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Chepstow Castle is a Welsh fortress that has been a bastion of power, a prison for convicts and a haunted place for ghosts who refuse to rest, writes CHRISTINE MILLER
Construction of Chepstow Castle began in 1067 on the orders of William FitzOsbern, the formidable Earl of Hereford. Over the centuries, this imposing fortress in Monmouthshire, Wales, underwent several expansions and fortifications, developing into an important bastion along the Welsh border.
Its formidable walls witnessed sieges, wars and the capture of many unfortunate souls. But as well as its rich historical tapestry, Chepstow Castle has also achieved fame for another aspect of its legacy…
For more than a century, visitors have been frightened and fascinated by the supernatural events that take place within the walls of the castle.
Everything from disembodied voices to ghostly figures have been seen wandering the grounds. While some may dismiss these encounters as mere products of the imagination, the sheer volume of chilling stories from both staff and tourists suggests otherwise.
The ghost of Henry Marten
Among the numerous ghostly figures that wander the castle ruins, the ghost of Henry Marten stands out as the most famous. Marten was no ordinary man; he was an English lawyer and politician deeply involved in the tumultuous political landscape of the 17th century.
As a staunch Roundhead, Marten played an important role in the trial and execution of King Charles I, signing the king’s death warrant in 1649.
However, the pendulum of history swung back Restoration of the monarchy under Charles II in 1660. Marten’s fortunes would take a serious turn when he was captured and imprisoned in Chepstow Castle awaiting his own trial.
In 1662, at the age of 59, he managed to escape the gruesome fate of being hanged, taken away and quartered in London. Instead, he had to spend the rest of his life in captivity in various locations around the country. He would spend his last twelve years on earth at Chepstow Castle, where one night he choked while eating his dinner.
Legend has it that Marten’s ghost still haunts the castle’s hallowed halls, with reports of ghostly encounters dating back more than 100 years.
Tales of slamming doors, echoing footsteps across the cold stone floors and mysterious shadowy figures lurking in Marten’s former prison cell abound. Some even claim to have glimpsed Marten’s ghostly face, peering out of the castle’s windows and wandering the castle grounds.
Castle staff often speak of the feeling of an eerie presence in areas closely associated with Marten. Lights flicker, temperatures drop and objects move as if guided by an invisible hand in these haunted areas.
Could it be that Marten’s restless spirit is still trapped at the site of his demise, more than 350 years after his execution?
Other paranormal activities at Chepstow Castle
Apart from the ghost of Henry Marten, both staff and visitors to the castle have experienced a plethora of unexplained paranormal phenomena over the years. These eerie occurrences have been documented throughout the extensive castle grounds and in the crumbling ruins themselves.
In the castle’s Great Hall, visitors regularly report sudden drops in temperature, accompanied by cold spots that defy explanation. Disembodied voices of unknown men and women have also been heard, as well as phantom footsteps in seemingly empty rooms. And occasionally the sounds of celebration and revelry echo through the hall, evoking the castle’s vibrant medieval past.
The castle’s underground cellars, with their dark and foreboding atmosphere, have witnessed objects moving inexplicably, baffling staff.
Shadowy figures have been spotted among the overgrown castle grounds, moving among the ancient trees and disappearing as they turn the bend. Could these ghost watchers be the restless spirits of medieval soldiers, forever guarding their posts?
Apparitions have also been spotted in the ground, dressed in clothing appropriate to the castle’s historical period. Eerily, they would silently glide instead of walk.
Have you visited Chepstow Castle and have a spooky story to tell? Let us know in the comments below.
