The Tower of London is steeped in mystery, intrigue and some of the darkest chapters in British history. For centuries, its imposing walls have witnessed royal dramas, political upheaval, imprisonment and execution — and the tragic lives and deaths of its former inhabitants have inevitably given rise to countless tales of the supernatural.
Visitors and storytellers have long reported eerie encounters within the Tower, with some claiming to have seen the apparitions of those who once walked its halls in life. Among the most famous is the ghost of Lady Jane Grey, the young queen whose extraordinary story came to a tragic end within the Tower.
But who was Lady Jane Grey, and is there any truth behind the claims that her spirit still lingers within these ancient walls?
Who Was Lady Jane Grey?
Born in 1536 or 1537, Lady Jane Grey was a member of the Tudor royal family and was briefly placed on the English throne during one of the most turbulent periods of the Tudor dynasty.
Following the death of her cousin, King Edward VI, in July 1553, Jane was proclaimed queen. Her reign, however, would prove extraordinarily short-lived. Just nine days later, support shifted back towards Edward’s half-sister, Mary Tudor, who would become Queen Mary I.
Jane had spent much of her brief reign within the Tower of London, which was then used not only as a royal palace but also as a fortress and prison. After Mary’s supporters gained control, Jane was deposed and remained imprisoned in the Tower.
Eventually, Jane was convicted of high treason. She was executed at the Tower on 12 February 1554, at the age of just 16 or 17. Her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, was executed on the same day.
Given the extraordinary tragedy of Jane’s story, it is perhaps little wonder that her memory has become intertwined with the supernatural history of the Tower of London. According to longstanding ghost stories, her spirit never truly left the fortress where she spent the final months of her life.
Some accounts claim that sightings of Jane’s ghost have occurred around the anniversary of her execution. One of the most notable reports allegedly took place in the early hours of 12 February 1957, at approximately 3:00 a.m., when two guardsmen claimed to have witnessed an apparition near the Salt Tower.
According to the account, one of the guards heard a strange noise before seeing what he described as a white, shapeless figure materialise on the battlements. He alerted a fellow guard, and the two men reportedly watched as the apparition appeared before them before eventually disappearing.
The ghost of Lady Jane Grey isn’t the only ghost to haunt the Tower of London, but she is definitely one of the most famous.
