When Ghosts appear, they are said to appear in bodily likeness to living persons and often haunt their former habitats. Ghosts are believed to have a surviving emotional memory typical of someone who has died violently, traumatically and tragically. The soul of a ghost is not able to rest in peace and they remain in old and familiar places, repeating the same acts indefinitely until they are released from their endless haunting.
Tower of London Ghosts
Tower of London Ghosts
- Information & Facts about the Tower of London Ghosts
- Who were the Tower of London Ghosts?
- Why do Ghosts haunt the Tower of London?
- How many Ghosts haunt the Tower of London and which are the most famous?
Clues as to why the Tower of London has so many Ghosts
The definitions of ghosts explain why perhaps there have been so many sightings of ghosts in the Tower of London. The major functions of the Tower of London have been:
- A Prison housing some very important state prisoners
- A place of trials, execution and torture
An obvious location where hapless victims were placed in a violent, traumatic and tragic situation.
Famous Tower of London Ghosts
The people who were incarcerated in the Tower of London are famous people who played an important part in the history of England. Many were violently interrogated and tortured. Many were sentenced without a trial. Those who were executed had their lives ended with a violent, untimely and tragic death. Countless victims were executed on Tower Hill, just outside the Tower of London. Only seven people were executed inside the walls of the Tower of London on Tower Green. The seven people to be executed inside the Tower of London are detailed on the following list. Each of these famous people were killed by beheading. This barbaric form of execution was common in Medieval and Renaissance England and explains why so many ghosts are sighted in a headless state. Stories of ghosts incarcerated in dungeons explain the ‘rattling of chains’ and the terrified shrieks, groans, moans, wails and desperate cries of prisoners account for the noises associated with ghosts.
| Date | Name of Tower of London Prisoner 'privately' executed on Tower Green |
| 13th June 1483 | William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (1431 - 1483) Executed by beheading William Hastings |
| 19th May 1536 | Anne Boleyn, Queen of England (1507- 1536) Executed by beheading Anne Boleyn was the second |
| 27th May 1541 | Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1473-1541) Executed by beheading the Countess of Salisbury |
| 13th February 1542 | Catherine Howard, Queen of England (1524 - 1542) Executed by beheading Catherine Howard |
| 13th February 1542 | Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1505 - 1542) Executed by beheading Jane Rochford |
| 12th February 1553 | Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England (1537–1554) Executed by beheading Lady Jane Grey |
| 25th February 1601 | Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex (1566 - 1601) Executed by beheading Essex |
Five of the seven famous people executed are reputed to haunt the Tower of London. All fit the perfect description and definition of ghosts. The five famous ghosts of people who were executed within the walls of the Tower of London were:
- The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
- The Ghost of the Countess of Salisbury
- The Ghost of Catherine Howard
- The Ghost of Jane Rochford
- The Ghost of Lady Jane Grey
All died violently, traumatically and tragically. There stories can be found by clicking any of the above links. Other famous ghosts were prisoners in the Tower of London and who were subsequently executed include:
- The Ghost of Guy Fawkes
- The Ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh
Other famous Tower of London ghosts include those who were murdered in the Tower. These murders are often mysterious but always violent, traumatic and tragic. These famous Tower of London ghosts who were murdered include:
- The Ghost of Thomas Becket
- The Ghost of King Henry VI
- The Ghosts of the two little Princes in the Tower
The Tower of London Anonymous Ghosts
Witnesses at the Tower of London have also reported ‘anonymous’ ghosts. These Tower of London Ghosts are simply referred to as the ‘Gray Lady’ and the ‘White Lady’. Names which reflected the appearance of the apparition. The ghost of the ‘ Gray Lady’ has been described as a woman in mourning garments. A black void is where her face should be. A phantom squad of ghost soldiers has also been sighted marching in the grounds of the Tower of London.
The Tower of London Ghosts
Interesting facts and information about the ghosts who are reputed to haunt the Tower of London…
Tower of London Ghosts
The Tower of London
- The History of The Tower of London
- Information & Facts about The Tower of London
- The Design, Layout and Architecture of The Tower of London - the different Towers
- The Tower of London Timeline
- The Tower of London Prisoners
- The Executions and Beheading of men and women