The Brown Lady ghost is a well known photo. It was taken in Raynham Hall in Norfolk back in 1936. The photo was taken by Captain Provand, who, along with his fellow photographer Indre Shira, were assigned to take photos of Raynham for the Country Life magazine.
It is said to be Lady Dorothy Townsend, who is said to haunt the Raynham Hall after her death in 1726. It is reported that her death was 'mysterious'.
This is the report of the incident given by Indre Shira-
"Captain Provand took one photograph while I flashed the light. He was focusing for another exposure; I was standing by his side just behind the camera with the flashlight pistol in my hand, looking directly up the staircase. All at once I detected an ethereal veiled form coming slowly down the stairs. Rather excitedly, I called out sharply: 'Quick, quick, there's something.' I pressed the trigger of the flashlight pistol. After the flash and on closing the shutter, Captain Provand removed the focusing cloth from his head and turning to me said: 'What's all the excitement about?'"
Captain Provand developed the photograph and could clearly see the figure that Indre Shira saw with his own eyes.
Lady Dorothy Townsend's ghost has been seen many times. In the 1800's, King George IV saw the figure of lady wearing a brown dress standing next to his bed. In 1835, Colonel Loftus saw the same figure, twice, within a week. The first time he saw the figure, it was in the hall and when he saw her again he was able to give a very detailed description, He said she had a satin looking brown dress on and her skin was glowing with a pale illuminous look to it. It also appeared that both her eyes were gouged out.
A few years after Colonel Loftus' experiences, there was another sighting of the Brown Lady. This time it was a Captain Frederick Marryat and a couple of his friends who saw her. They saw the Brown Lady gliding on the landing, above the stairs and this time she was carrying a lantern. As the men proceeded up the stairs, the figure began to glide down them and looked at them. She gave them an menacing grin according to Captain Marryat. He actually fired 2 shots at the figure but they went right through her.
The famous paranormal investigator Harry Price looked into this photo not long after it was taken and he said he was impressed by it and felt the 2 photographers were not lying about their experience.
