staircase at the west end to the secondary flight at the east end. Along this a White Lady has been supposed to walk at night.
Murray in his Handbook of Devon says: "N.W. of Lydford is Lew Trenchard, so named from the family which at one time held it; but before the close of the seventeenth century it became the property of the Goulds, an ancient race which is honoured by the attendance of a true 'White Lady.' This is held to be the spirit of a certain Madam Gould; but she appears always in white, with long hair, and sparkling as if covered with water drops. She haunts the avenue of the old house, and was often seen in a long gallery which has been pulled down." There are several inaccuracies in this account. We came into the property at the beginning, not before the close of the seventeenth century; and the gallery has not been pulled down; it was divided up into three bedrooms by my father, but is now restored to its original condition.
My mother has often told me how she had heard the steps at night, as though proceeding from high-heeled shoes, walking slowly along the corridor; and, thinking it might be my father coming to bed, she has opened the door to admit him, but on looking out, she has seen the light through the windows illumining the gallery down which she heard the measured tread, but could discern no person. On one occasion she followed these steps. They led into a room at the western extremity, which is now the boudoir, but saw no one.
My sister frequently expressed her desire to hear the steps of the spectral lady, and was disappointed though she sat up on purpose. One summer night, however, she was sitting in her room, with window and door open, writing a letter, and thinking of anything but the Old Madam, when she heard steps along the corridor. At the moment she thought it must be my father, and she rose, took up her candle and went to the door to speak to him, as she supposed he would scold her for sitting up so late. To her surprise she saw no one, but the steps passed her, and went on into the lumber-room, now boudoir. Being a resolute and courageous young lady, she followed the sound into the room, but could see no one. She also opened the only other door beyond her own and which gave admittance to one of the servants'
