The Mad, Bad, Sad Ghosts of Dudley Castle...

During the Middle Ages, people were sometimes unfortunate enough to be accused of witchcraft - especially if you were an old woman and owned a black cat.

One such woman lived at the castle and was regarded with suspicion by the locals.

One day a group of young men entered the castle and dragged the terrified woman up to the battlements. After throwing her cat off the castle wall, they proceeded to put a rope around her neck and flung her off too.

A few years ago a medieval event was held at the castle. A strange elderly lady, dressed in rags, was complimented upon her authentic costume and was offered a prize.

However when the time came to give her the prize she could not be found. Some people think this lady was the ghost of the old woman so cruelly murdered all those centuries ago.

During the Civil War the castle was a Royalist stronghold and was besieged by Cromwellian forces for many weeks. In an attempt to break the deadlock the Parliamentarian general sent a young drummer boy into the castle with a message for the Royalists to lay down their arms and prevent unnecessary bloodshed.

Unfortunately the unarmed young man was shot as he walked up the castle steps and slowly bled to death.

Outraged at this injustice, the ghost of the young drummer has been seen and heard in the castle grounds. It is thought very bad luck indeed to see this particular spectre.

Another unhappy ghost from the time of the Civil War is Dorothy Beaumont who has become known as the "grey lady". She has been seen on numerous occasions and is said to be a very sad and mournful figure.

She was the wife of a Royalist officer and lived in the castle during the siege.

Dorothy was traumatised by the death of her infant daughter Frances, who she buried in nearby St. Edmunds church. Not long afterwards she lay dying herself and her last wish was to be laid to rest with her daughter.

Unfortunately the church was destroyed by fire and Dorothy was buried elsewhere. Her husband was not allowed to leave the castle to attend her funeral.

Her sad, troubled spirit still wanders the castle. Is she looking for her beloved husband and daughter?

There is also a cottage in the castle grounds, which was once the home to a Victorian family.

One day the man of the house seems to have lost his mind. In a dreadful eruption of violence he killed his wife before slaughtering his two children. The cottage is empty now and is uninhabitable.

However, a man with a thick beard has been seen looking out of a window. A tramp perhaps? Or maybe the ghost of the man who killed his family, trapped forever in a hell he can't escape from.

Some investigators have picked up electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) in this cottage. An angry male voice has been heard along with childish voices.

have been in this cottage myself and can attest to its creepy, unnerving atmosphere. It is not a nice place.

Dudley Castle has regular ghostly events, details of which can be easily obtained from the internet.

Don't forget, if you do see something strange, please let us know.