Ampthill Castle, located in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, was a 15th-century royal residence built by Sir John Cornwall, Lord Fanhope, around 1429. The castle stood on the site of an earlier medieval manor house and was constructed using stone from nearby Millbrook. King Henry VIII acquired the property in 1524, and it became a favored residence for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, during their divorce proceedings.

The castle fell into disrepair after Catherine’s departure and was eventually demolished in 1649. Today, only earthworks remain, marking the castle’s former location in Ampthill Great Park. A stone cross erected in 1773 by Horace Walpole now stands on the site, commemorating Catherine of Aragon’s residence.

Several ghost stories are associated with Ampthill Castle and its grounds. The most prominent is the alleged apparition of Catherine of Aragon herself. Witnesses have reported seeing a ghostly figure resembling the queen, dressed in Tudor-era clothing, wandering the park near the castle’s former location. Some accounts describe her as appearing sorrowful or distressed, possibly reflecting her unhappy time at Ampthill during her divorce.

Another reported supernatural occurrence involves the sound of phantom footsteps and rustling fabric, believed to be Catherine’s ghost moving through the area. Some visitors have also claimed to experience sudden cold spots and an overwhelming sense of sadness when near the castle site.

While less common, there have been reports of other spectral figures seen in Ampthill Great Park, including shadowy forms and unexplained lights. These sightings are often attributed to the long and eventful history of the castle and its surroundings.