On three consecutive days in 2003, a set of fire doors at Hampton Court Palace were captured on CCTV cameras flying open with force. On the second day a ghostly figure appeared and closed them.
Many believe the figure to be one of the ghosts of the palace. Fact or fiction? You decide!
Many believe the figure to be one of the ghosts of the palace. Fact or fiction? You decide!
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace. Hampton Court Palace, originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1514 is located at Richmond upon Thames, Greater London. Once the cardinal fell out of favor with King Henry VIII (for not securing him a annulment from Catherine of Aragon so the king could marry Anne Boleyn) the King took over the property and set to making it much larger.
The British Royal Family continued to inhabit the palace until the 18th century. In 1838 the palace was opened to the public who could then visit and see just what living like a monarch was like back in the day.
The palace is said to have many ghosts with a significant number of paranormal experiences felt by visitors and staff recorded in visitors books. One of these ghosts is thought to be King Henry VIII himself along with several of his wives.
The hauntings are a popular subject of chatter within the grounds but in 2003 they received a significant boost in popularity.
The British Royal Family continued to inhabit the palace until the 18th century. In 1838 the palace was opened to the public who could then visit and see just what living like a monarch was like back in the day.
The palace is said to have many ghosts with a significant number of paranormal experiences felt by visitors and staff recorded in visitors books. One of these ghosts is thought to be King Henry VIII himself along with several of his wives.
The hauntings are a popular subject of chatter within the grounds but in 2003 they received a significant boost in popularity.
Captured on Tape
Stills from the CCTV footage. For three consecutive days in late December of that year a specific fire door was discovered to be opened. The security and staff would close it only to have it reopen again. On reviewing the security camera footage (the door is an external entrance/exit so is constantly monitored) the doors were seen to be opening with quite a lot of force.
Internal cameras and staff could find no evidence of someone visiting that area of the palace when these events were taking place. It was a bit of a mystery.
Then on the second day the doors were seen to once again fly open but this time a person in clothing from King Henry VIII's era appeared and then proceeded to close them. No other security camera caught someone in that 'costume' that day and definitely not near to that door. As a matter of fact staff have said they do not even have a costume fitting the one seen in the video. In the visitors book someone had also logged that they had seen the ghost of a man in strange clothes in that area of the palace.
Internal cameras and staff could find no evidence of someone visiting that area of the palace when these events were taking place. It was a bit of a mystery.
Then on the second day the doors were seen to once again fly open but this time a person in clothing from King Henry VIII's era appeared and then proceeded to close them. No other security camera caught someone in that 'costume' that day and definitely not near to that door. As a matter of fact staff have said they do not even have a costume fitting the one seen in the video. In the visitors book someone had also logged that they had seen the ghost of a man in strange clothes in that area of the palace.
The 'ghost'? Security were also quite baffled, in that, being the ones who got the closest look at the footage they say the figures face does not resemble that of a flesh and blood person but is rather more skeletal... that of a skull.
What do you think?
Is a ghost responsible for opening, and at times closing, the fire escape doors?
Maybe King Henry VIII himself!
Could it be a trick of the light and shadows?
Or do you think it is a hoax, a complete fake?
What do you think?
Is a ghost responsible for opening, and at times closing, the fire escape doors?
Maybe King Henry VIII himself!
Could it be a trick of the light and shadows?
Or do you think it is a hoax, a complete fake?
Ashley Hall 2013
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