Haunted Lodgings: Hazlewood Castle

There is no better image for evoking a sense of timelessness and other-worldliness more than that of a castle. Airy, drafty lodgings that even when lived in offer whisps of colder air brushing past you that make you wonder if it’s poor insulation or Great Aunt Ethel coming to say hello. 🙂

Set in North Yorkshire, near the cities of Leeds and York, lies Hazlewood Castle, majestically overlooking over seventy acres of parkland. The castle’s history is lengthy enough for it to have appeared in the Domesday Book drawn up by William the Conqueror (post 1066) and owned at the time of the writing of the Book by Sir Mauger the Vavasour.

The castles history is a colourful one, to be sure. In 1461, the Battle of Towton Moor – part of the Wars of the Roses – was fought directly in front of the castle to the south and east. It is said that for days after the battle ended, the River Cock, which flows through the valley, ran red with the blood of the dead.

In 1908, after nine hundred years, the Vavasours moved away from Hazlewood Castle and away from England, relocating to New Zealand to begin vineyards. A solicitor (lawyer) called Simpson purchased the property and he and his subsequent decendents occupied the castle through 1953. During World War II, the castle was requisitioned as a maternity hospital.

After passing through different ownership, including the Carmelites, the castle opened its doors as Hazlewood Castle Hotel in 1997.

Ghostly sightings at the hotel range from a black habited monk to a priest. The sounds of infant cries have also been heard.

While Hazlewood is open as a hotel, it’s also a venue for weddings. Whether you want to have a wedding reception there or just stay a few nights in the hopes of meeting a monk or priest, you can find all booking information on the hotel’s website. All historical information was taken from the hotel’s website.

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