Hampton Court Pub Ghost
Hampton Court pub ghost 'beyond spooky
As the haunted face of an elderly lady appeared in a routine family photo, was it a ghostly apparition or is there another reason?
A ghostly image has appeared on a photograph taken in a pub next to Hampton Court Palace.
The tall figure, which looks a bit like an old woman, was captured by teacher Debbie Monteforte when she took the photo of her husband Alex and their son Raphael at Christmas in The Kings Arms Hotel, East Molesey.
The pub is one of Britain’s oldest pubs and sits in the shadows of the famous palace.
In the 19th century a boy is rumoured to have found his mother hanged in the building. The lad was so disturbed he threw himself out a window and died.
Both ghosts of the mum and son are said to have haunted the pub ever since and a grey-haired lady is also said to appear in a bedroom window.
The grainy image of the tall figure appears in the top-right corner, lingering in the background of the family photo.
A family friend said: “Debbie took the pic and thought nothing of it. But when they looked at it on a computer it was plain to see the haunted face of a woman wearing a long dark coat behind them.
“The family insists there was no one standing behind them and there was no place to hang a coat.
“Even if there was someone standing there, they would have to be 8ft tall to appear like that. It’s beyond spooky.”
However, Russ Hodgson, founder of Egham-based SPI Paranormal Investigations, who visits haunted houses in north Surrey, says he is doubtful.
After putting it through his investigative software, he said: “I’m afraid to me it’s not an apparition, the figure just doesn’t look like your typical ‘ghost’.
“The figure is solid and blocking some of the candle out and the white old person’s face when put through software looks very much like a cap.
“The person is looking down as you can see flesh colour (same colour as hand) where the face would be under the cap.
“You can see hair just underneath the back of cap where back of head would be and the outline of collar on a coat – the lines are way too sharp.”
Mr Hodgson, who blesses haunted houses with holy water, suggested the family had simply not noticed a person walking behind them.