Kasteel Ammersoyen

Posted by admin as 5: Season Five

Description:
In 1350 Dirk van Herlaer ordered Castle Ammersoyen to be built along a branch of the river Maas. Contrary to other medieval castles, Castle Ammersoyen was built according to a fixed plan. Four wings were erected around an inner-court with four heavy towers at the corners.

History:
In 1386 the van Herlaer family lost Castle Ammersoyen to the duke of Gelderland who captured the strategically situated castle.

The Duke gave the castle to his illegitimate son, who sold it to Johan van Broekhuyzen, Lord of Waardenburg, in 1424. In the next four hundred years Ammersoyen only passed into other hands by inheritance.

In 1496 Walrave van Broekhuyzen married Otto Van Arkel, member of a well-known family. Under the succeeding five generations of this family Castle Ammersoyen was given its final structure.

In 1574 the Spanish followed. Most damage however was done by a fire in 1590.

Because of a shortage of money the Arkel family was not able to restore the heavily damaged castle until the 17th Century. At that time the necessity to rebuild a medieval defensive structure no longer existed. The castle’s outline remained, but the living quarters were made more convenient: smaller and lower rooms were built, windows enlarged, new chimneys and stairs were added. The medieval flights of stairs between the walls were bricked up. The castle’s interior greatly changed: the hall of knights was divided and a wide staircase was added to lead to the upper floor.

In 1672 the French came to Holland and burnt down many castles. Thomas Van Arkel paid them 7000 guilders to save Ammersoyen, so the castle survived but Van Arkel remained heavenly in debt and unable to finish his redecoration plans for Ammersoyen. At his death in 1693 the last member of the Van Arkel family died and the castle was inherited by another family.

The poor Clares moved into the castle in 1876 and founded their second convent in the Netherlands.This ended a period of more than five hundred years of private ownership and the castle now became inaccesible to the outer world.

In 1957 the Gelderland Castle Trust bought the decrepit castle, started an extensive restoration two years later and completed the work successfully in 1975. During which the old wall staircases appeared behind the plaster as well as chimneys, wall-cupboards, window-openings and loopholes. Thus the castle was given back its medieval character without many difficulties.

On February 20th 1976 HRH Prince Claus opened the restored castle and many people have visited it since.

Ghost ratings:
One ghost, dubbed “The Lady in Bleu” has been experienced by several people. One of the sons of the manager of the castle, couldn’t stay in one of the rooms without feeling sick. He blamed it on the ghost, and the manager and family tried to have the ghost removed from the premise, ever since.

Two Argentina Ladies once felt the presence of a young couple, supposedly buried under one of the castle’s bridges.

There has been talk of the ghost of a vicar of Hedel (a small town next to Ammerzoden), making his presence felt within the walls of the castle. He died within Kasteel Ammersoyen.

Spooky experiences:
Castle staff often feel uncomfortable in one of the tower rooms in the top floor of the Castle. One has had the feeling that there is something “wrong”, she can’t really explain it, but it’s as if somebody is with her, when in fact she is all alone.

A former employee of the museum always felt unpleasant while working alone in the castle. He was convinced of hearing footsteps, although no-one else was present.

First Broadcast: 5th October 2004

Kasteel Doorwerth

Posted by admin as 5: Season Five

Description:
Ancient castle located on the border of the Rhine. It was a centre of power, government, and administration of justice. In 1260 there was a wooden fortress on the site, which was destroyed by a warlord of the bishop of Utrecht. But 20 years later it had been rebuilt in stone, and was again besieged and plundered.

History:
In the early 15th century the North Wing was added, together with battlements and defence towers. During the latter half of the century, the big tower and parts of the South Wing were built.

During the 16th century there was another floor added to the East wing, the South Wing was extended, and the round tower with winding stairs connected all the floors of the extended castle. By around 1640 the castle reached its present shape.

Through its long history it was repeatedly besieged, burnt down, restored and left uninhabited for long periods of time. The most severe destruction happened during and after the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. Almost 75 percent of the castle was destroyed and again renovation works started and were completed in 1983.

The castle was refurbished in 17th century style, and was officially opened as a museum by Queen Juliana in 1986.

Ghost ratings:
Among the ghosts that are said to exist on the castle ground are:

*the figure of what could possibly a father who cast off his daughter, and locked her up in one of the dungeons

*the misty apparition of one of the castellans, who killed his friend because he wanted his wife for his own

*the unhappy ghost of a servant, who stole silver and who apparently died of starvation

*the ghost of a witch-like woman, in a carriage pulled by headless horses

Spooky experiences:
A British paranormal psychologist who carried out his own investigation at the castle said he spotted two vapour-like mists

One woman claimed that while she was looking at a picture in the castle, she suddenly felt cold and very scared.

A former employee of the museum always felt unpleasant while working alone in the castle. He was convinced of hearing footsteps, although no-one else was present.

First Broadcast: 28th September 2004

Castle Leslie

Posted by admin as 5: Season Five

Description:
Private castle now owned by descendants of the original Leslie clan. The castle was bought in 1655 by the Bishop of Clogher John Leslie but was added to and rebuilt in 1878.

http://www.castleleslie.com/

History:
The Leslies can trace their ancestry back to Atilla The Hun. The first Leslie came from Scotland and was a Hungarian nobleman called Bartholomew Leslie who was the chamberlain and protector of Margaret Queen Of Scotland.

The Leslie family motto is “Grip Fast” which originated from when fleeing enemies Queen Margaret rode pillion on the back of Bartholomew’s horse. When fording a river the queen fell off, Bartholomew through her the end of his belt and told her to grip fast the buckle. He saved the Queen’s life and from that day forward she bestowed this motto to them.

The first Leslie to come to Ireland was Bishop John Leslie who was Bishop of the Isles of Scotland, in the early 1600s.

The castle’s ownership was passed on down through many of the Leslie clan including John Leslie’s son John Jr, the Dean of Dromore, Charles Powell Leslie I in 1743, and his son and grandson Charles Powell Leslie II and III through until 1871. Another John Leslie (later to become Sir John Leslie 1st Baronet of Glaslough) was a fine painter of the Pre-Raphelite school and inherited the castle at that time and ran it until his death in 1944.

The castle is now owned by Samantha Leslie, daughter of Desmond, one of the few surviving war-time Spitfire pilots.

Ghost ratings:
In the Banquet Hall there is a huge presence of a spirit of a monk, very tall and is always dressed in black. He is apparently a kind spirit, who delights in some of the more joyous events that are held at the castle, and is especially fond of Con Ryan, the castle’s current owner.

The Geraldine Bedroom is where many people have told of feeling the presence of a spirit of a child, who is often heard whimpering.

Spooky experiences:
The Red Room is supposedly haunted by Norman Leslie who was killed in action in 1914 and whose mother, Lady Marjorie, awoke here one night to find his ghost standing by the chest of drawers, surrounded by a ‘cloud of light’. Norman’s spirit was leafing through some letters and seemed to be seeking one in particular. Sitting up, she asked him ‘Why Norman – what are you doing here?’ whereupon he turned to her, smiled and faded away.

The Basement was the location for a more recent haunting. An employee at the Castle was in the basement when she was apparently approached by a scary grey man – who eventually disappeared.

The apparition of a noble named Lady Constance is supposed to haunt the Mauve Bedroom. A story exists of a lady of the castle named Leonie who, on her death bed, was visited by an elderly woman who spoke to her and then left.

The sleepy nurse caring for her assumed it was one of the family members and said nothing. After the funeral, the family and the nurse were sitting in the Dining Room when nurse proclaimed that the elderly visitor looked exactly like the portrait on the wall – of Lady Constance, who had died in 1925.

First Broadcast: 21st September 2004

Kinnitty Castle, County Offal

Posted by admin as 5: Season Five

Description:
Former ancient castle, now 37-room luxury hotel Era: ” The first Castle at Kinnitty was destroyed in 1209 and was later rebuilt by the Normans in 1213.

http://www.kinnittycastle.com/

History:
After rebuilding the castle, the Normans were driven out by the powerful Gaelic clan, the O’Carrolls of Ely.

1630, William O’Carroll built a new Castle in close proximity to the old Abbey. This was confiscated in 1641 by the English forces as part of the plantation of Offaly, or “Kings County” as it was renamed.

In 1922, as with many stately homes in Ireland, the Castle was burned down by the Republican forces.

The Castle was rebuilt in 1928 and the Bernard family lived there until 1946 when it was sold to Lord Decies who in turn sold the Castle to The State in 1951.

The State retained ownership until it was purchased by the Ryan family in 1994 and has since been transformed.

Ghost ratings:
In the Banquet Hall there is a huge presence of a spirit of a monk, very tall and is always dressed in black. He is apparently a kind spirit, who delights in some of the more joyous events that are held at the castle, and is especially fond of Con Ryan, the castle’s current owner.

The Geraldine Bedroom is where many people have told of feeling the presence of a spirit of a child, who is often heard whimpering.

Spooky experiences:
The Monk who resides in the Great Hall is apparently able to predict and foresee the future and he passes his messages through members of staff. Everything that he predicts allegedly comes true.

He is also rumoured to haunt the dungeon bar of the hotel.

Outside Con Ryan’s cottage lies an array of Celtic stones.

When paranormal groups investigated these stones, a number of orbs were detected on camera around them.

First Broadcast: 14th September 2004