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The ghost at Claremont lake







The story of a ‘high profile’ ghost at a National Trust site in Esher has been unearthed.

a manager at Claremont Landscape Garden has uprooted a ghost story discussed in the book Haunted Inns of Surrey by Roger Longs.

In the book, Mr Longs wrote: “On the outskirts of Esher the lake at Claremont is the site of a regular haunting. Near the grotto by the lake a man is seen.

“He wears gaiters and an old fashioned coat of dark brown. He is about 50 years of age and would appear to be a gamekeeper – or is he?”

Discussing the phantom, Mr Longs speculates he could be William Kent, a famous landscape gardener hired by Claremont’s second owner, Thomas Pelham-Holles, Duke of Newcastle.

Mr Kent altered waterways and created a lake fed by water from a grotto.

He also constructed an island in the lake and a romantic bridge to span the two, in work spanning several years.

Mr Longs continues: “When it came time for financial settlement, the Duke offered only £100. A frightful scene followed.

“The upshot was that the Duke called for two burly henchmen to throw Kent into the lake he had created. A week later Kent was caught in the Claremont grounds with two loaded pistols. The Duke’s ‘bouncers’ arrived and Kent was once again deposited in his own lake.”

According to Mr Longs, the landscaper never recovered and died a week later from an ague.

Michelle Kent, visitor services manager at Claremont Landscape Garden, said the ghost story was unknown to the National Trust until she discovered it in Mr Long’s book.

She added: “It certainly is a very high-profile ghost to have. William Kent was literally one of the most famous garden designers of his generation. I think most people would agree though, Claremont has a lovely atmosphere and our team have never caught sight of him yet.”

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