Dudley Castle Ghost Hunt
Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands.
Southern Ghost Society investigated the amazing ruins of Dudley castle, the scene of TV's Most Haunted's Live
weekend.
According to legend, a wooden construction was erected on the
site as early as the 8th century by a Saxon Lord named Dado.
Historians date the castle soon after the Norman conquest of
1066 where the first stone construction was set around 1070.
In 1153 the castle fell under siege by the forces of King Stephen
and managed to stay strong until 1173 when it was ordered to
be demolished by order of the King John Somery, the last of the males in the Somery family,who died
in 1321 which meant the castle was passed to John de Sutton and
his wife Margaret, who often used the name Dudley. This is where
the name is thought to originate. In 1532 John Sutton inherited
the castle but then fell on hard times, and was ousted by a family
member John Dudley who later became Duke of Northumberland in
1537.
John de Somery, who is reportedly the most notorious of the Earls,
spent most of his life terrorising the local people. In order
to rebuild the castle in the early 1300s, he stole everything
he could lay his hands on and thought nothing of killing anybody
who got in his way.
Returned to the Sutton family by Queen Mary the castle was later
considered by Queen Elizabeth I as a positional location for
the imprisonment of Mary, Queen of Scots. Used as a Royalist
stronghold during the civil war the castle was besieged twice
before its surrender to Cromwell’s forces in 1646. Finally on
13th May 1646 the castle was partly demolished to its present
appearance apart form a few habitable buildings which were occasionally
visited by the Earl of Dudley.
The final ever construction took place in 1700 which saw a stable
block erected on the site before being devastated by a fire in
1750.
From kings to Queens, Lords and Ladies this magnificent location
has played a pivotal part in British History. There is no surprise
that it is reported to still house over 15 resident ghosts with
over 1000 different sightings over the years.
A lady and her cat in the middle ages were brutally murdered
over the castle walls, for crimes of witchcraft. This was never
proved but as she was a single lady who owned a black cat the
locals forced their way into the castle, and disposed of the
cat over the wall followed by its owner. In more recent times
a medieval fair was held at the castle. A woman thought to be
local, whose costume was far greater than any who attended was
announced the winner but when the organisers tried to present
the prize she was nowhere to be seen.
Murder, Death, Fire and despair stains the walls at this amazing
location.
Reported Paranormal Activity
One of the most common sightings at the castle is of one of the De Somery family. Yet to be identified due to only the legs being visible to terrified onlookers. This spirit has been associated with the half stone coffin, still found in the chapel.
A Young Drummer Boy, A grey Lady and Homeless man have all been seen walking the castle wall looking for family and trying to explain the brutal ways that their life's came to an end
A black monk who walks the
ground? The medieval apparition is said to wonder the castle
ruins on his way back to Dudley Priory, whose months used to
wear the distinguished Black Habit.
