In the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things, historians Robert Hardman and Kate Williams delve deeper into the brutal saga of the Wars of the Roses, uncovering a remarkable story of a fugitive king and his stay in what is reputed to be Britain's most haunted castle.
A Defeated King's Remote Sanctuary
Following the catastrophic Battle of Towton in 1461, the deposed Lancastrian monarch, Henry VI, was forced to flee for his life. Towton remains the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil, and its outcome saw Edward IV seize the throne. The defeated king headed north, eventually finding refuge at the remote Muncaster Castle in Cumbria.
The Pennington family, who have owned the estate since 1208, offered shelter to the king for nine days. This royal connection, however, is just the beginning of Muncaster's dark and storied past. Today, the castle's spectral inhabitants are far more famous than its one-time royal guest.
The Ghosts of Muncaster Castle
Legends swirl around Muncaster, claiming it is teeming with apparitions. The castle's haunting reputation stems from centuries of tragic tales. In the 16th century, Sir Ferdinand Pennington ordered his court jester, known as Tom Fool, to murder a young carpenter who had fallen in love with his daughter, Helwise. Tom Fool beheaded the carpenter and concealed the head under wood shavings.
Today, both victim and murderer are said to roam the grounds. The spirit of Tom Fool plays malicious tricks on visitors, while the headless carpenter wanders the estate after dark. They are not alone; the ghost of a child, Margaret Pennington, is heard crying at night, and the White Lady, the spirit of a murdered 19th-century housekeeper named Mary Bragg, is seen near the castle gates.
The Luck of Muncaster and a Journalist's Challenge
When Henry VI finally left Muncaster, he gifted the Penningtons a glass bowl for their loyalty, declaring that as long as it remained intact, the family would prosper at Muncaster. This Venetian glass bowl, known as the Luck of Muncaster, is now kept locked in a safe, its legend enduring alongside the hauntings.
On the podcast, Robert Hardman recounted his own daring experience spending a night in the castle's notoriously haunted Tapestry Room, where guests report door handles turning by themselves and dark figures approaching beds. "Muncaster is a properly scary old castle," Hardman stated, revealing he was challenged to stay after hearing an American journalist had fled the room screaming.
His survival strategy was unorthodox. "I drank a whole bottle of Rioja over dinner that night," he admitted. The tactic worked. "I actually slept like a baby… in the end, it was Hardman one, ghosts nil."
To hear the full account of Hardman's haunted night and the dramatic conclusion to the Wars of the Roses, you can listen to Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
