After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal Ghosts of Henry VIII's Palace
Dec 25, 2025
Tracy Borman, a bestselling Tudor historian and Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, takes listeners on a spooky journey through Hampton Court Palace. She shares chilling tales of Catherine Howard's ghost and the Haunted Gallery where she allegedly roamed. Borman recounts personal hauntings, including a haunting chill in the same corridor, and discusses Victorian-era ghost stories that shaped the palace's reputation. The conversation reveals how ghosts bring to life the intimate histories of those who served the royal family.
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Hampton Court Is Two Palaces
- Hampton Court is two palaces: a Tudor core and a Baroque William-and-Mary extension.
- Cardinal Wolsey built it and Henry VIII later enlarged it into his entertainment palace.
Catherine Howard's Desperate Dash
- Legend says Catherine Howard broke free of her guards and ran along the Haunted Gallery to reach Henry VIII.
- She was caught before reaching the king and later executed, spawning the gallery's screaming-queen legend.
Research Rewrites The Haunted Route
- New research by Gareth Russell changed assumptions about palace layout and validated the Haunted Gallery route.
- The updated plan makes it plausible Catherine Howard could have actually run along that corridor.