Hoghton Tower was built in 1565 by Thomas Hoghton as a fortified manor house crowning a 650-foot ridge near Preston, Lancashire. This magnificent 16th-century Grade I listed building served as the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family for 450 years. The tower features magnificent state apartments, a banqueting hall, ballroom, and extensive grounds with underground passages and dungeons. Royal Connections and Historic Events King James I visited in 1617 and was so impressed by a loin of beef served at a banquet that he allegedly knighted it "Sir Loin," giving birth to the name "sirloin steak." The table where this famous knighting occurred still remains in the banqueting hall. It's generally accepted that Shakespeare spent time at the tower. The building features secret passages, battlements, and dramatic architecture that nearly made it the filming location for the BBC's "Wolf Hall."
Lancashire Witch Trials Connection
Beneath the manor lies a network of dark underground passages, cellars, and dungeons believed to have been used during the infamous Lancashire Witch Trials of 1612. These eerie subterranean areas contribute significantly to the tower's haunted reputation. The Resident Ghosts
- The Green Lady: The most infamous ghost of Hoghton Tower. Her apparition, dressed in green velvet, is seen wandering the building in the late hours of the night. She walks around various areas of the property, particularly at night.
- The Tudor Woman: A female figure in Tudor dress has been sighted wandering around the courtyard, going about her mysterious business from centuries past.
- The Young Girl: A child spirit spotted in several locations throughout the house. Her presence is felt in multiple rooms.
- The Ghostly Monk: An apparition seen at the North entrance, likely connected to the property's religious history.
- Angry Peter: A well-known hostile presence that greets visitors during ghost tours. His temperament lives up to his name.
- The Black Dog: A phantom hound haunts the Well House, appearing to visitors who venture into this area.
Paranormal Activity
- Breathing Difficulties: Guests experience sudden chest tightness and breathlessness in specific spots where spirits have been seen. These symptoms mysteriously vanish upon leaving the affected rooms.
- The Mysterious Painting: A portrait where mysterious faces reveal themselves to those who stare into it. Different viewers report seeing various spectral faces appearing within the canvas.
- Underground Passages: Phantom footsteps from another time echo alongside visitors' own in the dark tunnels beneath the tower. The oppressive atmosphere in these dungeons is overwhelming.
- Auditory Phenomena: Gentle laughter has been heard throughout the building. Footsteps echo through empty corridors and underground passages.
- Visual Manifestations: Multiple full-body apparitions are regularly witnessed. The ghosts appear so frequently that staff maintain a special ghost file documenting all unusual occurrences, which has built up an extensive collection of records over the years.
- Environmental Anomalies: Specific rooms and areas cause physical reactions in visitors, including the sensation of being unable to breathe properly and feelings of oppression.
- Disappearing Floors: Tales persist of floors that seem to vanish or shift, adding to the disorienting experience of navigating the ancient building at night.
Modern Day
Hoghton Tower remains a working historic property managed by the de Hoghton family trust. The 14th Baronet, Sir Bernard de Hoghton, recently handed chairmanship to his daughter, Elena Faraoni. The tower attracts 30,000 visitors annually and hosts farmer's markets, weddings, and special events. Its reputation as Britain's third most haunted building (some sources say second) has made it a premier destination for paranormal enthusiasts. The tower offers regular ghost tours on selected dates in October, November, January, and February. Silent torchbearers lead groups through darkened halls, underground passages, and haunted rooms. Tours include a two-course meal and are aimed at adults over 16. The property aspires to become "a Blenheim or Chatsworth for the north" and is undergoing ambitious development plans. Despite its terrifying reputation, it serves as a popular wedding venue and Lancashire food destination, blending historical grandeur with genuine supernatural experiences.