Get ready to explore the spooky side of Temple Newsam! Come and join the team and investigate this epic location.

This event is open to persons over the age of 16+ however 16 & 17 year old must be accompanied by a responsible adult eg. parent, carer, guardian or family member.

The estate of Temple Newsam has a long history that began in the 11th century, with its earliest mention as "Neuhusam" in the Domesday Book of 1086. In 1155, the land was granted to the Knights Templar, which is the source of the "Temple" in its name.

Following the Knights Templar's suppression, ownership passed through various hands before being acquired by the Darcy family. A substantial Tudor manor house was built by Thomas, Lord Darcy, between 1500 and 1520. T he Crown then seized the estate in 1537 after Lord Darcy's execution for treason. In 1544, King Henry VIII granted the property to his niece, Margaret, Countess of Lennox. Her son, the infamous Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, was born there in 1545 and later married Mary, Queen of Scots. After Darnley's marriage, Queen Elizabeth I seized the estate again in 1565.

The royal connection continued until 1622, when it was purchased by Sir Arthur Ingram. The Ingram family owned Temple Newsam for 300 years, during which they made significant alterations to the house, rebuilt wings, and commissioned Capability Brown to redesign the parkland in the 1760s. Edward Wood, the last of the Ingram owners, sold the house and grounds to the City of Leeds in 1922 for a nominal fee. The estate was then opened to the public in 1923.

Temple Newsam is famously haunted by several spirits, including the "Blue Lady". The Blue Lady is believed to be Mary Ingram, who died of distress in the late 17th century after highwaymen stole her prized pearl necklace. Another ghost is Phoebe Gray, a nursemaid murdered in 1704 and stuffed down a well. On dark nights, her terrified screams are reportedly heard echoing from the cellars. A third spirit, the White Lady, is believed to be Lady Jane Dudley, who hanged herself after her love interest married Mary, Queen of Scots. The ghostly figure of a monk in a brown robe, possibly linked to the Knights Templar, has also been spotted on the grounds. The house's last owner, Lord Halifax, even wrote a book about his paranormal encounters. With a rich history of tragedy, it's no wonder Temple Newsam has earned its reputation as one of Yorkshire's most haunted houses.

Come along and join the team as we delve into the paranormal accompanied by the expertise knowledge of staff members from Temple Newsam who will guide through this epic location.

Description supplied by the event organiser.