Kelham has a long and rich history dating back a thousand years. The lands here were used by Saxon farmers before the Norman Conquest. In 1066, the Foljambe family came over from France with William the Conqueror, who gifted them lands at Averham and Kelham. It's believed Kelham remained as farms with a manor on site.

 

Kelham was acquired by Sir William Sutton in 1580, and so was Kelham Manor, but it wouldn't be until c.1663 when the first 'Grand' Hall was built. Kelham Hall would be a focal point of the English Civil War, when King Charles I surrendered in nearby Southwell on 5th May 1647. Charles was then imprisoned here at Kelham Hall for several days after, pacing up and down the guarded path outside. This path is known as 'The King's Walk' and we'll be investigating it to see if Charles I is still here at Kelham. Following the Civil War, William's son Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexington upgraded the Hall, but sadly during the reign of William III & Mary II (1689-1702) the first Kelham Hall caught fire and burned down.

 

In 1730 the second Kelham Hall was built, where Lady Bridget Sutton, great-grandaughter of Sir William Sutton lived. Bridget was the only surviving child of Robert Sutton, 2nd Baron Lexington. On 27th August 1717, Bridget married John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland and had three children. The eldest child John Manners, Marquess of Granby was a soldier at Culloden and in the Seven Years' War, but didn't outlive his father, so the Hall was passed on to the second eldest Robert Manners providing he would add Sutton to his name which he did. Robert didn't marry and thus had no heir, so the estate passed on to his brother George Manners-Sutton. George spent most of his life as a politician and Member of Parliament for Grantham, before passing away in his sleep at Kelham Hall in 1783.

 

John Henry Manners-Sutton (1822-1898) began renovating the Georgian Hall in 1843, commissioning Anthony Salvin to make the house more fitting for the time period. Salvin's idea was to create a Jacobean mansion, which he worked on for 3 years. John eventually disliked these changes the more he saw of it and asked George Gilbert Scott to make additional alterations, but then came the second big fire.

 

On 27th November 1857, the servants had just gone to bed when fiery smoke suddenly engulfed the southern rooms and hallways. Mr and Mrs Manners-Sutton were away in Italy at the time, unaware that their beautiful home back in England had just gone up in flames. They left behind their two children, who were in the Hall at the time. News of the disaster reached Naples and both Mr and Mrs Manners-Sutton returned back to England immediately to inspect the damage.

 

George Gilbert Scott came up with a new extravagant design for a third Kelham Hall, the same High Victorian Gothic Hall which stands today. He completed the present Kelham Hall in 1863, an architectural beauty of magnificent proportions that was by far superior to any of its predecessors. And the best part? It was constructed using fire-resistant materials, preventing any further infernos that seemed to have plagued this land.

 

In 1903 the Manners-Sutton family sold Kelham Hall to the 'Society of the Sacred Mission', a Roman Catholic organisation which opened a theological college here. Kelham Hall was also occupied by military personnel during World War 1 and 2. The college closed in 1972 due to declining numbers.

 

Currently the building is undergoing a Renaissance of its own, and is now our newest exclusive home for Ghost Hunts and Paranormal Nights.

Kelham Hall is one of Nottinghamshire's most haunted historic houses, with many paranormal happenings reported by staff and visitors alike.

 

Dark hooded shadow figures have been seen inside the Hall and on the grounds, believed to be the buried Monks that once inhabited Kelham. Poltergeist activity like bangs on walls, doors opening/closing and objects moving leave people frightened with fear.

 

The smells of smoke and burning wood has been picked up on in the Music Hall, with a Lady in a Pale Blue Dress seen standing on the balcony looking over, before falling through the rails and disappearing. It's on this balcony area where motion sensored lights come on on their own with no one in the area to set them off. Is this the Blue Lady?

 

The strong presence of a gentleman walks across the ground floor rooms, and spirit children are often heard and sensed here too. Disembodied voices, cries and loud footsteps have also been heard, and on the outside grounds a ghostly Cavalier is sometimes seen, begging the question if this is the apparition of King Charles I himself.

DATE: Friday 4th April 2025

 

TIMES: 7:30pm - 1:00am (arrive 15 minutes early and wait patiently outside the main entrance until a member of our team greets you at the door)

 

LOCATION: The Renaissance at Kelham Hall, Kelham, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG23 5QX

 

PARKING AT EVENT: Car Park on site.

 

REMAINING BALANCE: Needs to be paid FOUR WEEKS prior to the event date. Failure to pay your remaining balance before this deadline will result in you forfeiting your places and your places will be sold on.

 

WHAT TO BRING: A torch, a warm coat/jacket, sensible footwear, any equipment you wish to bring along (your responsibility), your positive and open-minded energies.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Bringing alcohol or illegal drugs to this event is strictly prohibited. If anyone arrives at the event under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, they will not be allowed to stay for the night and will be asked to leave immediately.