The Traveling Ghost of the Headless Witch: Anne Boleyn
by The spirit of Henry VIII apparently sleeps peacefully. But the two wives he executed – Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard – still haunt the world they once lived in.
Every Christmas-time, the ghost of Anne Boleyn has been reported in Kent, being driven up the avenue of Hever Castle at a furious pace and in a funeral coach drawn by six black headless horses. It was here, in this thirteenth-century castle, under the magnificent oak, that Henry courted both Anne and her sister Mary.
Also during Christmas-time, the Rochford district of Essex is haunted for twelve nights by a headless witch, dressed in a rich silken gown. Anne Boleyn lived at Rochford Hall when she was a girl.
The ghost of Anne Boleyn has often been seen standing at a window at Windsor Castle, but Anne’s most persistent haunting is in the Tower, where she met her death…
The Bloody Tower
Anne Boleyn was buried in the Church of St. Peter ad Vincular, within the Tower itself. Many years later her coffin was opened and she was identified by her infamous sixth finger. She is said to haunt this little church with a ghostly ritual in the aisle. Around 1880, this was witnessed by an officer of the guard, who noticed a light shining inside the church and asked the sentry outside what it was. The soldier said he did not know, nor did he wish to investigate the phenomenon. So the officer mounted a ladder, peered into the window and saw the church filled with an eerie glowing light, and a procession of people dressed in Elizabethan costume moving along the aisle. At the head of the procession was a splendidly dressed and bejewelled woman whose face ressembled the portrait of Anne Boleyn. Suddenly, the procession vanished, leaving the church in utter darkness.
The ghostly appearances of Anne Boleyn in the Tower are, as a rule, more horrific. In 1817 a sentry had a fatal heart attack after meeting her on a stairway, and in 1864 a soldier was court-martialled for being found asleep on duty. He claimed to have gone in a swoon after meeting the white figure of “a woman wearing a queer-looking bonnet with no head in it.” – “Who goes there?” he yelled, and when he got no reply he made a thrust with his fixed bayonet. The following moment “a fiery flash” ran up his rifle and gave him a burning shock. Several witnesses told the court that they had seen the same headless woman in white near the Lieutenant’s Lodgings that night. One officer who was in the Bloody Tower had heard the sentry yelling and saw him thrusting at the ghostly intruder with his bayonet. He saw the spectre walking through the bayonet… and through the sentry as well. The court-martial found the sentry not guilty.
In 1933, according to some newspaper reports, the ghost of Anne Boleyn again walked straight into the bayonet of a guard, and scared him so much he fled from his post shouting for help. The headless body of Anne Boleyn also appears near the place of her execution and some have even witnessed her walking in the Tower, carrying her head…
With her Head Tucked Underneath her Arm…
She walks the Bloody Tower
At the Midnight Hour…
More Historical Mysteries here!
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Post CommentUnofre Pili
On February 17, 2009 at 5:53 am
I like the way told it.
clay hurtubise
On February 17, 2009 at 5:58 am
Nice story, well told.
Thanks,
clay
Lee Altman
On February 17, 2009 at 8:05 am
excellent work on this one. I stayed with it.
BC Doan
On February 17, 2009 at 9:45 am
I found this so fascinating, since I had just watched the movie “The Other Boleyn Girl”.
To me, King Henry is the one committed adultery, and incest, but I want to keep my head, so I will stop here!!!
Lost in Arizona
On February 17, 2009 at 10:10 am
Perfect ghost story. I’ve always loved reading about Anne Boleyn. The idea of visiting the Tower has always fascinated me just so I could actually see her headless spector. I’m weird, but I love a good haunting..lol! Wonderful story on a cold morning.
nobert soloria bermosa
On February 17, 2009 at 8:59 pm
another interesting page in history
Debra.
On February 17, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I love history and the story of the sisters and King Henry. I also believe that King Henry was the one who committed adultery and Anne should be guilty of it also, although she was not married but being that it was her sister’s husband should make her just as guilty. Patrisck, well done again, my friend! I love your stories!
C Jordan
On February 17, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Superbly related Patrick. An excellent read.
CutestPrincess
On February 18, 2009 at 5:52 am
aww… unbelievable… but the story really amazing…
Carolyn
On June 16, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Debra:
The King was Married solely to Catalina de Aragon, daughter of Isabella de Castilla and Ferdinand de Aragon before he was married to Lady Anne. Lady Anne was in no way related to the Queen. “The Other Boleyn Girl” was a poorly done movie and things are made clearer in the book, but I will make it clear here: Mary Boleyn was never married to King Henry VIII nor any king of England. Anne played a dangerous game, but she did what she had to in order to move forward in life. Especially after Wolsey shut down her marriage to Henry Percy. Instead of being used as a tool by her family, as her sister and her successor did, Anne took charge of her own destiny and made the most of her life and her circumstances. She was not a witch, and adulterer, treasonous or incestuous. Just smart, which was a trait frowned upon in women during those times.
Sandra A Flowers
On June 28, 2009 at 4:29 pm
just found your pages, an amazing story, love the read here
The Anne Boleyn Files
On July 29, 2009 at 11:04 am
Excellent article, I love reading ghost stories. I also loved the song by the Kingston Trio as I’d never heard it before – thanks!
Lauren Axelrod
On November 23, 2009 at 7:46 pm
This is one of my favorite times from history. Excellent piece Patrick.
Allison Jae
On December 26, 2009 at 4:04 am
Had me hooked from beginning to end.
Aarushi_ashley
On March 12, 2010 at 11:24 am
WOW! i had had ghoosebumps while reading this matter.It is facsinating to read that a woman like her can walk in ghastly appearences nd terrifying ppl.i think she shud go back 2 the time she was executed in 16th century.SHe is jst waistin time up in here in 21st century dude!
bb
On June 26, 2011 at 12:01 am
Hi; Can you provide any sources for the details about the ghost being seen by guards in the Tower? You provide dates but no sources. I’d like to read more about the encounters.
Thanks!