Erlestoke Prison

HMP Erlestoke, like many other prisons, has its fair share of ghostly tales, but before I get into the creepy stuff, let me impart a little of its history.

Erlestoke House, the oldest part of the prison, was built between 1786 and 1791 by eminent architect - George Stewart for wealthy timber merchant - Joshua Smith. It was Smith who decided to demolish an Elizabethan house which was situated a little further down the valley to make way for the new build which when completed would have commanded uninterrupted views across the valley and the village of Erlestoke. It was a grand affair in the palladian style (very popular during the 18th century) of some 365 feet in length, with three levels and a basement. Set in beautiful parkland with ornate bridges, lake and waterfall, the latter fed by a natural spring.

Smith needed to demolished several of the cottages in the village to make way for the project. Rather than leave the residents homeless, he set about rehousing all who had lost their homes in new cottages which can still be seen today. Many have strange carvings built into the walls. Some of classical figures whilst others are of imposing gargoyles. All are thought to have been part of the original house. In 1951 the house was largely destroyed by fire, leaving just the centre section which is now home to the Education and Works (maintenance) department.

Several notable figures have visited both houses in the past; Queen Elizabeth I slept here in 1574. The Duchess of Kent and her daughter Princess Victoria, later to be crowned Queen spent a weekend at Erlestoke in 1830. Sir Thomas More, wrote of 'an evening of music and song' during his stay. Erlestoke has also been home to several dignitaries and four distinguished members of parliament.

In 1819 Joshua Smith died and the estate and lands were sold to George Watson-Taylor, a wealth Jamaican plantation owner for a whopping £250,000, a cool five and half million plus in today's money. The Watson-Taylor fortune took a downfall in 1832 during the emancipation of the slave trade. He was forced to auction off many of Erlestoke's treasures just to meet his debts. He moved away and the house remained closed for four years.

It was leased to John Cam Hobhouse, later Baron Broughton politician and best buddies with Lord Byron. In 1844 Simon Watson-Taylor, son of George, returned to his family home at Erlestoke and took over the lease. Simon had married Charlotte Hay around 1843, and it is she who is said to haunt the house.

The Ghost of Lady Charlotte Hay

A search of England's historic peerage revealed Lady Charlotte Hay was the daughter of Field Marshal George Hay, 8th Marquess of Tweeddale and Lady Susan Montagu.

During her residency at Erlestoke House, Lady Charlotte resented the intrusion on her land by village folk visiting the church of St.James. The church was situated on land occupied by the old Elizabethan estate, which now belonged to Erlestoke House. She arranged for St.James to be demolished on the understanding that she would fund the construction of a new church outside the estate. The Holy Savior church built in the Gothic style in memory of her late father, was completed in 1880 at a cost of £6000; twice the estimate.

It is with some speculation why it should be Lady Charlotte haunting Erlestoke House. Some have suggested she was so dissatisfied with the completed church, that her spirit had become earthbound, even though she died some seven years after its completion. I would have thought the stained glass window in the chancel commissioned and dedicated in her memory would have been more than enough to appease her restless spirit.

For argument sake, let's say it is her ghost that has been seen walking the basement under the Education block. She has also been seen it what remains of the old house. So what are people seeing. Well descriptions vary little; a shadowy figure, almost certainly female often as not seen peripherally.

A couple of years ago, an instructor in the Horticultural department (Education block) was chatting by the exit with a prisoner. They could only have been four or five feet apart when from nowhere a shadowy figure passed between them and as it did so disappeared.

The Grounds are also said to be haunted by Lady Charlotte; she gets around does this girl. Some say she has been seen walking where the old church once stood. Descriptions in these instances are a little more clear. Some report seeing a woman dress in black in the style of the 1800s. A similar figure has been spotted close by what was once an ornate bridge. It is unclear if these apparitions are of the woman seen in the house, but staff at Erlestoke have affectionately Christensen their ghost Lady Charlotte whether it be her or not.

Officer Grant Frost, who has since left the establishment, told me of a story that happened to him. "It was around 2 a.m, I had been working the night shift, I was alone in the Works department. I'd locked myself in as is standard practice. I was busy catching up on some paperwork when I distinctly heard footsteps coming from the room immediately above me. Knowing full well I was the only person in the building, I went to investigate. A full search revealed nothing."

Having heard the stories of ghostly goings on in the old house, Grant was happy in the knowledge that he may well have heard Lady Charlotte doing her nightly rounds.

Several of the Works staff claim to have seen or heard the ghost. Whilst another told me of hearing the sound of children playing upstairs in the Works rest room.

The mischievous spirit said to haunt the steps leading up and out of the basement has made some staff reluctant to venture there. Reports by staff of being pushed up the steps by unseen hands are not uncommon. I must confess having walked this particular area it can be a little creepy. But then is that because I was aware of its haunted history.

Whether Lady Charlotte Hay haunts Erlestoke is uncertain. What is certain, is that there have been plenty of reports to support there may be something walking the corridors of the old house at Erlestoke prison.

My thanks to those that helped with this post. You know who you are.