Temple Newsam is a Tudor Jacobean house in Leeds, West Yorkshire with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.
Temple Newsam is in the Doomsday book and was given to the Knights Temple in 1154. Lord Darnley the ill-fated husband of Mary Queen of Scots was born here. Temple Newsam has a chequered history and makes an interesting read.
The house and estate are now owned by Leeds City Council and it isopen to the public and well worth a visit.
Temple Newsam is believed to have many hauntings and ghosts. Mary Ingram was 14 years old when she fell victim to a highwayman who tore her Grandmothers necklace from her throat. She was returned to the house sobbing and in a state of collapse. The shock of the assault caused Mary to lose her memory; though she knew she had lost something important to her, she continued to search for something. She died 2 weeks later and to this day she is seen searching for the necklace. Mary is known to many as the blue lady.
Another tragedy to occur at Temple Newsam was on a hot sultry night in 1704. The inhabitants were celebrating Britains victory at the Battle of Blenheim, one of the servants William Collinson was known to be a vulgar and lowly man. William had had too much to drink and fancied his chances with the servant girl Phoebe Gray. William waited on the back stairs of the great house and pounced on Phoebe has she was passing. Phoebe screamed and struggled but not knowing his own strength, William felt her, simply go limp in his arms. William was hanged for her murder, but even to this day staff within the house can still hear Phoebes screams for help and the sound of bumping as if someone is being dragged down the stairs.
