This
fifteenth century house was built on the site of King Athelston's palace in
Dorset and is reputedly haunted by a number of ghosts, including a monkey!
The
Martyn family were owners of the house for over 300 years and during that
time, one of the Martyn daughters had a pet monkey. As a result of an unhappy
love affair, the young girl decided she would kill herself in one of the
hall's secret rooms. As she made her way up the secret staircase and into the
room, she slammed the doors behind her. She was unaware that not only had she
locked herself in, but her monkey too. The faithful pet soon died of
starvation and since then its ghost has been seen on the secret staircase and
the sound of its claws have been heard trying to scratch its way through the
floor.
A
'Gray Lady' has been seen in the Tudor Room along with two mysterious ghosts
who re-enact their duel in the Great Chamber. A priest in long robes and a
hood has also been seen at the Hall and is thought to be the ghost of a priest
who was once writing a book about the area.
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