Castle of Good Hope

The Goede Hoop or Castle of Good Hope is the oldest and largest of South Africa’s colonial buildings. 

The Dutch East India Company built it in the 7th century. It is located in Cape Town and was first occupied in 1674.

Castle of Good Hope

It was initially used as a replenishment station for ships passing through the treacherous waters near the cape. The castle's moat fills with water at high tide.

Dungeon

It contains an infamous dungeon known as the dark hole or Danker Gat. 

This chamber was used to torture prisoners. It was not unusual for these prisoners to drown, especially during winger floods, as they were chained to the dungeon's walls.

The first ghost noted at the castle was seen in 1915. This tall figure—a gentleman-- was seen on the castle’s battlements. The same man was observed for two short weeks again in 1947.

Battlements where the ghost is seen.

This ghost glowed and was seen leaping off one of the castle’s walls. He was then seen walking between the Leerdam and Oranje bastions. One witness reported seeing this figure leaning over a parapet, peering down on Darling Street.

Phantom footsteps have been heard along the battlements over the years.

Bell Tower

The old bell tower that overlooks the castle is also haunted. 

In the 1700s, a soldier was found hanging from a bell rope. After his death, this bell tower was sealed off. But witnesses since state they have heard one of the bells ringing at random times.

Some feel this haunting might be connected to the male ghost seen on the castle’s battlements.

Another famous ghost seen is known as the Lady in Grey. A female skeleton was unearthed at the old sally gates, during an excavation. It is believed these remains are connected to this ghost.

The Lady in Grey is seen holding her hands and crying hysterically as she runs through the castle.

One famous sighting of this ghost occurred in 1947, during a royal family tour. They were in Cape Town, celebrating Princess Elizabeth’s 21^st birthday. Several members of this party, including Princess Margaret, saw this ghost.

This ghost is often seen today.

Lady Anne Barnard
Miniature by Cosway

The most romantic ghost at the castle is believed to be Lady Anne Barnard. She was a colorful character in the 18^th century, who lived in the castle for five years. She married a man younger than herself—and was the colony’s first lady.

The Dolphin Pool, where she bathed, has been reconstructed from drawings she made of it. She was known to bathe nude. Her ghost has been seen in this area au naturel.

Her curly-headed ghost has been known to appear at parties, given at the castle to honor distinguished guests.

Other activity in the castle includes, lights going on and off in the dungeon area without cause. 

In the old guard room, both male and female voices are heard arguing. One evening, when this activity was investigated, a dark figure was spotted.

A ghostly black hound is seen at the castle as well. This dog has pounced on visitors, and then it vanishes from sight.

A curse connected to the castle, involves one former governor, Pieter Gijsbert van Noodt. In April of 1729, he unjustly sentenced seven soldiers to death for desertion. He overruled a court’s more lenient sentence.

One of these soldiers, a theological candidate—called for justice from the gallows. He demanded Noodt attend the hanging—he didn’t. So this man cursed him.

Later that day, van Noodt was found dead, slouched over his desk. It is said he had a “look of terror” on his face. He was buried in an unmarked grave—for no one wanted to bury him in sacred ground. It is said van Noodt haunts the castle to this day.

Read about Noodt's tyrannical governorship here.

Today the Castle of Good Hope is a museum, which houses the William Fehr collection of Africana.

Castillo de San Marcos’ Missing Lovers

The fortress.

The Spaniards built a sturdy fortress, Castillo de San Marcos in 1695 to defend St. Augustine’s coastline from marauding English pirates.

This fortress weathered 15 sieges including one in 1702 where the British burned St. Augustine down. They then attacked the fortress for fifty days but did not take it.

In 1763, with the Treaty of Paris, the fortress was given to the English who changed its name to Fort Saint Mark but just twenty years later it was given back to Spain because the 1783 Treaty of Paris recognized the now independent United States.

The fort remained in Spanish hands until 1821 when Spain ceded Florida to the United States for a dollar. Now the Americans renamed the fort, Fort Marion after the Revolutionary War hero, General Marion.

Today, this old fortress is a National Monument maintained by the National Park Service. In 1942, its original name, Castillo de San Marcos was restored.

Castillo de San Marcos

The Missing Lovers

In July of 1784, after the English gave the fortress back to the Spanish, a new commander, Colonel Garcia Marti brought his pretty young wife, Dolores to start their new life.

It was said this was an arranged marriage and that the Colonel was much older than his bride.

Marti was a busy man, with a dour, humorless personality who neglected his wife. Dolores, in contrast, was well liked and quickly made friends at the fortress and in St. Augustine.

It wasn’t long before Dolores took notice of her husband’s tall assistant. Captain Manuel Abela was a handsome, charming man who befriended Dolores at their first meeting.

The two fell in love, and despite the risk started an adulterous affair.

One day as Colonel Marti listened to Captain Abela give his report he noticed the front of his subordinate’s uniform reeked of feminine perfume. It was the scent his wife always wore.

Shortly afterward both Manuel and Dolores disappeared.

The Captain’s men noticed he did not show up for the daily call. When they questioned his absence, they were told he had been given a special assignment in Cuba.

At a dinner party, the Colonel was questioned about his wife’s absence. He sadly informed her friends that his wife had returned to Spain because St. Augustine’s climate had been detrimental to her health.

The guests wondered at his explanation for Dolores had always appeared in the best of health when they had seen her.

When the Captain never returned, it caused a stir among his men, but no one ever dared question the commander’s story.

The Discovery

It wasn’t until almost 50 years later, in 1833, when a curious American officer, Lieutenant Tuttle was studying the architecture of the dungeon at the fortress that he noticed a hollow sound on one wall.

When he removed a brick a rush of air hit his face. He proceeded to take down a false wall and discovered a hidden room. He spotted two skeletons that were chained to the back wall.

The area where two skeletons were found.

It was later found that one was male and one was female.

It is believed that Colonel Marti had Captain Abela, and Dolores chained and entombed here to end their lives.

Since this discovery, a strong aroma of perfume has been noticed in the dungeon. Bright streaking lights are seen near this room as well as cold spots being felt. Several EVP’s have also been captured in this area--one by the Ghost Adventure's crew.