Ruthin Castle Hotel
Ruthin
North Wales, United Kingdom
Tel: 44 (0) 1824-702664
Website: www.ruthincastle.co.uk
The lush, rolling hills of North Wales are steeped in romantic lore as well as the blood of numerous battles. What better location for a 700-year-old haunted castle?
For anyone who enjoys creature comforts to go along with their desire to experience a ghostly encounter, this castle is the perfect combination. Built in 1207 for King Edward I, much of the original structure is in evidence today. Colorful peacocks wander among moss-covered walls. Fifty-eight beautifully appointed rooms are available to guests, along with a banquet room where the Medieval Banquets are held in the evenings. You can still see the remnants of the oldest parts of the castle, which is some of the oldest construction that can be found in Wales. The castle grounds also have drowning and whipping rooms as well as dungeons. Is it any wonder that restless souls wander the grounds?
While several different ghosts are said to roam the premises, the most well-known locally is the "Gray Lady," who has been seen walking the battlements at night. She has also been glimpsed in the banquet hall and outside the castle. She is believed to have been the wife of the second-in-command at the castle sometime around 1282, when it was occupied by the armies of Edward I. Her husband was having an affair, so she ended the life of his mistress with an axe. For her crime, she was executed and as a murderess, she couldn't be buried in consecrated ground. Her grave can be seen today outside the castle walls, covered with stones. Many guests have reported seeing her dressed from head to toe in gray and walking her solitary course.