Hoghton Tower

Hoghton Tower: Preston’s Hilltop Haunt

Hoghton Tower ghost stories echo across this Preston hilltop at Hoghton Lane, PR5 0SH. Built in 1565 by Thomas Hoghton, this fortified manor crowns a 650-foot ridge, a Grade I listed sentinel of Lancashire’s past. Once a Catholic refuge, it hosted Shakespeare’s troupe; now, its stone corridors hum with spectral tales above the Ribble Valley.

The tower rose as Preston’s mills spun wealth, its lords sheltering priests during Reformation purges. Sir Richard Hoghton welcomed James I in 1617, knighting a loin of beef—hence “sirloin”—but exile and ruin followed. Today, those Hoghton Tower ghost stories lure visitors to its windswept walls, where history and hauntings intertwine.

One grim tale spins The Green Lady, a maid locked in the tower in 1640, starved for theft. Her wails drift from the well house, and a green shimmer haunts the courtyard—guests feel her despair. Another speaks of The Knight’s Blade, Sir Richard’s spirit, pacing the banqueting hall since his 1637 death in France. Swords clank at dusk, marking his restless exile. These Hoghton Tower ghost stories cast a shadow over its grandeur, chilling all who climb its steps.

Hoghton Tower’s battlements and secret passages fuel its mystique, a Preston haunt begging exploration. The Hoghton Tower ghost stories blend royal feasts with tragic fates—check deadlive.co.uk for more Northwest chills.

Preston, located in Lancashire in the north of England, is a city rich in heritage and culture. The Harris Museum & Art Gallery showcases an impressive collection of fine and decorative arts, alongside significant archaeological exhibits. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Guild Wheel offers a scenic walking and cycling route that winds through the picturesque Avenham and Miller Parks along the River Ribble. To the west, the Ribble Steam Railway provides a nostalgic experience with rides on beautifully restored trains and an interactive museum. In the northeast, the Lancashire Infantry Museum delves into the region’s military past, highlighting the proud history of local regiments.