Colchester Castle, built in the 11th century on the foundations of a Roman temple, has a long and dark history of executions, imprisonments, and alleged hauntings. During the English Civil War, the castle served as a prison for Royalist sympathizers, and many were tortured within its walls. The most famous ghostly resident is said to be James Parnell, a Quaker missionary who died in 1656 after being imprisoned and mistreated in the castle.

Visitors and staff have reported numerous paranormal experiences over the years. Disembodied footsteps are often heard echoing through the empty corridors, particularly in the areas that once housed prison cells. Some have claimed to see the apparition of a young woman in Victorian-era clothing wandering the castle grounds, believed to be connected to a tragic love story from the 19th century.

In the castle’s chapel, witnesses have described feeling sudden cold spots and experiencing an overwhelming sense of sadness. Others have reported seeing shadowy figures moving across the walls and hearing whispered prayers when no one else is present.

The castle’s dungeons are considered a hotspot for paranormal activity, with visitors reporting feelings of dread and oppression. Some have claimed to hear the rattling of chains and muffled cries for help, believed to be echoes of the castle’s dark past as a place of imprisonment and torture.

During World War II, when the castle was used as an air raid shelter, people reported seeing the ghost of a Roman soldier standing guard near the castle’s entrance. This apparition is thought to be connected to the castle’s Roman foundations and has been sighted multiple times since.