Paranormal case file · Location 15
Haunted BuildingCurated Haunted LocationKnown Haunted Location
Curated Haunted Location
Thorpe Hall
Thorpe Hall, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, England, LN11 0QR, United Kingdom
The haunting
The main reported haunting is that of the Green Lady, said to be the spirit of Donna Leonora Oviedo. According to the legend, her apparition appears around the grounds of Thorpe Hall, particularly near a tree in the gardens. Descriptions generally portray her as a woman wearing a long green dress, reflecting the portrait that she supposedly gave to Sir John Bolle. The University of Lincoln's Haunted History of Lincolnshire also records a personal account in which a figure appearing to be a woman in green was reportedly seen moving gracefully up steps around the property. The witness later considered whether the figure could have been caused by car headlights reflecting from the surrounding vegetation, but said the experience nevertheless felt like a genuine ghostly encounter.
Reported / claimed activity
◆ THE GREEN LADY — A female apparition reportedly dressed in a green gown. ◆ THE GARDEN APPARITION — The figure is traditionally associated with the gardens and grounds of Thorpe Hall. ◆ THE TREE — Reports particularly associate the apparition with a specific tree within the grounds. ◆ THE GREEN FIGURE — A reported witness described seeing a green figure apparently moving elegantly up steps near the Hall. ◆ A RESTLESS SPIRIT — Folklore portrays the woman as continuing to wander the grounds because of her unrequited love for Sir John Bolle. THE STORY OF THE GREEN LADY The traditional story begins in 1596, when Sir John Bolle was involved in the English attack on Cádiz. During the campaign, Bolle was responsible for Donna Leonora Oviedo, a wealthy and high-born Spanish woman who had been taken prisoner. According to the legend, Leonora fell deeply in love with him. Bolle, however, was already married. Rather than betray his wife, he told Leonora that he could not return her affection and would have to leave Spain. Despite her heartbreak, Leonora supposedly gave Bolle a collection of valuable gifts for his wife in England. Among them was a portrait showing Leonora in a green dress. One version of the story says Leonora returned to Spain and entered a convent, where she spent the rest of her life. Another, darker version claims that she travelled to England, followed Bolle to Thorpe Hall and eventually died there. According to the ghost story, Leonora's spirit subsequently remained at Thorpe Hall. She is said to appear as the Green Lady, wandering around the grounds and sometimes near a particular tree.
Background and folklore, separate from member eyewitness experiences.
Historical background
Thorpe Hall is a historic country house on the western outskirts of Louth, surrounded by extensive gardens and parkland. The property is closely associated with Sir John Bolle, a Lincolnshire soldier who took part in the English expedition against Cádiz in Spain in 1596. The present house has developed over several centuries, with the Bolle family remaining connected with Thorpe Hall for generations. During the expedition to Cádiz, Bolle was reportedly given responsibility for a high-born Spanish prisoner named Donna Leonora Oviedo. According to the traditional story, Leonora fell in love with Bolle, but he explained that he was already married and could not return her feelings. Before he left Spain, she gave him a number of valuable gifts, including a portrait of herself wearing a green dress and a richly decorated bedcover. The bedcover associated with this story is still preserved at Louth Museum, where the museum also tells the story of the Spanish Lady's Love. The connection between Bolle and Leonora became part of local folklore and eventually formed the basis of the legend of the Green Lady of Thorpe Hall.
References & research
Sources & background
These sources document the location, story or claimed activity. They do not prove paranormal activity.
- Haunted History of LincolnshireLocal history source · University of Lincolnshire
Thorpe Hall
- Louth MuseumLocal history source · Louth Museum
Thorpe Hall
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