Papillion Hall, Leicestershire
Papillon Hall used to be a mile west of Lubenhall near Lutterworth before its’ demolition in the 1950s. But the legend of its ghost- and maybe the restless spirit itself- remains. The Papillon family built the hall in 1622 on the site of a holy well once belonging to Leicester Abbey. But its sinister reputation dates back to the time of the great-grandson of the original builder, David Papillon, or ‘Pamps.’
Pamps was a handsome man with a sinister reputation. He was believed to have destructive hypnotic powers. He also reputedly kept a Spanish mistress imprisoned in the attic of the house. This mistress is said to have died in 1715 although no one ever recorded her burial. Soon afterward, Pamps married and left the area. He left behind a portrait of himself and a pair of lady’s dancing shoes, with strict instructions that neither were to be removed from the hall.
All was well at the Hall as long as the objects remained in place-as future occupants discovered to their costs. When the Bosworth family sold the hall, they broke the covenant, bequeathing the contents- including painting and shoes- to one of their daughters. Unexpected knockings and misfortunes began to plague the new owner, Lord Hopeton and his household. Events culminated in one terrifying night in 1866 when the entire household gathered in the lobby while they listened to the sounds of furniture being thrown violently around the empty drawing-room. On investigation, everything remained in its right place.
The shoes and portrait were traced and reinstated. But history repeated itself several times when the shoes left the premise. Finally, it was decided to fix them to the hall in a wall safe. But during alterations to the Hall in 1903, the shoes were removed again. A worker was subsequently killed by a falling brick, while the owner, Lord Bellville was hurt in a pony and trap accident. During these same renovations, the skeleton of a woman was found encased in the walls. Could this be the mysterious Spanish lady whose death was never recorded?
On the hall’s demolition, the shoes were reclaimed by a Papillon descendant and gifted to the Leicester museum, and the grounds became a farm. But it seems that even though the house has gone, a presence remains. The Hughes family who owns the farm have heard strange noises around the old stable blocks, which still survive, as well as an eerie feeling of a presence about the land.