THE ghost of a womanising, gambling horseman is said to haunt the ruins of a once fine manor house in west Cumbria.

With Halloween around the corner, local author Helen Ivison has discussed the myth of 'Galloping Harry' - Sir Henry Curwen - whose spirit allegedly haunts Workington Hall.

'Harry' lived in the 1500s and was known as a womanizer and gambler who bred 'very fine' horses. 

In those days people were able to make a lot of money from breeding horses. 'Harry' did and spent much of his fortunes on gambling.

Ms Ivison said: "This took place after the English Civil War, and the Curwens who owned the hall for supposed to be royalists.

"'Harry' was said to be an underground, secret, Jacobite as his grandmother was a Catholic.

"There were different factions of the Curwen family, and for a long period of years 'Harry' disappeared. 

"There is a whole batch of stories about him visiting French courts and joining wars in Europe.

READ NEXT: Paranormal researcher meets his spectral subject face-to-face

"'Harry' was forced to play dead and his cousin was made the heir to Workington Hall.

"He later turned up alive and well and threw his cousin out of the hall.

"Throughout 'Harry's' life there was a lot of rivalry between Catholics and Protestants.

"He went on to die in his late 60s and was found sitting upright in a chair with his head battered in.

"It is said that a great deal of golden treasure was being stored by 'Harry' and his French mistress and maid was trying to beat the secret out of him.

"Many believe that there was a great deal of treasure that was hidden, which he had brought back with him after disappearing for many years.

"No one is sure how he made the money, but he was likely trading war horses across Europe.

"It is thought that his maid pushed him down the stairs, then as he was dying sat him up in the chair to try to get the secret of the treasure out of him.

"However, his gold was never found. He only left the property in his will despite being one of the wealthiest Curwens in history.

"Legend has it that 'Harry still haunts Workington Hall to this day. 'And still, that awful sound is heard that starts you from your bed, that awful bumping down the stairs of Harry's dying head."