Spectres of Chepstow Castle

Written by Simon Williams

Chepstow Castle, the oldest surviving stone castle in Britain, has been associated with hauntings for over a century. The ghost of Henry Marten, imprisoned here after the Restoration, is said to pace his former cell, while shadowy figures and disembodied voices appear across the ruins.

Key Facts

• Location: Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, above the River Wye on the English border
• Built: 1067, by William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford — the oldest surviving post-Conquest stone castle in Britain
• Management: Cadw (Welsh Government Historic Environment Service)
• Most famous ghost: Henry Marten, a regicide imprisoned at Chepstow Castle following the Restoration of the monarchy
• Other reported phenomena: Cold spots in the Great Hall, shadowy figures in the grounds, screams heard at night
• Open to visitors: Yes; managed by Cadw and open to the public

Construction began in 1067 under the instruction of William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford. The castle saw expansion and fortification over the centuries, serving as an important fortress along the Welsh border.

Beyond its long history, Chepstow Castle is also renowned for its paranormal residents and unexplained occurrences that have frightened staff and visitors alike for over a hundred years. Though now a tourist attraction, eerie happenings within the castle's walls hearken back to darker days of siege, war, and imprisonment.

The Ghost of Henry Marten

One of Chepstow Castle's most famous ghosts is that of Henry Marten, an English lawyer and politician who spent the last decades of his life here.

Marten was a Roundhead and one of the judges who signed King Charles I's death warrant in 1649. After the Restoration of the Monarchy under Charles II in 1660, Marten was captured and imprisoned at Chepstow Castle, where he would remain for the rest of his life. He died within the castle walls in 1680 at the age of 78.

Marten's spirit is said to still haunt Chepstow Castle today, with reports going back over a hundred years. Tales tell of doors abruptly slamming shut, echoed footsteps pacing the stone floors, and shadowy figures lurking in Marten's former prison room. Some visitors have claimed to see Marten's ghostly visage peering out of windows or wandering the castle grounds.

Staff at the castle often report feeling an unnerving presence in places associated with Marten. Lights flicker, temperatures drop, and objects move seemingly on their own in these areas. Is this the lawyer's restless spirit, still trapped at the scene of his long imprisonment more than three centuries later?

Other Paranormal Activity

In addition to the famous ghost of Henry Marten, staff and visitors have experienced other unexplained paranormal occurrences at Chepstow Castle over the centuries. Strange happenings have been recorded across the expansive castle grounds and within the ruins themselves.

In the Great Hall, cold spots are frequently reported, where the temperature suddenly drops with no apparent cause. Disembodied voices of unknown men and women have also been heard here, along with noises like footsteps when no one else is around. The sounds of revelry and faint music are sometimes detected as well, echoing from a bygone era of feasting and merriment.

Down in the creepy castle cellars, objects have been known to mysteriously move on their own, leaving staff puzzled. It's easy to imagine ghosts lurking down here in the shadowy chambers that once held prisoners and stores.

In the overgrown grounds, reports abound of shadowy figures seen moving among the trees and disappearing around corners. These could be medieval soldiers still standing guard.

Within the ruins, apparitions dressed in medieval clothing fitting the castle's era have been witnessed floating through various points by stunned visitors. Records indicate no costumed guides on staff.

The bone-chilling screams of a woman have also been reported at night near the castle, with no source found.

Spine-Tingling Stories from Chepstow's Past

With its long and often dark history as a medieval fortress, prison, and likely scene of many deaths, it's no wonder Chepstow Castle is regarded as one of Wales' most haunted sites. The famous spirit of Henry Marten and other eerie occurrences make this a beloved location for paranormal investigators and ghost walk tours.

Visitors have been captivated by supernatural events here for over a century, from disembodied voices to phantom figures wandering the grounds. The ghost of Marten seems to be the most active presence, with many reporting unnerving phenomena in his former prison room.

While some encounters could be passed off as imagination, the sheer number of chilling stories from staff and tourists alike seems to suggest otherwise. There does appear to be paranormal energy clinging to the stones of Chepstow.

If you're brave enough, visit the castle grounds and keep an eye out for any spirits from the past still lingering within its spooky walls. Wander through the empty chambers and listen for echoes of the past. But be warned: you never know what you might encounter wandering around after dark at one of Wales' most haunted sites.

More from the Most Haunted Wales Series

This article is part of the Most Haunted Wales series on Histories and Castles.

Deepen Your Understanding

→ Haunted Tales from Cardiff Castle

→ The Ghosts of Castell Coch

→ Haunted Ruthin Castle

→ Haunted Castles in Wales: Where History Breathes After Dark

→ The Most Haunted Castles in Wales

People Also Ask

Is Chepstow Castle haunted?

Chepstow Castle has a well-established reputation for haunted activity, with reports stretching back over a hundred years. Staff and visitors have described cold spots, unexplained sounds, shadowy figures, and apparitions across the castle grounds and within the ruins. The site's long history as a fortress, prison, and place of confinement provides a context that Welsh folklore finds particularly conducive to haunting. Whether supernatural or not, the frequency and consistency of reported experiences make Chepstow one of the more widely discussed haunted locations in Wales.

Who is the ghost of Henry Marten at Chepstow Castle?

Henry Marten was an English lawyer, politician, and Parliamentarian who signed the death warrant of King Charles I in 1649. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, Marten was tried for regicide and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was confined at Chepstow Castle for approximately twenty years, dying there in 1680. His spirit is said to haunt the tower where he was held, with reports of slamming doors, pacing footsteps, and a shadowy figure seen near windows. He is the most frequently cited presence at the castle.

What is the history of Chepstow Castle?

Chepstow Castle was begun in 1067 by William FitzOsbern, one of William the Conqueror's most trusted lieutenants, making it the oldest surviving post-Conquest stone castle in Britain. It was built on a narrow limestone ridge above the River Wye to control the crossing into Wales. The castle was expanded significantly over the following centuries by the de Clare and Bigod families. It served as a military garrison, an administrative centre, and latterly as a prison, most famously housing the regicide Henry Marten during the late seventeenth century. Cadw now manages the site.

Can you go on a ghost tour at Chepstow Castle?

Ghost tours and Halloween events are periodically organised at Chepstow Castle, typically in the autumn. These are usually run through Cadw or in partnership with local event organisers, and ticket availability varies by year. The castle is open to standard visitors during the day throughout the main season, and the areas most associated with the hauntings, including Marten's Tower and the Great Hall, are accessible on the standard visit. Checking the Cadw website or the castle's events listings is the most reliable way to find current ghost tour dates and availability.

Where is Chepstow Castle?

Chepstow Castle is located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, in south-east Wales, very close to the border with England. It sits on a dramatic limestone cliff above the River Wye, which historically formed a natural defensive barrier. The town of Chepstow is accessible by road from both Cardiff to the west and Bristol to the east, making it a convenient day trip from either city. The castle is one of the most visually striking ruins in Wales, with substantial sections of its medieval walls still standing to considerable height.

What other paranormal activity has been reported at Chepstow Castle?

Beyond the ghost of Henry Marten, Chepstow Castle has accumulated a wide range of paranormal reports. Cold spots appear in the Great Hall without explanation. Disembodied voices have been heard in areas where no one is present. Shadowy figures have been reported moving through the grounds and disappearing around corners. Apparitions in medieval dress have startled visitors in the ruins. Security staff and overnight workers have described objects moving in the cellars. The screams of a woman heard at night near the castle have never been traced to a source.

Primary Sources and Further Reading

• Cadw (Welsh Government Historic Environment Service) — official site management and historical records at cadw.gov.wales
• Rick Turner, Chepstow Castle (Cadw, 2006) — the definitive official guidebook covering the castle's architectural history from 1067 to the present
• Roger Turvey, The Lord Rhys and related studies on Welsh border castles (Llandysul, 1997) — contextualises Chepstow within the Welsh Marches power structure
• David Petts and Sam Turner (eds), Early Medieval Northumbria — background on the Marten imprisonment and regicide trials of the Restoration period
• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (Coflein) — architectural and archaeological records for Chepstow Castle

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