A ghostly legend still haunts Carlisle Castle, where a woman allegedly entombed alive continues to stir eerie encounters nearly two centuries after her remains were found
Standing sentinel over the borderlands for nine turbulent centuries, Carlisle Castle is no stranger to bloodshed, betrayal and the uncanny.
A fortress built for war and punishment, its worn red sandstone walls have seen kings imprisoned, armies mustered — and, if legend is true, one woman sealed alive within.
Today, visitors may marvel at its military history.
But linger too long in the Captain’s Tower, and you might feel the chill of someone — or something — watching from the shadows.
History of Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle’s strategic position near the Anglo-Scottish border made it a stronghold of national importance.
Founded by William II in 1092 atop a Roman fort, it evolved into a bastion of English power during centuries of border conflict.
The castle served as a royal residence, a garrison and later, a grim prison — most notoriously for Mary, Queen of Scots in 1568.
But behind the stone ramparts lies a quieter, darker story — one not found in military logs, but whispered in corridors and remembered in chills.
The Bricked‑In Woman and the Shocked Soldier
In 1835, soldiers stationed in the castle made a grisly discovery during renovations.
Behind a section of wall in the Captain’s Tower, they uncovered a skeleton.
Female, clothed in fragments of tartan, her bones lay in a small recess sealed with bricks.
No coffin, no ceremony — just stone, silence and time.
Whispers soon grew that she had been walled up alive — a barbaric punishment in medieval times, reserved for traitors, witches or unfortunate lovers caught in scandal.
Her crime, if any, is lost to history.
But her presence was not.
In 1842, just a few years after the find, a young sentry on night duty in the keep reportedly saw a woman gliding down the corridor — pale, silent and clad in tattered tartan.
When comrades arrived, they found the soldier slumped, eyes wide, unable to speak.
He died days later, terrified to his end.
Since then, she has appeared to others — a fleeting figure on the stairs, a whisper behind the ear, a sensation of being watched.
Many believe she is the same unfortunate soul once trapped behind stone — now bound to the place forever.
Legacy of the Lady: Sightings and Echoes
The “Scottish Lady” — as she’s sometimes known — has become the castle’s most enduring ghost.
Some say she is drawn to Scots visiting the site.
Others believe she simply roams the place of her imprisonment, seeking release.
Carlisle Castle is considered one of the most haunted places in Cumbria, with multiple unexplained events at its core.
Reports include disembodied footsteps, phantom voices and doors that open unaided.
Ghost hunters claim to have recorded EVP phenomena within its ancient walls — most commonly in the Captain’s Tower and the keep.
Tour guides tread carefully when speaking of her — some out of respect, others from experience.
Visiting Carlisle Castle Today
Operated by English Heritage, Carlisle Castle (Carlisle Castle, Castle Way, Carlisle CA3 8UR) remains a major visitor attraction and a powerful presence in the city’s skyline.
Those exploring its chambers and towers can learn about its military past, stand in Mary Queen of Scots’ prison chamber and walk through the keep where the ghost of the bricked-in lady has been seen.
Open year-round, the site offers guided tours and interpretive exhibits.
For those with an interest in the paranormal, visiting in the quieter months — or at dusk — may offer the best chance of encountering something… unexpected.
Have you seen or experienced the ghost of the bricked-in lady at Carlisle Castle? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
