Elizabeth Tollermarche - The Mysterious Lady

Historical Context

During the turbulent period of 1647, when Oliver Cromwell was dispatched to Saffron Walden to negotiate with the increasingly restless New Model Army, historical records indicate that high-ranking Parliamentary officers often travelled with personal attendants and companions. Whilst official documentation from the period rarely mentions such private arrangements, it was not uncommon for senior military figures to maintain households that included female companions during extended campaigns.

The name Elizabeth Tollermarche appears in various 17th-century records from the Essex region, suggesting this was indeed a real person from the period. The surname Tollermarche, with its Norman origins, indicates a family of some standing, possibly connected to the landed gentry who supported Parliament’s cause during the Civil War.

During Cromwell’s nineteen-day stay in Saffron Walden in May 1647, The Cross Keys Hotel, as one of the town’s principal hostelries, would have provided accommodation for officers and their retinues. The building’s upper chambers, with their Tudor oak beams and period furnishings, would have offered suitable lodgings for a lady of quality accompanying the Parliamentary delegation.

The Manifestation

Elizabeth Tollermarche manifests as one of the most gentle and melancholic spirits at The Cross Keys Hotel. Unlike the more active military presence of the Civil War soldier, her appearances are subtle and often marked by an overwhelming sense of sadness and longing.

Witnesses consistently describe her as a lady of evident refinement, appearing in flowing 17th-century dress typical of the period’s upper classes. Her hair is often described as arranged in the fashion of the 1640s, and her overall bearing suggests someone accustomed to comfort and status rather than the hardships of war.

The most distinctive aspect of Elizabeth’s presence is the sudden appearance of lavender scent in rooms where no such fragrance could naturally occur. This phenomenon has been reported by numerous guests and staff members, often preceding or accompanying her more direct manifestations.

Witness Encounters

The most detailed encounters with Elizabeth Tollermarche have occurred during formal paranormal investigations, but hotel guests have also reported unexplained experiences that align with her gentle presence.

A honeymooning couple staying in what local tradition identifies as Cromwell’s chamber reported awakening to find a translucent lady standing at the foot of their bed. The figure appeared sad and forlorn, gazing towards the window as if watching for someone’s arrival. When the woman of the couple spoke gently to the apparition, it turned towards them with what appeared to be a grateful expression before gliding to the window and vanishing.

Hotel housekeeping staff have reported feeling a gentle presence whilst cleaning the upper rooms, accompanied by the inexplicable scent of lavender. One housekeeper described hearing a soft sigh near her shoulder whilst making beds, turning to find no one present but experiencing an overwhelming sense of melancholy.

Most intriguingly, guests have reported glimpsing a woman’s reflection in mirrors when they were alone in their rooms. The reflection appears for only moments, showing a lady in period dress who seems to be looking through the mirror rather than at it, as if searching for something beyond.

Paranormal Investigation Evidence

The most significant evidence for Elizabeth Tollermarche’s presence comes from detailed paranormal investigations conducted at the hotel. During a comprehensive overnight investigation in March 2007, multiple mediums independently identified her presence and name, providing remarkable consistency in their descriptions.

Medium Andy Ball reported receiving the name “Elizabeth Tollermarche” and described her as “a mistress – very pretty, shorter than Liz.” During the same investigation, the entity demonstrated intelligent responses by physically manipulating one of the investigators in response to direct questions.

The investigation team noted that Elizabeth appeared to be most active in Room 6, the hotel’s reputedly most haunted chamber. She seemed to communicate preferentially through certain individuals, suggesting an intelligent consciousness capable of making choices about how and when to manifest.

Particularly compelling was the spirit’s apparent knowledge of historical details from the 1647-1652 period, responding appropriately to questions about Cromwell and events during the Parliamentary occupation of Saffron Walden.

Historical Analysis

Whilst official records do not explicitly document a woman named Elizabeth Tollermarche as Cromwell’s companion, this is hardly surprising given the nature of such arrangements and the often incomplete preservation of private correspondence from the period.

The consistency with which paranormal investigators have identified both her name and her connection to Cromwell suggests either genuine historical accuracy or the preservation of local folk memory through supernatural means. The fact that multiple investigators, working independently, have provided similar descriptions and details adds credibility to these accounts.

The melancholic nature of her manifestations suggests a spirit bound by unfulfilled emotional connections, possibly relating to separation from or loss of her supposed companion. This would align with the historical reality that Cromwell’s visit to Saffron Walden ended in failure, with his departure marking the beginning of the army’s fateful march towards London and eventually regicide.

The Waiting Lady

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of Elizabeth Tollermarche’s haunting is the apparent eternal vigil she maintains at The Cross Keys Hotel. Witnesses consistently report that she appears to be watching and waiting, particularly near windows overlooking the High Street where she might have once watched for Cromwell’s return.

Her gentle nature and the sadness that accompanies her appearances suggest a spirit trapped not by violent death or unfinished business, but by the simple human tragedy of love unfulfilled and promises broken by the march of history.

For guests at The Cross Keys Hotel, encounters with Elizabeth serve as a reminder of the personal costs of political upheaval, when grand historical events separate individuals whose only crime was to find solace in each other during times of uncertainty and strife.

Whether historical fact or persistent legend, Elizabeth Tollermarche represents the countless unnamed individuals whose lives were shaped and often shattered by the great events of their time, leaving behind only whispered memories and the faint scent of lavender in empty rooms.