Ford Grey, 1st Earl of Tankerville

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Ford Grey (July 20,1655- June 24, 1701) 1st Earl of Tankerville, Viscount Glendale, and Lord of Wark and Chillingham, was baptized the day of his birth at Harting, a parish in West Sussex, England.

He wed Lady Mary Berkeley, the daughter of George, the 1st Earl of Berkeley and his bride, Elizabeth Massingberd. A child, Lady Mary Grey, was born about 1678 most likely in Harlington, Bedfordshire. Ford is infamous for being found guilty of seducing his wife's sister, Lady Henrietta Berkeley. Mary is best known for her haunting of Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, North East England. Her spirit still searches for her errant husband who died at about the age of forty-six on June 24, 1701.

The Legend

To this day the rustle of Mary's dress is sometimes heard along the corridors and stairs and, as the disappointed and anxious wraith passes by, a chill, as of cold air, seems to sweep through one's very marrow. There have also been claims of her ghost 'escaping from her portrait' to wander the the castle in search of her errant Lord. It was said that the nursery where it hung had been disturbed by its restlessness and children and their nurse declared that she stepped out of her frame and frightened them by following them about.