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Yorkshire Ghost Tales with Spindleshanks McScrew - The Tragic Tale of the Grey Lady: A Haunting at East Riddlesden Hall image

Yorkshire Ghost Tales with Spindleshanks McScrew - The Tragic Tale of the Grey Lady: A Haunting at East Riddlesden Hall

The Bell Witch Podcast
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Welcome to another brand new mini series. Brought to you by Otley Ghost Tours  and The Bell Witch Podcast!

"Witches, warriors, ghoulfriends. Welcome to Spindleshanks’ Shack. My name is Spindleshanks McScrew, your guide for all things ghoulish in Yorkshire, and it’s my pleasure to haunt you through the airwaves. I’ve clawed my way through the fog on the moors to be here with you right at this moment, to regale you with miserable tales of bygone days from what they call “God’s Own Country”.

This episode is brought to you from the  "Spindle Shanks Shack," host SpindleShanks McScrew of Yorkshire Ghost Tours shares the chilling legend of the Grey Lady, the most famous ghost of East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley, Yorkshire. Listeners hear about the hall’s haunted history, eerie paranormal encounters, and the tragic tale of the Grey Lady’s death in the 1600s. The episode also promotes local ghost tours in Otley, Skipton, and a new Leeds tour, inviting fans to explore Yorkshire’s spookiest legends first-hand.

Hear more from Yorkshire Ghost Tours- https://zencastr.com/z/a4m68C9i

Written and narrated by Daisey Lyons of Yorkshire Ghost Tours Est 2024

Edited and produced by Emma Swailes of The Bell Witch Podcast 2025 https://linktr.ee/friendlygreenwitch

Music by DELOsounds of Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-horror-music-background-dark-266062/

Support the show on Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBellWitchPodcast

More info at Turnip Fish Theatre Company

Yorkshire Ghost Tours — Turnip Fish

turnipfishtheatre@gmail.com
(+44) 77768225 26

#otley #spooky #ghoststory #ghoststories #hauntings #yorkshire #folklore #mythology

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Transcript

Introduction to Ghoulish Tales

00:00:01
Speaker
o
00:00:05
Speaker
Darkcast Network, bringing our indie podcasts out of the shadows.
00:00:16
Speaker
Witches, Warriors, Ghoulfriends Welcome to Spindleshanks's Shack My name is Spindleshanks McScrew Your guide for all things ghoulish in Yorkshire And it's my pleasure to haunt you through the airwaves I can see you, you know I've picked a lock and escaped the Jubilee clock To regale you with miserable tales of bygone days From what they call God's own country Spooking the locals is indeed what I do best, and you can book on to one of my Saturday ghost tours in Otley and Skipton.
00:00:56
Speaker
There I will regale you with grisly local tales you won't hear anywhere else. But for now, pull up a pew and lend me your ear.
00:01:06
Speaker
I have a story to tell you that you don't want to hear.

The Grey Lady of East Riddlesdon Hall

00:01:24
Speaker
If you grew up in Leeds, chances are you've heard of the Blue Lady. You might also have heard of the White Lady. Well, this is a story about their best mate, the Grey Lady.
00:01:37
Speaker
This tale takes place at the stunning East Riddlesdon Hall, a National Trust property in Keefley. It's noted as one of the most haunted houses in Britain.
00:01:51
Speaker
The history of the estate stretches back over 1400 years, with evidence of a dwelling here since the 7th century, long before the Normans arrived in England, and parts of a Saxon cross were discovered on the premises that are now displayed in the Great Hall.
00:02:08
Speaker
Those who work at East Riddlesdon Hall claim to have experienced countless unexplainable events and ghostly encounters. It's been said that not a month goes by without paranormal activity happening within the manor.

Encounters with the Grey Lady

00:02:24
Speaker
The Grey Lady is the most infamous spirit at Riddleston Hall. She is said to roam the corridors of the house, but is most frequently seen in the Grey Lady's chamber, which used to be her bedroom.
00:02:38
Speaker
She is a regular presence, especially on school trips, and is often spotted by visitors. She's often encountered by children who don't realise the building is haunted.
00:02:51
Speaker
And some tour guides, oi oi, have recalled being asked by school groups about the lady in the corner, only to turn around and find nobody there.

The Tragic Tale of the Grey Lady

00:03:03
Speaker
Another freaky find at Riddleston involves a 300-year-old baby's cradle, which rocks by itself every Christmas and New Year's Eve. Weird.
00:03:15
Speaker
If you listened to the previous Yorkshire Ghost Tale, you'll know that we love stories about infidelity around here. But it seems that this is why our dear Grey Lady met her fateful end.
00:03:30
Speaker
The tale comes from the mid-1600s, when Cromwell's men still marched, and loyalty to the wrong crown could see your head rolling in a basket.
00:03:41
Speaker
Sir Grey was a stern man, cold, hard and unmovable. He married our Grey Lady for her dowry, not her heart. While he busied himself with politics and piety, Ms Grey found solace in the arms of another.
00:04:00
Speaker
Who this was, exactly, is unclear. Could it have been the Blue Lady, who was said to have died in the fish pond, or the coachman who haunts the east wing of the manor and was dragged into the lake by one of his horses?
00:04:16
Speaker
Could it have been the Scottish merchant who haunts the building after having been murdered by a steward whilst sleeping? Whoever it was, there have been an awful lot of deaths at Riddleston, and many of them seem like accidents.
00:04:33
Speaker
Something to dwell on, perhaps.

Death of the Grey Lady

00:04:38
Speaker
One winter's eve, Sir Grey returned early from a battle in York, murder coursing through his veins. A servant had whispered of his wife's adultery into his ear, and with cold conviction he waited for midnight to strike, before making his way up to her chamber, along with two stonemasons.
00:05:02
Speaker
They bricked her into her own bedroom as she slept. The morning rose and the poor lady awoke to complete darkness.
00:05:13
Speaker
Her windows blacked out with stone. They say she screamed for days, but no one came.
00:05:25
Speaker
She died of starvation and lost all colour, and so the Grey Lady came to be. As for her lover, perhaps they ended up in a pond, or a lake, or stabbed in the night by a steward.

Respecting the Grey Lady's Spirit

00:05:43
Speaker
If you ever do find yourself at Riddleston Hall, be polite. Offer a quiet hello to the shadows. And if you see a grey figure watching you from the corner of your eye, don't look away, don't turn your back, and don't blink.
00:06:01
Speaker
She hates to be ignored. Or maybe offer her part of your packed lunch or something, she's probably still really hungry.

Conclusion and Yorkshire Ghost Tours

00:06:09
Speaker
My creepy companions, I have been Spindle Shanks McScrew.
00:06:15
Speaker
to hear more Yorkshire ghost stories and local legends, you can book on to the Otley or Skipton ghost tour at www.yorkshireghosttours.com.
00:06:26
Speaker
And I might plug our upcoming new ghost tour as well, which will be running in Leeds from late August. Keep an eye out for that one. It's going to be horrible. Thank you for listening.
00:06:37
Speaker
See you on the other side.