Gwrych Castle Ghost

Standing tall near the town of Abergele in North Wales is the grand Gwrych Castle. Listed Grade-1, the fortress dates back to 1810 when it was built by Lloyd Hesketh Bamford-Hesketh, heir of the Lloyds of Gwrych. Gwrych Castle is known for its history and beauty, but what surpasses them both in terms of popularity is the Gwrych Castle ghost.

The castle is blessed with a magnificent appearance, thanks to its stunning design and glorious gardens. However, the Gwrych castle ghost sightings and unsettling experiences at the site are what attract visitors the most.

Gwrych Castle Ghost Stories 

The most frequent haunting reported at Gwrych Castle is that of the castle’s former owner, Countess Winifred Cochrane, who died in 1924. After Winifred’s death, her husband Douglas Cochrane attempted to sell off the castle to King George V. This deal, however, was refused by the King, and Douglas had to sell the Countess’ belongings to meet the cost. It is widely believed that her spirit is still trapped in the castle, waiting to avenge the loss of her belongings.

It is believed that a servant girl died on the grounds after falling off a horse. Some other sightings include a lady dressed in red, apparently walking out of the castle walls at night. Legend has it that she and other staff members also haunt the castle.

Last year, the cast and crew of the British TV show ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ shifted to North Wales instead of their usual shooting location in Australia due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of the crew members of the show have reported seeing an orb of light on the castle, while others have reported an unsettling feeling of being watched on the spot.

A manager at the Gwrych castle wrote on the ghost castle’s website that he had a strange experience at one gate of the castle. The manager reported hearing the gates clatter a bit and the sound of footsteps approaching him. The footsteps stopped about a foot away from him. Terrified, the manager switched on his flashlight, only to find no one. 

Another person to witness a ghostly encounter at the site is the security guard working for the show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’. Speaking of his haunted experience, he said that he and his colleague spotted a womanly figure passing by while guarding for ITV during the show’s shooting. They both, then, ran out, but there was no one in sight. The guard vouches that there surely was “NO living person in the vicinity”. 

Gwrych Castle Ghost Hunt

Gwrych castle ghost hunts are incredibly popular. Be it YouTube or other social media websites; the castle is famous all over the place for its chilling and brave ghost hunts. On certain nights spread across the year, Gwrych Castle organizes ghost hunts. Visitors gather at about 8 P.M. to 1 A.M and take strolls on the castle’s grounds in a guarded manner in the hope of spotting any of the castle ghosts or experiencing haunting encounters. The tickets for the hunt cost £40 per head. This includes tours on the castle grounds and even inside the castle using paranormal equipment such as K2 rods.

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The sightings at the castle and incidents like that of the spirits shouting ”Get out!” are believed to be spooky enough to have made the celebrity Kerry Katona flee during a ghost hunt. Many visitors have spotted the ghost of the Countess dressed in white, spooking the castle with an angry facial expression, while others have reported hearing strange noises from within the castle walls. Gwrych Castle, thus, lives up to its title of being one of the most haunting places in North Wales and definitely makes for one visit- or even a ghost hunt!