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The identity of the lady ghost that haunts Pevensey has never been conclusively established. There are two possibilites. One is Lady Joan Pelham, and the other is Queen Joanna of Navarre.
Back in 1394 Sir Pelham was appointed as constable of Pevensey Castle by the Duke of Lancaster. Five years later, the Duke's son decided to take the crown and established himself as Henry IV. Ofcourse, henry VI expected support for his cause from Sir Pelham. Sir Pelham left to fight with Henry against Richard II. Lady Pelham was left in charge of the castle.
She was then beseiged by the opposing forces. She smuggled a letter to her husband, begging his return. It is said that she paced the pamparts daily, watching for sign of his return.
Over the years, many people began to think this was a legend, and that there was no ghost at the castle. Then about thirty years ago some children who were playing in the area at dusk saw the misty form of a lady standing on the wall breifly before vanishing before their eyes!
I must admit, I was unaware of the possibility of it being Queen Joanna (very similar names, huh?), so we walked around the perimeter calling to Lady Pelham.
It was immediately after my youngest daughter called out to her that the photos on the Pevensey pages were taken!
Queen Joanna remains an interesting candidate for the pale female ghost of Pevensey.
At first, she got along famously with her stepchildren, but Henry V became greedy. When she resisted giving her money to him, he had her accused of witchcraft. She was arrested and held at pevensey, under the watchful eye of Sir John Pelham. Three years later, as Henry V lay dying, he had a bout of conscience and restored her riches to her. In spite of this, some believe she still haunts the castle that was her prison for that time. | ||
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