Lumley Castle Hotel

Some years ago I had the pleasure of staying overnight in this beautiful castle hotel. I was a headteacher at the time and we were hosting staff from our partner schools in Scotland, Germany and Bulgaria.
I had approached the hotel to enquire if they would host a banquet for our visitors and they were happy to oblige. We all dressed up in Tudor style costumes and enjoyed a wonderful evening at this magnificent hotel. The food was absolutely wonderful and the atmosphere amazing. It was easy to imagine the ghosts of past inhabitants watching us from the shadows.
Situated in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, the castle dates back to circa 1388. It was built and owned by Sir Ralph Lumley, a man who has a very colourful and interesting history; however, I could find no mention of his ghostly presence during my research into his lovely home.
The one ghost I did find has a rather sad story. A young girl called Lily married Sir Ralph. She had abandoned her catholic faith in favour of Protestantism. According to legend, two priests, horrified and angry at this conversion tried in vain to reconvert her to the ‘true faith’. She steadfastly refused their threats and so they threw her down to her death in the castle’s well. They then told her husband that she had left to become a nun.
Visitors to the hotel can still see the well today, though thankfully it has been made safe.
Her sad ghost is said to roam the castle grounds and corridors and has been seen by many visitors.
Apparently, she scared several members of the visiting Australian cricket team. They were so scared of the visitation that they spent the night on the floor of a team mate’s room.
The history of Lumley is a long and interesting one and I am sure there must be several more ghosts stalking the magnificent grounds and majestic building. I am determined to find them out!
The photo is of me, dressed for the evening in an Elizabethan style costume!

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