Raynham Hall was built in Norfolk, U.K. in the 1600s (It's still here today). According to the legend, by the 1800s, visitors sometimes spotted a ghostly lady in brown brocade (sometimes satin) dress. She'd show up at the bedside or in the hallway, carrying a lamp and "grinning diabolically." And some said she had "gouged out" eyes! That was scary enough for me, but there was more- the ghost books had a photograph of her!
Here the photo:
As an adult more suspicious.
I don't believe in ghosts, but assuming I'm wrong, this serene figure looks nothing like the menacing, disheveled specter from the legend.
A few have noticed the shape looks something like a Madonna statue. Could it be a double exposure? Had the photographers snapped a picture of the former, then captured the staircase on the same plate?
I tried to recreate the process.
First I found an internet photo of a Madonna. Here's one from a church (also in Norfolk, but 40+ miles away from Raynham Hall):
I digitally cut out the figure, turned it black and white, blurred it a bit and superimposed it into the famous photo:
Hey! It fits.
Here's another version, with the Madonna scooted off to the right:
Look familiar? They look like near duplicates, with the "ghost" facing a a slightly different direction. I bet the photographer was pulling a fast one using a similar statue. What do you think?
wonderful post. we used to go to Pawley's Island in South Carolina for a week each summer where there was the Gray Lady story which scared me so much- she always appeared right before the hurricane- to police officers etc.
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you figured that out!
ReplyDeleteI'm susceptible to stories of visions of Mary, so I just can't be sure.
ReplyDeleteHi Sally,
ReplyDeleteTell me more about the Gray Lady. (Funny how so many legendary ghosts are female- I wonder if it's like that in other cultures?)
Hi Pile Girl,
Thanks!
Actually I'm not the first person who thought- wait a sec- that looks like a Madonna statue! but I've never seen one composited next to the original image before.
When I went to Stray's art show in Knoxville last year, I stayed in an old hotel on Market Square Mall. I caught a glimpse of the Chartreuse Lady coming out of the elevator late that night.
ReplyDeleteChartreuse Lady, Linda?
ReplyDeleteA ghost that tint might be your patron spirit.
A group of lady ghosts, (The Gray Lady, The Red Lady, etc..) would be a good jumping point for a story or a cartoon. Maybe they haunt the same place and band together to fight bad guys. Or maybe it's a reality show- but I guess it wouldn't be called "Survivor"
Linda: was there a real live chartreuse lady?
ReplyDeleteNamo, you are funnnnnnny. Stray, all right, it was I. When I got out of the elevator, I caught a reflection of myself in the mirror and jumped. But that place was spooky.
ReplyDelete"I caught a reflection of myself in the mirror and jumped."
ReplyDeleteI've done that a more than a few times (my reflection, not your reflection)
That place was spooky! I heard it's up for sale. I remember now the sick green....
ReplyDelete>I digitally cut out the figure, turned it black and white, blurred it a bit and superimposed it
ReplyDelete>digitally
Yeah, right...
but it is an old picture. ur method is quite new. by the not a believer myself. i just think it is just aa illusion.
ReplyDeleteThe original photo dated 1936 has been analyzed and found to be untouched in any way. The negative also shows the image . It has been proven to be authentic. Just thought you should know.
ReplyDelete