Find me here:
  The Paranormal Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Atlas
  • Glossary

The Tulip Staircase

28/3/2013

Comments

 
Picture
The Tulip Staircase in the Queen's House, Greenwich, is possibly the first unsupported spiral staircase in England.

Quite a grand reputation in it's own right, and with reports of disembodied footsteps, chanting children, bloody landings and this ghost photograph, it makes for quite a story.

A Very Odd Photo

PictureRev. Ralph Hardy's photo.
This photo, taken in June, 1966, shows what appears to be a person with a penchant for drama, pulling themselves up a staircase, looking quite morose. The problem is, when retired clergyman Reverend Ralph Hardy took the photo, no one was on the staircase.

Hardy, who hailed from British Columbia, Canada, was visiting the National Maritime Museum, housed in what is known as the Queens House in Greenwich, England. The building, a former royal residence, saw quite a number of royal wives (Queens really) live within its walls since it was built in 1616-1619.

The house was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I, who gave her Greenwich as an apology for swearing at her in public, after she had accidentally shot one of his dogs. The original plan for the construction of the house fell short when Queen Anne fell ill and died. The first floor was complete and essentially capped over.

King Charles I recalled the same architect, Inigo Jones, to see to it the house would be completed for his wife Queen Henrietta Maria. However, with the English Civil war, the house fell into disrepair and served as a kind of prisoner of war camp.

Soon after the war it was repaired, and once again used for housing royalty. It was then later used as a place for educating and housing the orphans of seamen, before being turned into the Royal Hospital School, and then the National Maritime Museum.

It no doubt had several other uses in between.

But back to retired Reverend Ralph Hardy.

The Tulip Staircase

PictureThe Tulip Staircase.
Hardy was visiting the museum with his wife, when she recalled a beautiful photo of the houses famous 'Tulip Staircase' (thought to be the first unsupported spiral staircase in Britain) she had seen in a magazine some years before. Hardy thought it would be great to make a souvenir, try to recreate the rather iconic image. Unfortunately this was not possible, as the staircase was cordoned off – he could see the staircase from behind the barrier, but could not stand directly under it as the magazines photographer had.

Hardy and his wife had to settle on a photo of the staircase as they could see it. He snapped off the shot, and then went about looking through the rest of the house, enjoying the rest of his holiday before returning home.

PictureAnother copy of the photograph.
They returned to Canada where they had the film developed, and were quite shocked when they received the prints. A ghostly figure, though looking quite solid, was seen on the staircase.

Hardy knew no one was on the staircase, for one he was there when he took the photo, and two, no one could access it. Hardy sent his photos and the negatives to some researchers, who then sent it to the Kodak laboratories, and it was concluded the negatives had not been tampered with, the image was there, on the film.

Some people think there is more than one 'person' seen on the staircase, both are hooded with their heads held low. They seem to struggle as the make their way up the stairs.

Other Activity

PictureQueens House.
Following the release of the image, there were attempts to contact the spirits on the Tulip Staircase, including a re-enactment of the photo, attempting to recreate the same conditions, and a séance was held. Neither of these attempts produced any further notable evidence for the existence of the ghost/ghosts.

However, this photo is far from being the only experience someone has had with the paranormal at Queens House. Unexplainable footsteps have been heard on the staircase, as well as the sound of chanting children.

One of the most disconcerting reports is that of a pale woman, dressed in old fashioned clothing, seen to be mopping up blood at the bottom step. A maid was apparently thrown from the top of the staircase, some fifty feet above, to crash on the bottom landing.

Other figures have been seen 'gliding' through the halls, but this photo seems to be the only physical (possible) evidence for their existence.

Ashley Hall 2013

Please leave your comments and further information about this article below!

Comments
comments powered by Disqus

    The Paranormal Guide Articles

    Here you will find all of the articles written for The Paranormal Guide on all things paranormal, strange, dark, macabre, weird, strange and bizarre!

    All photos with the blog posts remain the property of their respectful owners. If one of your photos is featured here without attribution please leave a comment on the blog and full credit will be given.

    Categories

    All
    Bizarre Experiments
    Conspiracy
    Cryptozoology
    Cursed And Haunted Objects
    Curses Demons And Exorcisms
    Earth Mysteries
    Fakes Frauds And Hoaxes
    Ghosts And Hauntings
    Ghosts Ghouls And Demons
    Interesting And Inspiring People
    Investigations
    Miracles
    My Paranormal
    Paranormal Photos
    Paranormal Vocabulary
    Phobias And Philias
    Post Mortem Practices
    Psychics Predictions And Seers
    Questions And Discussions
    Reviews
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Spirituality And Miracles
    Strange And Macabre Places
    Strange And Tragic Deaths
    This Week In Dark History
    Tragedy
    True Crime And Punishment
    Ufos And Aliens
    Unsolved Mysteries
    Urban Legend Superstition And Folklore
    Weird Odd And Bizarre


    Ashley Hall -
    The Paranormal Guide

    Ashley Hall explores The Paranormal, True Crime, Strange Deaths, Dark History, The Weird, The Strange and The Bizarre! Fact or Fiction? You decide!

    Picture

    Contributors

    Picture
    Matty Sweeney
    Picture
    Peet Banks
    Picture
    Nic Hume

    Picture
    Check out The Paranormal Guide Podcast and join three paranormal investigators and researchers for honest and raw discussions on all things paranormal, strange, dark and macabre HERE!

    Archives

    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Please note that dates are from when the article was originally made.
    The Paranormal Guide does have posts all the way up to the current date.


    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.