Woodbridge, Suffolk
Widely regarded as haunted by multiple spirits. Thomas Seckford oversees his hall. A Grey/White Lady (linked to tragedy or lost love) roams. A phantom butler performs duties. A Remorseful Stepmother haunts the library and stairs, linked to a starved stepson whose cries were heard until his remains were found. The sheer number and variety of ghosts make it a key haunted location.
Thomas Seckford (founder), The Grey Lady (or White Lady), Phantom Butler/Old Servant ('Mr. Cooper'), Remorseful Stepmother, Sir Francis Drake (legend), Child's ghost in old nursery, Poltergeist pranks, Phantom Music.
The spirit of Sir Thomas Seckford, the Tudor founder of Seckford Hall, is believed to still roam his beloved home, overseeing its affairs with a dignified and sometimes stern presence.
A melancholic female spirit, known as the Grey or White Lady, is frequently reported at Seckford Hall, often linked to lost love or the loss of a child, and seen in corridors or the gardens.
A dark and tragic tale haunts Seckford Hall's library and staircase: the ghost of a Remorseful Stepmother, forever tormented by guilt over the death of her starved stepson.
An elderly male servant, affectionately nicknamed 'Mr. Cooper' by staff, is said to continue his duties in the afterlife at Seckford Hall, often seen in the Great Hall or corridors.
Built circa 1530 by the Seckford family.
Private Tudor mansion.
Grade II* listed. Built by Thomas Seckford, an official of Elizabeth I. Legend says Elizabeth I held court in the Great Hall. Quartered soldiers during the Civil War. Used as a convalescent home for soldiers in WWII. Features an antique chair King Edward VII supposedly died in (brought as an antique). Rumors of priest holes and secret tunnels.
Primarily Tudor red brick with ornate chimneys, gatehouse, and central courtyard. Interior features a Tudor Great Hall with hammerbeam roof, linenfold paneling, and minstrels’ gallery. Long gallery, spiral staircases. Some Jacobean/Georgian modifications. Modern spa in an annex.
Apparitions (Tudor man, Grey/White Lady, Butler), changing portrait expressions, footsteps, disembodied voices, phantom music, slamming doors, cold spots, objects moving, lights flickering, crying sounds (especially baby cries in library area), oppressive atmosphere in library/stairs.
Great Hall (Thomas Seckford, music, butler), corridors (Thomas, Grey Lady), Seckford Room (Thomas), old nursery area (Grey Lady, child's ghost), spiral staircase (Grey Lady, Stepmother), library (Remorseful Stepmother), gardens by yew trees (Grey Lady), lake (child ghost).
A bride in 2010 photographed a faint white figure in the gardens. A night porter in 1995 resigned after multiple encounters (Tudor man, lute music, cold hand on shoulder). Guests in the Queen Suite (2018) saw an outline of a man and felt pressure on the bed. Letters to local papers describe unexplained crying in the library. Staff at a Christmas party saw a lady in old dress on the balcony.
Featured in a 1970s BBC ghost documentary where a medium claimed contact with 'Sir Thomas'. Investigated by 'Fright Nights Suffolk' (2014, K2 spikes, mist on camera). Mentioned in 'Most Haunted' (Suffolk segment) and numerous ghost books. Hotel is accommodating to paranormal groups and has hosted overnight ghost experiences.
📅 Sample dates:2025-06-06 to 2025-06-08 • 2 adults
Dates and guest count can be changed on booking sites
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms great hall (thomas seckford for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Luxury stay packages, spa breaks. Occasionally hosts ghost tours or themed dinners around Halloween.
Limited in main Tudor hall due to age (stairs, uneven floors). Ground floor options and rooms in newer wings/conversions may be more accessible. Discuss needs when booking.
RAF Woodbridge/Rendlesham Forest (UFO incident, phantom airmen). Woodbridge Shire Hall (ghosts of convicts). Sutton Hoo (atmospheric). The Falcon Inn, Woodbridge (16th-c. servant ghost). Landguard Fort, Felixstowe (haunted military fort). Bungay's Black Dog legend.
Book your stay and experience Sir Thomas Seckford and the other spirits firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.