Mosborough Hall: the ghostly secrets of Sheffield's most haunted hotel

Nestled in a sleepy village just a stone's throw away from the Peak District, Mosborough Hall hotel is one of Sheffield's most popular destinations for a luxurious, romantic getaway.
Mosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotelMosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotel
Mosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotel

But while it oozes historic charm, the building is also hiding some rather grisly and ghostly secrets which have attracted many paranormal groups, and earned it a reputation as Sheffield’s most haunted hotel.

The White Lady

Mosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotelMosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotel
Mosborough Hall is reportedly Sheffields most haunted hotel

The most famous ghost said to still be stalking the rooms and hallways of the 12th century manor house is that of a woman, referred to as the White Lady.

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The woman reportedly fell pregnant while working as a governess at the hall in the late 1600s, after having an affair with a married local squire.

Despite pledging to provide enough money to help her care for the baby and buy a small cottage, the squire failed to live up to his promise. The governess then threatened to tell the man’s wife about their affair.

The squire subsequently slit her throat in a desperate effort to stop his infidelity being revealed.

The White Lady is said to still be stalking the rooms and hallways of the 12th century manor houseThe White Lady is said to still be stalking the rooms and hallways of the 12th century manor house
The White Lady is said to still be stalking the rooms and hallways of the 12th century manor house

The room in which the governess was murdered is now known as the John Lord Darcy Suite, and is the oldest room within the hotel.

The spectral dog

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Rumours of a spectral black dog have also been floating around Mosborough Hall for many years.

Legend has it that the dog – which some say can occasionally be heard howling – belonged to the murdered governess, and reportedly pined for her after her brutal death, later joining her in the haunting of the building.

However, other reports link the appearance of the ghostly dog to a seamstress who was taking care of a very ill young child staying on the premises.

Allegedly, the seamstress spotted a large black dog in the doorway.

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She said the dog ambled over to her and firmly gripped her wrist with its mouth, but did not bite, before passing by the cot and vanishing through the wall.

The child later died the following day and the dog’s teeth marks supposedly remained on the woman’s wrist for the rest of her life.

A doctor calls

One local doctor was determined to prove the rumours of supernatural goings-on at Mosborough were nothing but legend, and must have a logical explanation behind them.

Dr Pilcher stayed at the hall at the turn of the 20th century, serving as a medical officer treating the army detachment, and firmly dismissed the story of the White Lady.

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He even volunteered to spend the night alone in the room where she died, to prove that the ghost stories were not true.

Having survived through the night unscathed, it is said that the doctor was awakened the next morning by an attendant who came in with a cup of tea, only to stop dead in his tracks upon noticing the bed.

Both he and the doctor saw the sheets and pillowcase dripping with blood, and a grisly pool splattered over the bedclothes and floor.

The incident reduced Pilcher to a quivering wreck, and he had to be helped away from the scene and driven home. He promptly resigned from his post as medical officer and never set foot in Mosborough Hall again.