Today we have a guest article from author Laura Loney. Laura has a keen interest in Tudor and Boleyn history, and as the author of “‘Twas the night before Tudor Christmas”, she has written and studied Anne Boleyn. Over to Laura for this timely Halloween article…
Tudor ghosts. Now that I have your attention, let me expand. Have you ever visited a historic property and felt the presence of a ghost? Maybe you’ve felt watched, been tapped on the shoulder, walked through a cold spot, or seen a shadow in the corner of your eye. Maybe you’ve experienced a physical illness like coughing, nausea, or a headache, only to have all symptoms dissipate the moment you left the property. I’d believe you if you said yes. I’ve had many experiences myself. But have you ever captured a ghost in a photo?
In my latest book In Praise of Tudor: 100 Eccentric Tudor Solutions to Modern Life, one of the solutions offered is to visit Tudor-aged buildings and attempt to capture the true likenesses of Queen Anne Boleyn and Queen Katherine Howard in ghost photos (it explains it in a more humorous way). Side note: The research Ashley Risk (@tudorsreimagined) and I did together during the pandemic, illuminates why I believe not only a more detailed contemporary likeness of Anne is needed, but also one of Katherine Howard. In short, we concluded that a miniature portrait commonly cited as Katherine Howard is likely to be Anne of Cleves. You can read our research (recently updated) in the article Pandemic Sleuthing to Re-identify a Tudor Queen. I’ll save the story of all the synchronicities we experienced while researching for another day. Moving on…
If you don’t believe in ghosts, you won’t find much use in this article except, perhaps, to hone your scoffing skills. If you believe in ghosts, you’re in the right spot. If you are not only a believer, but a ghost obsessive, you’re my kind of person. [Cheers with a coffee mug] Let’s continue, shall we? We shall!
Historical ghost stories
There are many Tudor ghost stories, not only surrounding royalty, though tales of Anne Boleyn and The Tower of London are abundant. The Haunted Gallery at Hampton Court Palace is aptly named as it’s said to house the residual ghost of Queen Katherine Howard running and screaming for her life. [Sad] Queen Jane Seymour’s ghost is also said to descend a staircase at the palace. [Also sad]
Cartoons in the 1980s and 90s had a fascination with headless ghosts, which helped spark my interest in Anne Boleyn (1). They also made an entire generation fear quicksand, but that’s another issue. On a more studious note, there are records of ghostly beliefs throughout human history, even oldies from ancient Mesopotamia. On a more modern note [wink], the 1588 work, A Treatise of Ghosts written by Father Noël Taillepied, makes for an interesting rainy day read.
But what of likenesses? Is it possible to capture details of a ghost in a photograph? If you believe EVP (electronic voice phenomena) or DVP (digital voice phenomena) can allow us to hear snippets and sounds of unexplained voices, then surely phones and cameras carry the ability to capture likenesses? Though, perhaps, only if a ghost is accepting of being documented.
A road trip south of the Canadian border
On a 2024 road trip to the notoriously haunted Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, USA, I not only experienced a fleeting jolt of pain on my right shoulder akin to a particularly aggressive bee sting (phantom bullet wound?) but my husband’s film from his vintage camera (a Leica rangefinder) could not be developed. We were in a historical battle area when I felt the terrible sensation and he had taken about a dozen photos close by. While old cameras do sometimes have issues, for instance if the film isn’t loaded correctly, it should be noted that my husband is skilled with old cameras and this particular camera worked well before and since. Only the roll of film with Gettysburg photos was unusable. While this may not seem too sinister, there are other claims of cameras malfunctioning here. The American Civil War was one of the first major conflicts to be photographed. Perhaps these restless spirits did not care for their lifeless bodies being photographed and are still not too keen on cameras in the afterlife.
On the same road trip, we visited The Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, USA and experienced adorable black cats who were lounging in the walled garden. (2) Off topic, but worth mentioning because they were adorable. Moving on… I took a photo of a mirror that is said to have belonged to Edgar Allan Poe’s wife, Virginia Poe. The photo may only be a trick of light, but it’s quite strange. It becomes even more interesting when you know that mirrors are often cited as portals for spirits.
A few months later, I found myself overwhelmed with seeing the word ‘Virginia’ constantly and in the oddest places. Synchronicities to the max! When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I asked for a sign to explain what I needed to know about Virginia. I wasn’t planning a road trip again anytime soon, so what had I missed? The next day, a raven landed on the roof of my car, while I was parked. It rolled around dispersing the snow on the sun roof. I could see it. And I could hear it. I even used a bird app to identify it as a raven, not a crow. That raven then flew to a lamppost where it sat looking toward me shrieking. It followed me up the path and back to my car. I don’t know about you, but when I think of a stalker raven, I think of Edgar Allan Poe. [Lightbulb moment!] Virginia Poe. I spent time learning about her life and came to several conclusions that I won’t share publicly. However, if it was a message, it was received.
Canadian history by candlelight
History is around all of us and, as a Canadian, I am surrounded by colonial villages, indigenous settlements, and local museums which I love exploring. On a recent trip to Penetanguishene, Ontario, one of the historic sites I visited was Discovery Harbour, a 19th century British naval and military base. They offer candlelit ghost tours so, naturally, I signed up. The night was filled with stories and historical tales all situated against the picturesque shores of Georgian Bay. It was at this location where, after years of trying, I finally captured what I believe to be a genuine ghost photo and a glimpse into the past.
Within the village, the Roberts’ house is surrounded in ghostly tales and one of the stories is that a woman has been photographed in the mirror hanging in the home’s living room. As someone who always takes photos of mirrors at supposedly haunted locations, I eagerly snapped a couple photos with my phone. The room was crowded and, not satisfied I had captured a decent photo, I lingered back by a porch door until the other tour group participants had exited the room. I snapped two more photos from a different angle about a second apart as I rushed to keep pace with everyone else.
After years of taking photos at haunted locations, checking them thoroughly, and finding nothing, I wasn’t expecting to see anything in the photos. However, the last two photos I took of the mirror showed something I had not seen at the time. The mirror appears to reflect two women in black clothing, the one on the left, most clear. She seems to stand in a side profile facing right and wears a bonnet and dress. The other figure looks veiled.
There are no mannequins in the home and no one, not even our tour guide, was dressed in period costume that night. A quick online search confirmed, with detailed accuracy, that the bonnet of the woman in the mirror matched the time period’s early 1820s fashions. Not only this, but the Roberts’ house was home to two sisters during that time. Could an ornate, curved piece of furniture have reflected into the mirror to create a silhouette that looked like a figure? I wanted to check the house in the daylight and so I returned in an attempt to debunk the likeness of the women. I couldn’t. There is very little in the home in the way of furniture and wall hangings. I took a ridiculous amount of photos at many angles and even braved a video. Nothing resembling the women was captured during this second visit. If you’d like to read more about my experience here, please read my article: Unexplained Reflection: a glimpse into the past?
The search continues…
While this ghostly photo does not feature a prominent Tudor queen, it does give me a small speck of hope that a likeness of Anne Boleyn or Katherine Howard may actually be captured in a modern photograph. With AI running rampant, it can be difficult to believe other people when they share an authentic paranormal photo. And, yes, I think the clarity and detail of the mirrored image makes it even more challenging to accept.
I have debunked photos before and, believe it or not, I am actually quite difficult to convince, even when they are my own photos! Perhaps for this reason, my Discovery Harbour ghostly mirror photo is my all time favourite paranormal capture. Rest assured, as someone who admittedly loves graphic design and photo edits, I have not altered the photo. I believe in HI (human intelligence) all day, every day, so I hope you will believe me when I tell you this photo is completely real. I am still shocked seeing it and can’t explain it.
So, if you live in England, or are planning a visit, you may wish to do as In Praise of Tudor’s #58 solution “Photographing the Past” suggests– attempt to capture an illusive Tudor likeness. The history world will be so grateful! Please send any unexplained photos my way too. I’d love to see them!
Further fun
1) The episode “Hassle in the Castle” of Dennis the Menace featuring the ghost of Anne Boleyn can be viewed on YouTube. Note the start time indicated for relevancy.
Dennis the Menace – Wild Brain. May 30, 2026. Tunnel Vision // Hassle In The Castle // Frankenstymied | Dennis The Menace – WildBrain | Kid Movies. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvz9c0A4ROg, (1:01:12).
2) The Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, USA. https://poemuseum.org/ One of the best museums I have ever visited. The layout, curation, art, ambience, the cats (!), gift shop, all perfect! (@poemuseum on Instagram)
3) Discovery Harbour in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada. https://discoveryharbour.on.ca/ Along the scenic shores of Georgian Bay, their candlelit ghost tour was an incredible experience where I captured my best paranormal photo.
Laura Loney is the author of ’Twas the Night Before Tudor Christmas and the upcoming In Praise of Tudor: 100 Eccentric Tudor Solutions to Modern Life
Escape the ho-hum of daily life and take a leap into the past to uncover how 16th-century customs and quirks can inspire more excitement in the modern world. With a heavy dose of satire and a gargantuan codpiece’s worth of historical whimsy, In Praise of Tudor offers ‘100 Eccentric Tudor Solutions for Modern Life’ in 10 relatable categories, such as home, work, love, health, food, holidays, and fashion. There’s even advice from Tudor queens!
More than a silly book to pass the time, it will alight the modern eccentric with an abundance of ideas, historical tidbits, and curious oddities.
Out November 25, 2026!
https://mybook.to/InPraiseOfTudor
https://lauraloney.com/
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