Rev. Ralph Hardy, a retired clergyman from White Rock, British Columbia, took this now-famous photograph in 1966.

He intended merely to photograph the elegant spiral staircase (known as the “Tulip Staircase”) in the Queen’s House section of the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England.

Upon development, however, the photo revealed a shrouded figure climbing the stairs, seeming to hold the railing with both hands.

Experts, including some from Kodak, who examined the original negative concluded that it had not been tampered with.

It’s been said that unexplained figures have been seen on occasion in the vicinity of the staircase, and unexplained footsteps have also been heard.

Interesting side note: This photo isn’t the only evidence of ghostly activity at the Queen’s House. The 400-year-old building is credited with several other apparitions and phantom footsteps even today. Recently, a Gallery Assistant was discussing a tea break with two colleagues when he saw one of the doors to the Bridge Room close by itself. At first he thought it was one of the lecturers. “Then I saw a woman glide across the balcony, and pass through the wall on the west balcony,” he said. “I couldn’t believe what I saw. I went very cold and the hair on my arms and my neck stood on end. We all dashed through to the Queen’s Presents Room and looked down towards the Queen’s Bedroom. Something passed through the ante-room and out through the wall. Then my colleagues all froze too. The lady was dressed in a white-grey colour crinoline type dress.”

Other ghostly goings-on include the unexplained choral chanting of children, the figure of a pale woman frantically mopping blood at the bottom of the Tulip Staircase (it’s said that 300 years ago a maid was thrown from the highest banister, plunging 50 feet to her death), slamming doors, and even tourists being pinched by unseen fingers.

delete reply sugarpiehuny wrote on Oct 29, ’08, edited on Oct 29, ’08 Those hands look human to me..and not at all ghostly.. something appears strange to me.. The ring is on the middle finger on the upper hand…???

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Oct 29, ’08 Wow, that’s a good observation. It definitely does look like someone’s there…

delete reply pestep55 wrote on Oct 29, ’08 2 people ?

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Oct 29, ’08 You see two people ? Interesting. Are you saying the other hand belongs to another figure ?

delete reply pestep55 wrote on Oct 29, ’08, edited on Oct 29, ’08 The upper figure looks dark and only the hand shows, the shrouded figure looks to be holding the rail with one and reaching with the other.

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Oct 29, ’08 perfect picture for this week

delete reply sugarpiehuny wrote on Oct 29, ’08, edited on Oct 29, ’08 pestep55 said The upper figure looks dark and only the hand shows, the shrouded figure looks to be holding the rail with one and reaching with the other I thought the same.. as you can’t really see anything but the hand.. But I didn’t see another person so I just thought the white figure had exceptionally long arms..and this theory explains the ring..it would be on the second finger if it were anothers hand..

delete reply sugarpiehuny wrote on Oct 29, ’08 I love mysteries..

delete reply pestep55 wrote on Oct 29, ’08 One we don’t have the answer for /:-)

delete reply tulipsinspring wrote on Oct 29, ’08 Oh that gave me chills!

delete reply starfishred wrote on Oct 29, ’08 and we will never know the truth of the mystery like it was a dark and stormy night hehehehe

delete reply entenglim wrote on Oct 29, ’08 i don’t know, film reacts to light chemically, if it’s on film, it must be there even for a split second , is it a ghost ? well, ……double exposure? hehe…

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Oct 30, ’08 It’s supposed to be an actual pic of a ghost, but you never know…

delete reply texasavvy wrote on Oct 30, ’08 if it were just one person, I’d say that’s one lonnnnnnng neck! The accounts of others, having witnessed seeing with the naked eyes such apparitions on other occasions, especially the ‘gliding’ part…..deliciously creepy….you’d be excited after seeing THAT.  Surely the heart would quicken. The sound of footsteps, and seeing nothing, now THAT would get in my head and bug me mightilly. After that, staying up, investigating, or otherwise staying awake, lol.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Oct 30, ’08 Have a Happy Halloween !

delete reply sugarpiehuny wrote on Oct 30, ’08 Still very interesting

delete reply dianahopeless wrote on Oct 31, ’08 Really interesting post. And perfect for Halloween!

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Oct 31, ’08 This is supposed to be based on a true story.

delete reply slohomeles wrote on Nov 2, ’08 Great Halloween post… This photo was part of a “ghost stories” episode on Discovery Channel several months back. Interesting stuff.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Nov 2, ’08 Michael, don’t forget to play the video if you haven’t. It’s cool.