The Spirits of The Carlyle House

Posted: 02.19.2025 | Updated: 02.19.2025

What was once a luxurious colonial manor for a wealthy merchant and his family later turned into a run-down shack where squatters would dwell. Today, this renovated historic landmark is a public museum that is also home to many dark legends and secrets,

The Carlyle House is one of the many colonial-era locations in Virginia with a dark and ominous past. If you’re ready to check out the most haunting locations in Virginia, schedule your tour with Alexandria Ghosts today!

Is the Carlyle House Haunted?

The Carlyle House in Alexandria, VA, is a historic landmark that locals and tourists can visit to learn more about the lifestyles and traditions of colonial times. But this 18th-century manor is home to many obscure tales that include the ghosts of the dead who roam the halls and macabre discoveries found deep within the walls.

The History of the Carlyle House

The Carlyle House, located in Alexandria, Virginia, is a Georgian manor built in 1753 by the city founder and wealthy merchant John Carlyle. For many years, the manor was the family home for John, his wife Sarah, and their children. However, the Carlyle family suffered many tragic deaths that may have triggered the dark energy inside the beautiful home.

Who Was John Carlyle?

John Carlyle was born in England in 1720. It is believed that he made his first voyage to Virginia in 1739 and eventually relocated there two years later. 

He was a successful and wealthy merchant specializing in importing coal, rum, and sugar, as well as slaves and convicts sent from England to perform heavy labor in the fields and manufacturing.

John married Sarah Fairfax, who was the daughter of William Fairfax. William’s cousin was the most prominent landowner in the state of Virginia. Marrying into the Fairfax family brought even more success and importance to John Carlyle’s way. John and Sarah had seven children, five of them died in adolescence. 

Sarah passed away while giving birth to their seventh child. After her death, John married his second wife, Sybil, and they had four children together. Unfortunately, only one of John’s eleven children lived to adulthood.

Carlyle was one of the most prominent merchants and community leaders in Northern Virginia, and he was respected by many residents in the area. The majestic Carlyle House was a testimony of his eminence and success. Along with this property, he also owned several lots of property in town and two plantations in Fairfax County.

Historical Events at the Carlyle House

John’s connections with the Fairfax family made him well-known among the politicians and military generals of the time. Because of his elite status, a meeting was held inside the home with several colonial governors and the British General Edward Braddock present. 

Braddock’s proposal that the colonies fund his war campaign clashed with the governors, who felt it was an unreasonable demand. This early source of tension led to the beginning of the Revolutionary War.

After John’s death, the Carlyle Home was purchased by a furniture merchant, James Green, in 1848. He converted the house into the Mansion House Hotel and later expanded the hotel along Fairfax Street with additional buildings. During the Civil War, the hotel was converted once again into an apartment complex.

Years later, the Carlyle House deteriorated until it was at risk of collapsing. It was acquired by NOVA Parks in 1970 who began a six-year project to restore the property to its previous state.

Hauntings at the Carlyle House

Something otherworldly is believed to haunt the halls of this radiant 18th-century manor. But along with the eerie encounters visitors have had with spirits of the dead, the esteemed Carlyle House is also home to some horrific mementos of the past.

The Ghost of Sybil West

While several members of the Carlyle family died inside the home, it is believed that John’s second wife, Sybil West, is the only spirit from his family to haunt the location. According to locals, Sybil was very jealous of John’s first wife, Sarah. It is believed that Sybil went to extreme measures while she was alive to burn all of Sarah’s possessions stored away in the basement.

Some visitors have reported seeing the apparition of a woman they believe is the ghost of Sybil, standing in the garden behind the house, screaming at night.

The Falling Ghosts

Perhaps the most famous ghost stories to come out of the Carlyle manor are those the locals refer to as the tales of the “Falling Ghosts.” 

These ghost encounters date back to the days after John Green took over ownership of the house and converted it into a hotel. Although some of the buildings no longer exist, locals believe they have seen the spirits of three men who fell to their deaths at the hotel.

Although the men died years apart, the way they died was very similar. One man was a Union soldier who was recuperating following the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862. After suffering from a bad fever that caused him to hallucinate, he leaped to his death from the hotel.

Another man by the name of Samuel Markell fell to this death in the same manner in 1905, while the third man, Pat Buckley, jumped from the building in 1912.

Some say the men jumped out of their hotel rooms from the windows, while others say they were jumping from the hotel’s balcony. But overall, the lore remains the same, with each man tragically taking their own life. Those who visit the home at night have noticed figures standing in the windows on the top floors who vanish seconds later.

Mummified Cat and Witch Bottles

When the Carlyle house was renovated to convert it into a public museum and park, the stone mason Jon Battista was working on the interior when he made a grisly discovery. Buried inside one of the walls in the back of the Servant’s Hall was a mummified cat.

At first, he assumed it was just a stray cat that had crawled into the chimney, became stuck, and died. But then he noticed the cat was resting in a sealed stone alcove inside the chimney, and its body was sprinkled with herbs.

Why Was the Cat Buried in the Walls?

According to folklore dating back to 16^th century England, Scotland, and Northern Europe, when constructing a new home, builders would conceal various artifacts to protect the inhabitants. 

This included the bodies of dead cats as well as witch bottles. It was believed that these items could protect the residents from witches and ward off bad spirits while also bringing good luck to the family. The hearth of the fireplace was a common spot to conceal these items because many believed witches could enter the home through the chimney.

Witch Bottles Found Inside the Carlyle House

The remains of the witch bottles have also been found inside the Carlyle House. Inside a pile of boxes within the archaeology collection is a stopper to a witch bottle. This particular stopper was a wine bottle cork stuck with three wire-wrapped pins, which is a specific type of stopper used for witch bottles.

According to the lore of this form of witchcraft, the small bottles, made from either glass or ceramic, had to be filled with urine and sharp objects such as pins. The bottle would then be corked, closed, and buried underneath the hearthstone inside the home.

This is a practice that dates back to 17^th century England. According to the folklore, this form of white magic was believed to protect the residents against the intrusion of evil witches. It was believed the bottles held the power to redirect an evil spell back towards its conjurer.

However, these items apparently didn’t fulfill their duties since the house is said to be haunted by several ghosts and spirits. After discovering the mummified cat, the find was fully documented, and the cat was returned to its original spot inside the wall, where it remains to this day.

Ghostly Encounters Inside The Carlyle House

A group of ghost enthusiasts visited the house in February 2004 and recorded some peculiar activity that is difficult to dismiss. They took photographs that revealed strange orbs and recorded sounds that included a mysterious yet incomprehensible knock at the door when no one was around.

One of the members of the group stated it was clear to him the Carlyle House is haunted either inside the home or on the grounds. While the spirits may not reveal themselves often, if you search them out you are very likely to experience a ghostly encounter. He feels there is some dark energy resonating inside the manor.

Other visitors have mentioned the lights flickering or going completely off while they were there. There are also rumors that the upstairs room on the right is haunted, which is where John Carlyle passed away. Photos have revealed the figure of someone standing in the window of the top right bedroom late at night.

Haunted Alexandria

Today the Carlyle House is a popular exhibit in Alexandria where visitors can take part in daily tours, special events, youth programs, and intriguing lectures on the history of the manor. But the spirits of the souls who lived there years ago still linger on the property and they still make their presence known from time to time.

Are you interested in learning more about the haunted lore behind some of the nation’s oldest homes and buildings? Keep up with our latest ghostly tales by checking out our blog. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Be sure to book your next ghost tour with Alexandria Ghosts the next time you are in the area.

Sources:

• https://visitalexandria.com/listings/carlyle-house-4/
• https://www.novaparks.com/parks/carlyle-house-historic-park
• https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/carlyle-john-1720-1780/
• https://michaelkleen.com/2020/11/17/the-falling-ghosts-of-carlyle-house-historic-park/
• https://www.history.com/news/colonial-superstition-why-witch-bottles-dead-cats-were-stuffed-into-walls
• https://alexandriadailyphoto.wordpress.com/2006/10/23/carlyle-house-hauntings/
• https://www.novaparks.com/sites/default/files/pdf/4-April%202012.pdf