Bolsover Castle voted spookiest English Heritage site

Credit: PA Images

Bolsover Castle has been voted the spookiest English Heritage site, in a survey conducted by its own staff.

The Derbyshire castle, built on an ancient burial ground, has topped the poll by 1,800 members staff, in which they were asked to rate the individual site they work at on a "spooky scale".

Spooky events at the former home of William Cavendish include muffled voices, slamming doors and being pushed.

Security guards have seen unexplained lights and one woman heard a scream as she was locking up only to find no one there when she returned.

Coming a close second in the spooky stakes across English Heritage's 400 castles, abbeys and historic houses is Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire.

At the 900-year-old site, staff have encountered ghostly figures, an antique cot rocking by itself and the smell of pipe smoke.

Warwick Castle was voted the second spookiest English Heritage site Credit: PA images

Here is a list of the top 10 spookiest English Heritage sites, chosen by it's staff:

  • Bolsover Castle, Derbyshire

  • Kenilworth Castle, Warwickshire

  • Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight

  • Pendennis Castle, Cornwall

  • Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire

  • Beeston Castle and Woodland Park, Cheshire

  • Dover Castle, Kent

  • Framlingham Castle, Suffolk

  • Clifford's Tower, North Yorkshire

  • Home of Charles Darwin - Down House, Kent