A Stay in Haunted Chillingham Castle NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND

Chillingham Castle began its history as a monastery in the late 12th century. Its location between two feuding nations made its peaceful purpose a short-lived one. It was used as a staging post for English armies entering Scotland, and was repeatedly attacked by Scottish armies and raiding parties. Fast forward past many kings who used and stayed at the castle (most notably, King Edward on his way to battle William Wallace as well as James I, the first king of both England and Scotland)—to WW II. During WW II, the castle became army barracks. After the war, the castle fell into disrepair. In the 1980s, it was purchased by Sir Humphry Wakefield, and he set about a pain-staking, expensive  restoration. He still lives here and can be seen walking the gardens and grounds.

The route to our room snaked through the bowels of the castle (accessible only to guests). No dangerous haunted dungeons, nor mysterious candlelit pathways—only a creepy bleating deer head—and lots of yard-sale-like items accumulated through the centuries and stacked haphazardly in the hallways.

The Still Room. This is another room we passed through each time we left or returned. A bit junk room and a bit museum exhibit, there are family travel photos (including that of an Everest trip made by an uncle in 1922), a giant cooking pot for feeding the Chillingham garrison, and a slightly less massive bowl for pouring oil on unwelcome visitors. There’s also a book of letters from visitors who unwisely stole items from the castle over the years—and suffered curses from the Chillingham witch.

The Grey Room. Our room was located in the heart of the ancient castle at the top of two flights of winding, narrow stairs. The fine Elizabethan Long Gallery, with its timbered ceiling, has a magnificent carved chimney piece over a wood-burning stove. Several of the rooms in the apartment overlook the great medieval courtyard.