Ghosts of Tretower Castle

Tretower Castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built in the early 12th century by Miles Picard. Around 1150, his son Roger Picard I replaced the motte with a shell keep, and by 1230 his great-grandson Roger Picard II added a tall round keep inside it.

In the 14th century, residential buildings were added near the castle, forming Tretower Court, a fortified manor house. As the lords favored the court, the castle began to fall into disrepair.

In the 15th century, the castle and court were under threat during the Owain Glyndŵr revolt against King Henry IV of England. Even so, James Berkeley repelled an attack, and Tretower escaped heavy damage.

Around 1450, the property was given to Roger Vaughan by the Earl of Pembroke, the castle's prior owner. He became the richest commoner in Wales and made many modernizations to the castle.

The Vaughans held the castle for centuries but eventually sold the castle and manor at Tretower to take up residence at their other properties. After that, the buildings were poorly maintained and adapted into stores, barns, and places to keep animals. In the 1930s, it was saved and restored for the nation of Wales.

Tretower Castle and Court still have a few ghostly inhabitants.

The spirit of a White Lady has been seen walking the castle grounds near the old tower at dusk, sometimes gazing towards the hills. She also frequents the manor and has been seen pacing in the main bedchamber and out onto the battlements, often looking as though she is waiting for someone. Sometimes she is viewed sitting by a windowsill. She has also been spotted in the second bedchamber, wearing white with green eyes.

There have also been reports of the ghost of a little boy near the courtroom door and faint sounds of horses or distant voices near the ruins, perhaps attributed to Roger Vaughan, who was beheaded at Chepstow in 1471 after being captured by Jasper Tudor.

Some staff and visitors have reported feeling uneasy on the manor's upper floor. For example, one former staff member refused to go upstairs, even with company, and a film crew saw a ghost and refused to return.

The UK TV show "Most Haunted" investigated the castle and manor in 2005, focusing on the White Lady and other activity.