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As Halloween draws closer, we thought we’d take a look at some of the spooky goings on around the county of Bedfordshire. With the huge amount of history that is associated with this part of the UK, it’s only natural that the locals have a few ghost stories to share. So, here are our selection of haunted places in Bedfordshire.

Ampthil Castle

Image: Houghton House by Jr_studio on instagram.
The castle was built back in the 15th century, so it is kind of expected that there would be a few stories about ghostly goings on. The castle ruins are said to be haunted by a ghostly knight that has been seen emerging from the area where a cross to commemorate Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII, sits. Those that have seen the knight claim that he rides a horse down to the nearby stream where he then disappears. The castle fell into disrepair back in Tudor times, so these days, you'll only see what remains of this and the nearby Houghton Hall. 

Thurleigh Airfield
During World War 2, the airfield was inhabited by the 306th Bombardment Group of the US Airforce and is pretty significant in military history for this reason. These days, it is said to be haunted by an American airman who lives in the officers’ mess. People who work there have claimed to see doors opening and closing by themselves, light bulbs falling from fittings and hearing footsteps without anyone else being in the corridors.

Wardown Park

Allegedly, the Luton Museum and Art Gallery at Wardown Park has a resident ghost. Staff have reported disembodied staircase and seeing a woman walking around with a large set of keys on her belt. The story is that a housekeeper during the Victorian era drowned herself nearby and that she now lives at the museum, but this hasn’t ever been verified.

Flitwick Manor

Image: Flitwick Manor, by Flitwick Manor on Instagram.
This Grade 2 listed country house was originally built in 1632 so you might expect that there would be some history to sink your teeth into. When the property was renovated, a wooden door was discovered under the roof which revealed a hidden room with a bricked up doorway. This was thought to be the rooms of one of the house keepers and there have been several sightings of her looking out of windows and walking around the corridors at night.

Bedford Hospital
The hospital in Bedford has had several reports of ghost sightings. Apparently the same girl in a long dress and coats has been seen going into the toilets only to disappear once she is through the door and reports have been coming in for over forty years.

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