Anne Boleyn spent several years of her childhood at Blickling Hall. She was executed at Tower Green on May 19, 1536, and on every anniversary of her death a ghostly figure with her head on its knees has been carried towards Blickling Hall by a phantom coach where it vanishes into thin air. The ghost of her father is also doomed to drive his coach over 12 bridges in the county every year before returning to Blickling.

ANNE'S GHOST

Anne Boleyn.

Before the present 17th century house of red brick was built, Blickling was the home of the Boleyn family. Anne Boleyn spent her early childhood there and in the 19th century hr ghost was said to "walk" the drawing room at night, head in hand.

When news reached the old Blickling Hall of the execution of Anne and her brother George (Lord Rochfort) at Tower Green on May 19, 1536, apparitions of four headless horses were said to have been seen racing through the countryside dragging a headless corpse behind. The head was safely tucked beneath one arm, the hair tangled and spattered with blood, and the whole grisly spectacle was accompanied by a pack of shrieking demons.

Every year on May 19, Anne - dressed all in white and carrying her dripping, severed head - arrives in a coach driven by a headless coachman and four headless horses. The coach travels up the drive of Blickling Hall and upon reaching the front door of the Hall, coach and driver vanish, leaving just the spectre of Anne. This ghostly apparition then glides into the Hall, where it roams the corridors until daybreak.

The Long Gallery at Blickling Hall.

Blickling's ex-administrator, Denis Mead, has had one personal experience he cannot explain.

"A portrait of Anne Boleyn's daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, was taken away from Blickling to be cleaned," he said.

"The carrier broke down on the day it was due to be returned and the portrait finally arrived at 11.15pm. The house was empty apart from myself and the caretaker, and we waited in the hallway while the two men carried it into the dining room.

"As they were about to leave, I asked if I had to sign for the painting."

The men claimed a woman had already signed the form in the dining room," but when they looked at the paper there was no signature and no reasonable explanation.

"It was only afterwards we realised the date was May 19, and the time was midnight," said Mr Mead.

THE GHOST OF ST THOMAS

Blickling also lays claim to the ghost of Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn who as a result of his strivings, lost not only a daughter but also a son.
This is given as the reason for his penance that he is required to perform every year for a thousand years after his death in 1539.

Sir Thomas was doomed on the anniversary of his daughter's death, May 19, for a thousand years, to attempt to cross 12 neighbouring bridges on a coach drawn by four headless horses before cockcrow. These included Aylsham, Coltishall, and Wroxham, and few locals would loiter near them on that night, for fear of meeting him.

He was a terrible sight, his head tucked under his arm, flames issuing from its mouth, and it was dangerous to speak to him. Some believe it is Anne who travels in the coach, carrying her head on her knees and they say she has also been seen in the house.

LOCATION

BLICKING HALL