The Priest’s House

The construction account associates the Priest’s House with a timber date around 1571 and later Gothic remodelling during the Darby expansion.

Ruined Priest’s House at Leap Castle — The Priest’s House

Construction

The existing site states that timber from an original fireplace was dendrochronologically dated to approximately 1571. It also records a later Gothic redressing intended to harmonise the structure with the Darby-era wings.

After 1922

The preserved Priest’s House account describes the range as remaining an empty shell after the burning.

Accounts associated with the rooms

PARANORMAL TESTIMONY

The page preserves reports of shadowy forms, chanting and several apparitions attributed to Mildred Darby: a heavy presence on beds, a man pushing a barrel on the back stair, and a monk crossing the building.

PLACE · PARANORMAL TESTIMONY

Archived source material

The Priest's House

The material below is preserved from the Leap Castle archive while citation, source reconciliation and editorial review continue.

Since the burning of Leap Castle in 1922, the Priest’s House is still an empty shell so most of the accounts relate to the times of the Darbys. At present, shadowy forms are most seen wandering through the empty building. The Ryans and guests have also heard chanting that is coming from this area. Often when commented on it suddenly ceases.

Mildred Darby describes the following apparitions.
There is something heavy that lies on people’s beds, and snores, and they feel the weight of a great body pressing against them, in a room in the Priest’s House.
A burly man, in rough clothes, like a peasant; he always pushes a heavy barrel up the back stairs of the wing, near the servant’s bedrooms, and when just at the top, the barrel rolls down and all disappears.
A monk, with a tonsure and cowl walks in at one window and out another, in the Priest’s House.