A man who lives inside Hampton Court Palace has given a glimpse into his unique home, describing it as picturesque but 'definitely haunted'. Jack Josephs, a 28-year-old real tennis professional, has made the Grade I listed palace his home for the past four years.
Real tennis, a historic precursor to modern lawn tennis, requires players to maintain the 500-year-old court and handcraft the balls used in the sport. Josephs is one of a small number of professionals residing on the grounds to perform these duties, ensuring the palace's sporting tradition lives on.
In a TikTok video, Josephs gave a tour of his flat within the palace. He showed his 'massive' bathroom, which features a low door frame that caused him to hit his head and suffer a concussion within his first week – since then, padding has been added. The layout becomes 'slightly strange' after the bedroom, with a kitchen located in the middle and two living rooms.
His favourite spot is a 'tiny' kitchen window that opens onto stunning views of the palace gardens. However, Josephs admitted the building is haunted, though he has yet to share specific ghost stories, promising to reveal them in a future video.
Commenters on the video expressed envy despite the supernatural claims. One wrote: 'I'm so envious! What a fantastic place to live. Please tell us more about the ghosts.' Another said: 'You're so lucky, looks cosy. And the history it must have must be amazing.'
