was a Royalist stronghold during the 1643 Siege of Bradford — which was also when its most famous haunting occurred.
According to the story, the Earl of Newcastle, a Royalist commander, reportedly woke to find a spectral woman pulling back his sheets and pleading, “Pity poor Bradford.” Moved by the visitation, he spared the town from widespread slaughter, ordering his troops to kill only those who resisted. It was a small kindness, and though many still died, there were far fewer casualties as a result of the Earl’s decree.
Ghost sightings at the haunted mansion didn’t end there, though. In fact, staff and visitors have reported no fewer than 20 full-bodied apparitions moving through the rooms of Bolling Hall over the decades.
Tim Green/Flickr Creative CommonsBolling Hall’s Ghost Room, where a woman in white has been spotted.
One room, aptly nicknamed the Ghost Room, is said to host a lady in white who drifts across the floor and disappears into the fireplace. The main staircase, meanwhile, leaves visitors with a feeling of being watched. Some have even reported feeling pushed or smelling pipe smoke, despite smoking being prohibited indoors. A figure believed to be Caroline Wood — who cared for the hall after her husband’s death in 1782 until her own passing in 1814 — is also said to appear and glide along the landing.
In the Blue Room, visitors have described feeling a menacing sensation and witnessing a man in a long, black cloak along with a stern Victorian woman, as well as doorknobs turning of their own accord. The nursery contains a crib that is said to rock on its own, accompanied by the sound of a phantom infant crying, and the Staff Room is frequently subjected to disembodied weeping, violent door tremors, and indistinct whispers.
Bolling Hall was transformed into a museum in 1915, and countless tourists have since visited one of England’s most haunted mansions to bear witness to its history — whether in the form of educational exhibits or spirits.
