A spooky sighting of a famous ghost has been caught on camera at a British castle.
The snap appears to show a cloaked white figure standing in the shadows beyond a doorway.
And the location where it was taken is directly linked to Empress Matilda’s daring escape during a 12th century siege.
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Matilda was the daughter of King Henry I and is believed to be the inspiration behind Rhaenyra Targaryen, a fictional character in the fantasy drama television series House of the Dragon.
The photo was captured by a backpacker in St George’s Tower during a daytime tour of Oxford Castle, as repored by What’s The Jam.
Multiple sightings of Matilda have been reported over the years, with stories circulating that she still wanders the historic site in the heart of Oxford city centre.
The eerie image was captured by Australian tourist Lewy Jones during a visit to the medieval castle.
The photographer, who was on a gap year at the time, says he took the picture accidentally while descending the tower during a tour in the middle of the day.
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He said on the way up, he peeked inside the room and it was empty.
But the ghostly white figure pictured is remarkably similar to those in historic depictions of Matilda’s legendary escape from the castle.
She is believed to have climbed out of the tower window and skated along the frozen River Thames to evade her captor.
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Lewy Jones said: “The photo was actually accidentally taken on my digital camera while we were climbing back down the stairs from the tower.
“I hadn’t noticed this photo until we returned home and I was browsing pics from the day.
“It appears to show a cloaked figure in a white dress in the doorway.
“The spooky bit is that I am quite certain that the room was completely empty with no white dress as me and my cousin had poked our heads in the doorway during the climb up.”
Oxford Castle has stood for more than 950 years – initially as a castle which played a vital role in Middle Ages conflict before being repurposed into a prison during the 17th century.
It has spawned several ghost stories, including that of Mary Blandy, who was sentenced to death for the murder of her father by poisoning in 1752.
The ghost of a foul-mouthed monk and the spirt of a little girl have also been encountered in its medieval crypt.
Calling for answers to his mysterious photo, Lewy continued: “I am wondering if anyone from Oxford, or who is familiar with the castle, can help explain my spooky photo.
“I don’t really believe in ghosts but this has always given me the heebie-jeebies.
“What makes my skin crawl is how eerily similar the various artist depictions of Empress Matilda’s escape from Oxford Castle and Prison are to my photo.”
Adam Makinson, General Manager of Oxford Castle and Prison, said: “It has long been known for its ghostly legends, with countless guests and staff reporting unexplained encounters over the years.
“The story of Empress Matilda’s daring escape has fascinated historians and ghost hunters alike, so it’s always intriguing when new evidence emerges.
“We believe the site could be one of the UK’s most haunted buildings and we’re looking forward to sharing experiences like Lewy’s with our guests when we launch a new exhibition later in the year.”
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