National Maritime Museum (The Tulip staircase Ghost)

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The Queen's House

The Tulip staircase Ghost (© Mary Evans Picture Library/Peter Underwood)

The Tulip staircase Ghost

The Tulip staircase

On Sunday 19 June 1966, the Rev. and Mrs R.W. Hardy, a retired couple on holiday from Canada, were visiting the Queen’s House. Having previously read about the Tulip staircase, they were interested to see it for themselves. Whilst there, standing at the foot of the staircase and looking upward, Mr Hardy took this photograph.
Following their return to Canada, the photograph was developed to reveal a shrouded figure, on the staircase. On closer inspection, the figure appears to be ascending the stairs in pursuit of a second and possibly a third figure.

Unravelling the mystery
In a letter dated 8 May 1967, to Brian Tremain the Museum’s photographer, Mr Hardy describes the conditions under which the photograph was taken.

• Time: Between 5.15 and 5.30pm on Sunday 19 June 1966
• Camera equipment: A Zeiss Ikon Contina camera, Zavar Anastigmat lens and a skylight haze filter
• Film: K2 daylight
• Exposure: Exact exposure unknown. (This was later estimated to be no longer than one second). The camera was held by hand, resting on a ledge.
• Viewpoint: Below the Tulip staircase looking upward 'to include the underside of the first curve and just the fringe of the second curve.’

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National Maritime Museum