10 Most Terrifying Places In England

3. Lumley Castle, Durham

Lumley Castle, just outside Chester-Le-Street, started out life as a manor house and was inhabited by Lady Lily Lumley and her family in the 14th century. It is believed that she met a particularly nasty end at the hands of two priests, who murdered her because she would not convert to Catholicism. The priests threw Lady Lumley down a deep shaft well that was in the courtyard of the castle and she has haunted the area ever since. Sightings of Lady Lumley have been reported in all guest and public rooms of the castle as well as in the grounds and even on the castle's golf course. The castle made headlines in 2005 when the Australian cricket team were staying there ahead of a match at Durham Cricket Ground. Members of the team were reporting strange noises, voices and even moving objects. They ended up so freaked out not a single one of them could spend the night alone. It even came to a point where one of the players was so scared he sprinted through the hotel to the reception to ask for help in his underwear. Such is the power of fear. But Lady Lumley isn't the only spook to haunt the castle - a rather playful poltergeist known as Black Jack inhabits the walls, playing pranks on guests. The spirit enjoys moving things from tables, knocking drinks and food to the floor and generally making a nuisance of himself whenever he appears. Other paranormal sightings include the ghostly image of a man sat at one of the castle's bars, the sound of children laughing and many, many examples of orbs appearing in photographs taken all over the castle. It's a veritable hotbed of ghostly fun. Acorah says: Oh crumbs.... who am I gonna call?