Ordsall Hall
Susie Stubbs
Ordsall Hall, Salford’s beautifully preserved (and supposedly haunted) Tudor mansion and museum, re-opened a couple of years ago following a £6.5m renovation which overhauled the fabric of this Grade I-listed house, from its roof and ancient oak timbers to its stained glass, stonework and even paint.
Despite the incongruous setting, marooned in the middle of a housing estate, this is a spectacular building; it is one of only eight such houses in Lancashire and one of only three that retains much of its original, 14th century construction. A family home for much of its life, Ordsall Hall has been in continual use since the 14th century and as such is almost unique. Its Great Hall is one of the largest, open, timber-framed halls in the North West and restored gardens the perfect place to picnic and roly poly around.
It is also apparently home to the White Lady, the spectral remains of a woman who walks the Great Hall, Star Chamber and grounds holding a candle. Legend has it that this ghost is Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite Maid of Honour, Margaret Radclyffe; she died of a broken heart in 1599 when she learned of the death of her brother – she walks at night, waiting for him to return from battle. A webcam allows you to monitor the White Lady’s activities; the brave can also stay overnight at the Hall.
