The ghosts of Raby Castle

When I was asked to write about ghosts of Northern England I found myself wondering where on earth I would start. After all, this part of the UK, like the rest of it, is teeming with tales of those long dead. Its long and sometimes bloody history, its many stunning castles and country homes, its rolling landscapes, devoid of human habitation for mile after mile, its rugged but beautiful coastlines and its dark industrial past, all provide for hauntings and supernatural mysteries.
So, I decided to begin with a place I know, if not well, at least from personal experience, having visited several times. I can recommend the wonderful Christmas Market.
Raby Castle is set in 200 acres of parkland, home to a herd of deer, often visible from the road as you drive past.
The castle itself, also visible from the road, is a stunning sight. Its history is a long one, stretching back almost a thousand years. Built by Cnut, also known as Canut ll, The Great, the Estate was originally called ‘Rabi’ which derives from ‘Ra’, Danish for ‘Boundary’ and ‘Bi’ meaning settlement or dwelling.
However, the castle as it stands today, belonged to the powerful Neville family and has its origins in the 14th century.
Its long history includes being home to Cecily Neville, mother to two kings of England and it was here at Raby, that the Rising of the North was plotted. It also became a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War. Today, it is the home of Lord and Lady Barnard.
So, with such a long and often tempestuous history, it is perhaps not surprising that Raby is said to be haunted by at least three ghosts.
Charles Neville’s spectre is to be seen in The Baron’s Hall. It was here in 1569, that he was instrumental in plotting the Rising of the North.
Neville, the 6th Earl of Westmorland, was born in 1542 to a family who were devout Roman Catholics. His father, the 5th earl was a steadfast supporter of Mary Tudor.
When her half sister ascended the throne as Elizabeth l, Charles faced the difficult choice of religion or monarch.
The northern nobility held steadfastly to the old ‘true’ religion and deep resentment festered over changes made during the Reformation, not least their diminishing powers.
A group of northern catholic lords decided to oust Elizabeth and replace her with her catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.
Up to 700 knights were reputed to have assembled in the Baron’s Hall but Sir George Bowes, a friend of the Earl, but also Protestant and loyal to Elizabeth, had spies at Raby. He reported back to the queen via the Earl of Sussex, then based at York. Bowes was ordered to raise an army in order to counter what was now open rebellion against the Crown.
The rebels marched on Durham, holding a Catholic mass at the cathedral before turning south to engage the Queen’s army.
The rebellion quickly failed but the queen declared she would pardon the rebels, except for the earls, if they retreated and returned to their homes.
The rebels returned to the Tees but were now bitterly divided, quarrelling amongst themselves.
Neville decided to attack his one time friend, George Bowes, at Barnard Castle.
An eleven day siege followed but bolstered by reinforcements from the Queen, Neville suffered a second defeat. He fled to Hexham where his Calvary scattered into Scotland. Meanwhile, royal forces arrived at Raby where documents were siezed. Although the Earl of Northumberland was captured and executed, Neville escaped and fled to the Netherlands where he died in poverty 32 years later in 1601.
There was no male heir and the senior Neville line died with him. Here, in England, he was convicted of high treason, his title, Earl of Westmorland, voided, the castle and estate becoming crown property.
His ghost is reputed to float up the staircase into the Baron’s Hall where the plot which caused his disgrace and downfall began.
He died a traitor to queen and country and in so doing ended is noble line and title. It is perhaps not surprising that his troubled spirit cannot rest and he returns to the scene where it all began.
Raby’s second ghost is said to be the headless spectre of Sir Henry Vane. His father had purchased Raby, Barnard Castle and Long Newton in 1626. He was the Treasurer to Charles l and used stone from Barnard Castle to rebuild Raby. He fell out with the king and supported parliament during the Civil War, resulting in the castle being attacked on no less than five occasions.
Henry Vane the Younger was a leading Parliamentarian but took no part in the execution of Charles l.
Nevertheless, after the Restoration, Charles ll had him arrested and after a trial which can only be described as grossly unfair, he was beheaded on Tower Hill.
Samuel Pepys witnessed the execution, recording how his speech was drowned out by trumpeters. He died, justifying the cause and committing himself to God.
His ghost is said to haunt the Library where he sits at a writing desk, his headless body writing a letter dictated to him from his decapitated head, which sits on the desk, in an effort it is said to finally be heard, a right denied him on the scaffold.
Raby’s third ghost is known by the colourful name ‘The Old Hell Cat of Raby’. The name has nothing to do with a demonic feline but instead refers to the first Lady Barnard.
The title Barnard was created by William lll. Christopher Vane was the son of Henry Vane the Younger, Baron Barnard. He was reputed to be a quiet, bookish man, in stark contrast to his fiery, hot tempered wife.
He had married Elizabeth Holles, daughter of the Earl of Clare. She was keenly aware of status and was horrified when her eldest son Gilbert, declared his intention to marry Mary, the daughter of Morgan Randyll, an MP but not of the titled aristocracy.
His parents were furious and bitterly opposed the marriage. To their son’s dismay, they began to dismantle his inheritance.
They stripped the castle of its lead, glass and furniture. Floors were pulled up and woodlands felled. The famous deer were slaughtered.
Gilbert and Mary successfully took action to stop this outrage and the destruction stopped. The Barnard reluctantly began to repair the damage.
Gilbert and Mary’s marriage appears to have been a happy one. While Christopher slipped quietly into the background, Elizabeth continued her spiteful vendetta, viciously tormenting her son and daughter in law.
She became know locally as ‘The Old Hell Cat’ and stories of her fiery temper continued to be told.
She is said to haunt Raby’s Clifford Tower, where she took to knitting, furiously muttering to herself.
According to the legend, her needles become red hot and visitors can see them after dark, flashing like sparks as she knits and fumes against her son and his wife.
The images accompanying this blog are of Christopher and his wife, ‘The Old Hell Cat’ of Raby.

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