Athelhampton House, just outside Puddletown, dates from around 1485. Although much altered and expanded, the core of the house and the surrounding gardens have seen out the Tudors, Stuarts, the English Civil War and the changing fortunes of the landed gentry.
Perhaps then it is unsurprising that Athelhampton has long been supposed to house a wide variety of non-corporeal residents. These encompass all the usual favourites such as a ‘Grey Lady’ and a ‘Monkish figure’ – although the ghost of a monkey is rather more unusual!
Country Life magazine of Dec 1966 contains an article by ghost–hunter J. Wentworth Day who interviewed several eyewitnesses. Both a retired housemaid and the housekeeper of 1966 reported seeing the Grey Lady in the Tudor room. The maid told him that she
‘…walked into the Tudor room, and saw the Grey Lady sitting in a chair just after the last of the day’s visitors had gone.
“I am sorry Madam, but I am afraid that the last of your party has just gone and the house is closing to the public. Would you very much mind leaving.”
The Grey Lady rose without a word and left – through the wainscot.’
However, the Grey Lady is the tip of the iceberg. Various witnesses also report a ‘Black Priest’, an uncanny feeling in the ‘Smoking Walk’ and a monkey! The monkey was an emblem of the Martyn family and monkey images occur throughout the house. Legend has it that one such creature, a pet, was accidentally confined and starved to death on a secret staircase, but was seen and heard thereafter.
Oddest of all is an account from ‘Lady Vivien’ in a letter to Wentworth Day. She tells of a friend who was a guest at the house when her pre-dinner reading was interrupted;
She looked up to see two young men come into the room who did not address her but started to duel. She was very annoyed and asked them kindly to stop but with no effect, so she got up and pulled the bell for one of the servants. Nothing happened so she returned to her chair feeling most irritated. During this time the young men were still fighting till one got wounded in the arm and they left the room.
Alfredo (Alfred de Lafontaine) came into the room shortly after, and the lady, who was still irritated, said “My dear Alfredo, what extraordinary people you have staying here”. Then she told him the story.
Alfredo seemed slightly annoyed, and said “I can’t understand what you are talking about as you met all the guests who are staying, at tea“.
If nothing else, the spooky stories evidence our human fascination with ghosts, the afterlife and legends of strong emotion. Do you have a Dorset ghost story to share? Let us know and we’ll publish some of the best in our next newsletter.
Is anyone given permission to conduct ghost hunts in Athelhampton House?
Thank-you for your comment. As Athelhampton House is still privately owned, you would need to contact the Estate for further information about ghost hunts.