Hoghton Tower, in Lancashire, has a reputation as of the most haunted places in England. Regular apparitions include a Black Dog, The Green Lady and a little girl. Visitations and unearthly occurrences are recorded in a ghost file.
Like any place with a long heritage, it’s impossible to separate the myths from verifiable facts. Nobody knows for sure when the site was first occupied, though part of the grounds was used in medieval times for jousting. When King James 1 stayed here for three days in 1617, over-the-top hospitality helped to bankrupt the owner, who was rewarded with several years in London’s Fleet Prison. Lore has it that the straight half mile drive was covered with a carpet of red velvet for the king’s visit.
The de Hoghton family believes their ancestors include the Lady of Godiva and a pal of William The Conqueror. Shakespeare is said to have spent time here, though like most Shakespearean facts, this is informed speculation. Charles Dickens definitely visited, though he didn’t see the estate at its best as it had been let out to local farmers, who neglected it. His impressions appear in one of his last short stories George Silverman’s Explanation:
A house, centuries old, deserted and falling to pieces, its woods and gardens long since grassland or ploughed up, the Rivers Ribble and Darwen glancing below it…
These days it has been restored, as you can see in the picture above. One of the best reasons to visit is the farmer’s market which takes place every third Sunday in the month. Visitors can stay on site in The Irishman’s Tower and enjoy the hillside views.
Contact Information
Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Near Preston, Lancashire PR5 0SH
Telephone: 01254 852986
Website: www.hoghtontower.co.uk
Shared for Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge.
Susan Rushton 
What a wonderful place .. and haunted too! A great place god a Farmer’s Market 😃
Whoops ..’for a’
It does make a nice setting.
Fascinating. On my to be visited list, especially as I am currently writing a novel about a haunted house. Thanks for sharing, Susan.
My pleasure! I saw it listed somewhere as Britain’s third most haunted house but couldn’t find out what the first two are.
Congratulations! I have chosen your post to be featured on Cee’s Which Way Challenge.
https://ceenphotography.com/2017/01/18/cees-which-way-photo-challenge-january-18-2017/
I sure hope you have a wonderful week.
Thanks for featuring me, Cee – you too!
Definitely going to visit this place
I live just a twenty minute drive from Hoghton Tower but I’ve never been there yet. It’s never really been on my list of ‘must visits’ but having seen your photo of the grass maze I may make time to go sometime this summer.
That brings back memories, though I don’t remember the turf maze time I visited. Really should visit again but it’s a case of “so many places, so little time”.
Local legend also says that James I ( James VI of Scotland) stayed here, he so enjoyed the loin of beef that he knighted it. From then on that particular cut was known as Sirloin. My Lancashire Granny told me this…….so it must be true. 😉
We’ve done some walking around here, but never actually gone inside. I’m now planning to.