Bolsover Castle



Bolsover, Derbyshire, England

Having visited many historic locations, I try to keep an open mind on anecdotal stories, balancing them with my own impressions, and any recordings I capture. Bolsover though, was a first for me. From setting my foot inside the door, the atmosphere in the little castle put me on edge. It wasn’t only that I felt under surveillance, it was more that I wasn’t welcome.

The unusual first EVP featured here was to lead me down a rather curious rabbit hole. William Cavendish-Bentinck, the 6th Duke of Portland was a courtier, Tory MP and landowner at Bolsover. The Bolsover Collier Company, was founded in 1889 by Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge, to extract coal on Portland’s estate. Cavendish also owned valuable lead mines, and this was the clue I needed. At the end of the 17th century, miners from Saxony, Germany, were invited to Bolsover to share their expertise on the use of explosives. Whilst this knowledge of the local industry might be known to historians, I most definitely didn’t learn of it during my visit and it took some digging to find it.


    • The first speaker issues a threat, whether it’s aimed at me or another woman is unknown. The second provides the location, note that his accent is neither local to Bolsover, or German.

      I'll have to do her, Saxony

  • There are some notable academics in the Cavendish family, Henry Cavendish (1731-1810) was a notable Peterhouse scholar, philosopher, and scientist. Without knowing which lady Cavendish the speaker refers to in the next clip, we can’t be sure of the link, however, the name Cavendish is closely tied with the Ivy league college, founded in 1746.

    I want to see her at Princeton

  • Facing me in the servery, was a burly large man, wearing a full-length white apron. He didn’t look particularly friendly and his face was wrinkled in anger. I wasn’t surprised when I heard the EVP, again, I knew I wasn’t welcome here.

    he can’t hear you,they’re going to really hurt you

  • The voices captured in the Marble Closet are from modern speakers, who are obviously well aware of their deceased status. Maybe they died on route to the castle, or possibly they’re just visitors on their side.

    did a bike kill you - I’ll bore you tonight - then I’ll block you

  • The voice recorded in the nursery is of a young male, and his message reflects this. It sounds rather sad to me.

    they don’t play with you, see you