Mysterious Britain

1. Match the words to make word combinations.

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London has been at the centre of turbulent events for hundreds of years and as you might expect from a city with such a vivid and dramatic history behind it, there are quite a few ghosts lurking in the nooks and crannies of Britain’s capital.

Great British Institutions Haunted

Many of Britain’s most famous institutions have their own resident ghosts. The elegant Pillared Room in 10 Downing Street, which is used for hosting receptions and signing international treaties, is said to be haunted. Several members of staff at the Prime Minister’s residence have reported

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seeing the ghost of a finely-dressed woman, but no one knows who she might be.

The Bank of England is another part of the British establishment which has been known to receive a ghostly visitation or two. 1 - ? She was not actually a nun at all though she did dress in a black and white outfit that did give her a nun-like appearance. Her name was Sarah Whitehead and she lived in the early 19th century; her brother, Philip, to whom she was fondly attached, worked as a clerk in the bank. He was convicted of forgery and executed in 1812. Friends and family members, knowing the strength of feeling she had for her brother, kept this secret from her. One day, however, she wandered into the bank and asked where her brother was. 2 - ? From that time on, she took to coming into the bank to enquire

London’s royal palaces play home to quite a few ghosts. Buckingham palace is said to be haunted by the spirit of Major John Gwynne, an

aide to Edward VII who committed suicide there. 3 - ? It is not known who

tions of many of his formerбwives have often been seen - Catherine How-

exactly the monk is but, in the early medieval period, a priory once existed

ard, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour have all been spotted. Only a few years ago, Hampton Court Palace was also the scene of what some have described as the most remarkable ghost sighting ever – because it was captured on CCTV camera! The incident occurred around Christmas time in 2003. 4 - ? Studying the CCTV footage carefully they were astonished to see two doors fly open on their own followed by a mysterious robed figure stepping in to pull them shut again. No adequate explanation for the spooky sighting has yet been offered.

The Bloody Tower

Many of the most tumultuous events in London’s history have culminated with someone or other paying a visit (often a final one) to the Tower of London. Some of these poor unfortunates appear to have lingered there to this day. Among them is Henry VIII’s discarded wife, Anne

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Boleyn. When she was found guilty of witchcraft and adultery, she was sent to the Tower to be beheaded. 5 - ? Among the other famous ghostly inhabitants of the Tower are : Guy Fawkes; Sir Walter Raleigh; Lady Jane Grey; Thomas Becket; and the young princes Richard and Edward who were confined in the tower before disappearing - they are believed to have been murdered on the orders of their uncle, the sinister Richard III.

There are quite a few companies offering tours of London’s spookier side. Among those to look out for is the one fronted by Richard Jones, Britain’s ghost guru. 6 - ? He is credited with an encyclopaedic knowledge of supernatural Britain and is said to be well able to convey the flavour of a classic ghostly yarn.

Lovers of the paranormal have a veritable feast awaiting them with a visit to Britain’s capital city. When night falls, modernity is banished and the past can seem to seep into the presentДas the ghosts come out to play.

http://www.spookystuff.co.uk

3. Read the article again and fill in the sentences (A-G) which best fit each paragraph (1-6). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

E. Jones is well-known for his many television appearances.

F. Security guards had been puzzled because doors were being found open in parts of the building where no one was present.

G. The ghost seen most often is that of a woman known as the Black Nun.

4. For questions (1 – 4), choose the correct answer (A, B or C).

1.The ghost of a finely-dressed woman regularly visits: a) 10 Downing Street;

b) the Bank of England; c) Windsor Castle.

2.The Black Nun visits the Bank of England because:

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a)she worked as a clerk in the bank;

b)to enquire about her brother;

c)to take a large sum of money.

3.Hampton Court Palace is haunted because: a) Edward VII committed suicide there;

b) it used to be Henry VIII’s residence;

c) people with cameras wait for ghosts there.

4.Ann Boleyn was sent to the Tower of London by: a) Richard III;

b) Richard Jones; c) Henry VIII.

5.Explain the words in bold, then give synonymsИfor the highlighted words in ex.2. Д

6.Look at the pictures (pic. 44 – 45). What do these places have in common? Where do you thinkАthey are? In what context might you find these words in the texts in ex.7?

Invade; palace; defeat; kingdom;бconquer; prison; protect; fortress; exe-и

С

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7. Look at the title of the text. What do you think the text is about? What amazing facts of Russian buildings do you know? Read the text and make a list of things that make these castles amazing.

Amazing facts

The first castle in Britain was built by William the Conqueror. In 1066, William invaded England and defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. He then became King William I of England and later in history he got the name of William the Conqueror. However, William did more than just conquer the country. Under his rule, the country was built in a different way. New laws were made and castles were built. William needed to show his power and protect his new kingdom.

One of the most famous castles started by William the Conqueror is the Tower of London. The Tower has been many things during its long history: a fortress, a palace, a prison, a place of execution, and even a zoo. Today, it’s a historical museum.

About 1,200 castles were built in Britain in the 11th and 12th centu-

They were tower houses, square buildingsАДfive or six floors high with tower on top. One of the mostбfamous Scottish castles is Glamis. It is said to have more dark secrets and ghosts than any other castle in Scotland.

Leeds Castle isиone of Britain’s most picturesque castles. It sits on two small islands in a beautiful lake. It’s almost 1,000 years old.

Of course,Сwe all know that Harry Potter’s school, Hogwarts, doesn’t really exist. But the first two films took place in a real castle! Alnwick Castle is situated about 80 miles south of Edinburgh. Some parts of the castle were built as early as 1096. The castle is still lived in!

8. Read the text and match the headings (1-9) with the correct paragraph (A-J). There is no heading for one of the paragraphs. Entitle it yourself.

1.Fire

2.Ghosts

3.Great Kitchen

4.History

5.King Henry VIII Gate

6.Norman Tower and Moat Garden

7.Quadrangle

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8.Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House

9.Round Tower

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle (pic. 46) is one of the oldest and biggest lived-in castles in the whole world. And it’s one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, the Queen likes Windsor Castle more than Buckingham Palace and often spends weekends and holidays there.

A. С

Windsor Castle is English history in a nutshell, and what a majestic nutshell it is! The site has been the official residence of kings and queens from William the Conqueror to the present day. Royals have been born, married and buried in the castle.

B.

Windsor Castle began its life as a wooden fort built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, and later kings and queens had a hand in its evolution. Henry II pulled down the wooden buildings and rebuilt it in stone.

C.

In 1992, over 110 rooms in the palace were damaged or destroyed in a fire. The royal family, their servants and five fire brigades tried to save the

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treasures. They put out the fire after 15 hours using seven million litres of water! Over 4,000 people worked to restore the room. It took them five years.

D.

The Round Tower was built in 1170 replacing the Norman wooden building.

When the Queen is in residence you can see the Royal Standard flying over it. When the Queen is not in residence, the Union Jack flag flies in its place.

E.

The Moat Garden near the tower was the scene of a historic romance. King James I of Scotland (who was a prisoner in the tower for 11 years, from 1413 to 1424) once saw Lady Jane Beaufort in the garden. He fell in love with her at first sight and later married her.

G.

Queen Mary’s Dolls’СиHouse is enough to make Barbie envious. Everything in this house really works! Can you imagine what fun the children had when they sent the baby up on the lift for its evening bath, dried it with small towels and then put it to bed? You can find in everything in the house, from tiny crown jewels in their own locked room to a garage with a small Rolls Royce. The paintings in the doll’s house were created by famous artists and the tiny books were specially written by Rudyard Kipling and Conan Doyle! The doll’s house was made for Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth I’s grandmother) in the 1920s.

H.

The King Henry VIII Gate, built in 1511, is the castle’s main gate. It’s decorated with Henry VIII’s symbols – the Tudor rose and the pomegranate emblem of Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

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I.

The Great Kitchen at Windsor is the oldest kitchen in Britain. And it’s still working! Here you can learn lost of interesting things about Henry VIII’s enormous appetite and Queen Victoria’s fast eating, which often left her guests feeling hungry.

J.

One of the many homes of Queen of England is said to have several ghosts. Some people say that they have seen the ghost of Henry VIII or heard his footsteps on the stairs. Others have seen the ghost of Elizabeth I in the library. She always wears a black dress and a black shawl over her shoulders.

11.What British castles do you know? What do they have in common?

12.What is haunted house?

1)visited by ghosts;

2)visited by hunters;

3)visited by wild animals.

13. Have you ever heard any stories about ghosts? If yes, what are they?

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14.Look at the title of the text in ex.15. What do you think the text is about? Would you like to visit the castle on the picture? Why? Why not?

15.Read the text and complete the table (Page 173).

Britain's Top Ten Haunted Castles

Haunted castles dot the British landscape. Some are just ruins; some are now run as tourist attractions; and some are still lived in. Many are worth a visit. Read about Britain’s top ten spooky castles below.

Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle (pic.и47) in Cumbria is haunted by the ghost of a myste-

rious White Lady as well as by Tom Fool a jester who worked in the castle 400 years ago and now likes to play tricks on visitors. Parties of 6-8 people can arrange for an all-night ghost sit in the Tapestry Room, said to be the castle’s most haunted spot. Scientists and paranormal researchers also conduct field experiments here and you can arrange to participate in one of these yourself with an all-night vigil.

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Glamis Castle

Pic. 48

As well as being a delight to look at, the castle (pic. 48) made famous by Shakespeare’s Macbeth has a panoply of ghosts to frighten visitors and

Pic. 49

This appropriately named castle (pic. 49) has a wealth of spooky stories to entertain visitors and its very own ghost-walker to tell them. Ghost tours cost £20 per person and run in the evenings all year round. The castle also occasionally has ghost-themed special events such as dinner evenings where a ghost hunter visits and relates some of his experiences in the field.

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Warwick Castle

Pic. 50

Now owned by the Tussauds group, Warwick castle (pic. 50) plays host to many spectacular shows and events throughout the year. Waxwork figures and costumed actors help bring the past to life. The castle’s famous Ghost

Pic. 51

Tutbury Castle (pic. 51) in Staffordshire is more of a ruin than a functioning building, having been largely destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell for harbouring the King, Charles I, during the English civil war. Despite this, the building has a rich haunted history which no doubt owes much to its tumultuous past. Mary Queen of Scots spent much of her im-

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prisonment here and her ghost has been spotted on the grounds on several occasions.

Tutbury is only open to the general public from Easter until September but special arrangements can be made for large parties at other times. The castle also runs ghost hunts which can involve overnight stays in the Great Hall or King’s bedroom.

Windsor Castle

number of illustrious ghosts including Henry VIII, his sometime wife Anne Boleyn, Charles I, and George III. Only certain parts of the castle are open to visitors, and only duringиthe day, so you may not get to see any of the famous ghosts even if they make an appearance, but you never know!

Bodelwyddan CastleС

Pic. 53

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Many mystery ghosts have been spotted at Bodelwyddan Castle (pic. 53) in north Wales. The castle offers ghost walks; evening ghost vigils in which you use the latest equipment to try and detect ghosts; and, for the stout of heart, all-night vigils too. The castle is also an outstation for the National Portrait Gallery so, even if you don’t get to see a ghost; you should be able to absorb a little culture.

Berre Pomeroy Castle

White and Blue Lady ghosts have been seen in the grounds. The first is believed to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, imprisoned in the castle dungeon and left to starve to death by a jealous sister; the identity of the other is unknown. TheСcastle is open to the public from March until October but only during the day.

Tamworth Castle

Pic. 55

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Tamworth Castle (pic. 55) in Staffordshire is home to many ghosts, including that of one unfortunate woman who threw herself to her death over the battlements after learning that her lover had been slain. Another ghost, of the Black Lady, was famously photographed by a ghost-hunting team in the 1940s.

Edinburgh Castle

Situated spectacularly on a hill overlooking the city, Edinburgh castle (pic.

Conclusion

Britain abounds in haunted castles. Some are entertainment centres, where the past is brought to life by modern means; and some are just brooding ruins, where you’ll be left alone with the ghosts. Why not take a trip and have a pleasant hour-long excursion, or even a nerve-racking overnight stay?

http://www.spookystuff.co.uk

16. Read the text again and find the words that mean.

-everything you can see when you look across a large area of land, especially in the country;

-an interesting or enjoyable place to go or thing to do;

-haunted, strange and frightening;

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-a period of time when people stay awake, especially at night, in order to watch a sick person, say prayers, protest, etc;

-a large and impressive number or collection of something;

-an exclamation of grief, compassion, or alarm;

-to interest and amuse somebody in order to please them;

-feeling that you have been treated unfairly;

-working in the correct way, operating;

-very famous and much admired, especially because of what you have achieved;

-to discover or notice something especially something that is not easy to see, hear, etc.;

-envious, feeling angry or unhappy because you wish you had something that somebody else has;

-to disappear suddenly and/or in a way that youИcannot explain.Д

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17. Put 12 words from ex. 16 into the gaps.

1.Buckingham Palace is a major … in Britain.

2.Children often feel … when a new baby arrives.

3.He always … us for hours with his stories and jokes.

4.He had every right to feel … at the decision.

5.His parents kept a round-the-clock … at his bedside.

6.In the Museum you can expect to see the whole … of weaponry.

7.The composer was one of many … celebrities to visit the town.

8.The magician … in a puff off smoke.

9.The tests are designed to … the disease early.

10.The woods and fields are typical features of the English … .

11.We now have a … shower: we don’t need to use our neighbours’ bathroom.

12.We were frightened by the strange noisesИand lights in that … old house.night. That’s when the ghosts come out.ДFortunately, Britain is blessed

with a number of haunted hotels so, if you’re feeling brave, use the Internet to find a hotel to stay in. Here are some examples.

that was immortalised by theбpoetry of William Wordsworth. But that’s not

all. It’s haunted too! Dating back to the 15th century, the inn has had plenty of time to pick up some ghosts and quite a few have been spotted in and around it. Some are believed to be the spirits of unlucky travellers who died while making a perilous journey through the difficult mountain terrain. One ghost is believed to be that of a woman who murdered her own child. Another that of a 17th century coachman, was even captured in a photograph taken by a family staying at the inn in 1993. But he’s not there any longer. He is said to have followed the bemused tourists home and now lives with them as a member of the family!

Schooner Hotel

The Schooner Hotel on the Northumberland coast boasts of being the most haunted hotel in Britain. Its guests frequently report strange noises, electrical devices turning themselves on or off and doors opening and closing of

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•Notebook and pen. АДИ

•Camera. Digital cameras have become popular and there is no doubt that they are very convenient.бIf you do see a ghost and happen to photograph it, however, the fact that you only have a digital record of it will be a barrier to belief for manyиpeople. Digital images can readily be manipulated and any good graphics software will allow ghost-like images to be created easily. So,Сif you want to convince others about what you have seen, a conventional camera may be the best option; if you want a record only for yourself, a digital camera may be the way to go.

•Several sets of batteries – batteries have been known to deplete unusually quickly in the presence of ghosts, sometimes even instantaneously! You may find it necessary to replace your batteries during the session.

•Chalk - to mark the spots where things happen, if anything does.

•Torch.

•Audio recorder - so you can record your observations during the vigil while you wait. You may also be able to record audio from spirits. Some researchers in fact choose to focus on this. They claim that often they will hear nothing at the scene but when they play the recordings later on, spooky spirit voices can be heard!

•If it’s an all-night vigil, be sure and wear warm clothing and take a warm drink with you in a flask. -

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Rosslyn Chapel и

Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh, has long been one most quietly mysterious places. The Da Vinci Code novel and film have recently brought it an unaccustomed celebrity. But why does a small chapel continue to intrigue the world hundreds of years after it was first constructed, and what is the real history behind the fiction?

The Legends of Rosslyn

Rosslyn Chapel is a place wreathed in legend and most of the legends are associated with the Knights Templar. The Templars were a crusading order, a band of warrior monks who were pledged to protect Christian pilgrims travelling to the Middle East. Their cause was a popular one. Wealthy people often left money or land to the Templars in their wills and, over time, the order became immensely rich; so rich in fact that even kings

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