Warwick Castle is notorious for it’s hauntings and eerie happenings, and, of course, it has an extensive history of battle, blood, and torture.
In the 14th century, the structure of the castle was developed into stone, which is what we see today when we look at this grand, historic piece of architecture. The iconic shape and defences of the castle were enhanced during this time, especially due to the reconstruction of the gatehouse, the barbican, and a tower at each end of the new (at the time) stone wall. Dungeons were built at the bottom of Caesar’s tower, which featured a vaulted basement and the oubliette. This part of the castle was built to hold prisoners captured during the war with France.
The Warwick Castle Gaol
One of the creepiest parts of the castle is the gaol, which is also known as the true dungeons of the castle. This is where prisoners were housed, if you could call it housing, after being captured. The gaol would’ve been incredibly dark and was a very dingy space; it was ventilated by one small shaft and drained with just one inbuilt drain. The gaol features stocks where prisoners would’ve been left to hang from their feet, which is pretty brutal in itself. However, that’s not the harshest part of the gaol...
The Oubliette
The oubliette is another dungeon that sits beneath the gaol, accessed only by a very ominous looking trap door. It would likely be pitch black down there and was a very claustrophobic space, often causing prisoners to develop severe mental trauma.
Prisoners were lowered into the space via the trap door, and barely had enough space to stand once inside. They could hardly even sit, kneel, or turn around inside, exposing them to an excruciating level of discomfort; basically slow torture. The oubliette subjected the prisoners to complete isolation. They were left in there to be forgotten, hence the name oubliette which, translated from French, means ‘to forget’.
Prisoner treatment within the gaol
Some prisoners inside the dungeons would’ve been starved to death. However, if some were needed to be kept alive, they were offered a very minimal amount of low quality grub.
Inscriptions on the stone walls were discovered in the dungeons, likely created by prisoners inside, leaving their mark on the castle forever. These can still be seen inside the dungeons today.
Dungeon hauntings at Warwick Castle
It is said that the dungeons are heavily haunted, which isn’t a surprise considering the amount of people who would’ve died in these rooms. Apparently, many visitors refuse to go down to the dungeons after experiencing strange, overwhelming, and even melancholic feelings just before entering. Sometimes, once inside, staff and visitors have reported the sensations of an unpleasant energy within the space.
Growling, hissing, and laughing sounds are often heard from the dungeons, and according to the Castle website, some have even experienced the feeling of being pushed or grabbed (especially on the stairs descending into the dungeon, perhaps reliving the prisoners' own experience as they made their way down the staircase), alongside dramatic and unnatural temperature changes. After visiting, some people have claimed to find scratches and red marks on the skin with an unknown cause.
The Ghost Casebook on YouTube addressed that the ghost of a frail man wearing a tunic is often seen behind the metal gate inside the dungeon, warning people to stay back.
Castle Dungeons Scare Experience at Warwick Castle
If you’re looking for a scarier way to experience the castle, then the ‘Castle Dungeons’ experience is open every day for an additional fee of just six pounds. It's a live scare experience within the dungeons, featuring like actors, including a jester, a plague doctor, and a torturer, just to name a few, perfect for those seeking an extra thrill during there visit. I think this would also be an interesting and more unusual activity for celebrating Halloween, if you’re looking for something a little different to the usual scare maze!
Click here for more details on the Castle Dungeon experience.
Ghosts of Warwick Castle
Sir Fulke Greville
It is said that one of the most famous ghosts within Warwick Castle is the ghost of Sir Fulke Greville, who owned the castle in the 1600’s. Sir Greville was brutally murdered by a servant who stabbed him to death, and legend has it that his spirit now roams the castle grounds. Greville’s murderer, Ralph Haywood, slit his own throat after he committed the crime. It is said that sometime Greville’s dying moans can be heard throughout the South Tower, where his death occurred, and that sometimes his spirit even emerges from the portrait of him still hanging on the wall today; reminds me a little of Hogwarts, in a very dark way.
Moll Bloxham and the Black Dog
Another popular ghostly legend here is simply known as the Black Dog, a large black dog with red eyes and a foaming mouth. Classic Hammer Horror style. The Black Dog is believed to be the essence remaining from a curse that was placed on the castle by former servant Moll Bloxham. During her time, Bloxham was granted a concession from the earl to sell surplus milk and butter from the castle kitchens. However, Moll Bloxham priced these surplus items very highly, leading to growing dissatisfaction from her customers, eventually angering the earl, who decided to withdraw her concession as a result.
There are various tales of events that occurred afterwards, once being that Bloxham disappeared swiftly after vowing revenge on the castle using magical powers. Shortly after, a phantom black dog appeared, haunting the grounds and terrifying anyone who came into contact with it. Apparently, three clergymen exorcised the phantom and forced it to jump from the top of Caesar’s tower.
Other stories dispute that Moll Bloxham was actually punished for her actions, and in her dying breath, she took a curse upon the castle, which soon appeared in the form of the phantom black dog. Some also say that after this, it was actually a servant who tricked the dog into jumping off the tower, which then reappeared in the form of a grey lady who still haunts the castle today. Have you ever seen the grey lady roaming the Warwick grounds?
Warwick Castle Weapons
Another one of my favourite parts of Warwick Castle was the weapons stores. Here, you can view a huge array of medieval style weapons, from halberds to a trebuchet of around 60 feet tall!
Warwick Castle is also home to the world’s tallest trebuchet, which was a type of catapult used as a weapon in the middle ages.
Halloween at Warwick Castle
What better way to spend Halloween than spending some time at one of the UK’s scariest, most haunted castles? Warwick Castle hosts multiple Halloween events to suit all ages over selected dates in October.
The Haunted Castle, Warwick Castle
The Haunted Castle event at Warwick Castle is a family-friendly event hosted during the day in the castle grounds. It features 15 live shows and spooky attractions, including mysterious mazes and eerie entertainment. It’s perfect for families of all ages, making it the ideal festive activity for the October Half Term.
The Haunted Castle at Warwick Caste: https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-1/events/the-haunted-castle/
Castle After Dark, Warwick Castle
If you’re seeking more of a thrill this Halloween season, then Warwick Castle has you covered for that, too, with their Castle After Dark event. At night, the castle transforms into a spine-chilling experience with three chilling scare attractions set across the grounds. The Castle Dungeon is also open during this event after dark, making for an extra eerie evening full of fright.
Castle After Dark at Warwick Castle: https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-1/events/castle-after-dark/
If you want to learn more about the spooky side of this historical castle, check out my YouTube video by clicking here.
For more spooky content, follow us on social media @huntinghorrorofficial, or check out our spooky day guides on our store page here, if you’re looking for a frightening day out without the faff, all year round.
References:
https://scvincent.com/2019/12/08/living-lore-the-unquiet-spirit-of-moll-bloxham-gary-stocker/
https://amyscrypt.com/medieval-ghosts-englands-warwick-castle/
https://www.spookyisles.com/warwick-castle-ghosts/
https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/warwick-castle
https://www.warwick-castle.com/about/blog/warwick-castle-facts/