the national trust states that newton house is "thought to be one of the most haunted houses in britain", and "wales online" cites it as one of the most notable ghostly houses of wales. over the years, many ghost sightings or paranormal activity have been allegedly witnessed at the house. the servants' basement is one of the purported centres of activity, with numerous sightings, particularly of a ghost known as walter the butler who worked at the house. people have reported smelling his tobacco smoke in the room, muffled voices and lights eerily turning on and off on their own accord. visitors have reported feeling as if they are being choked when walking up and down the cantilever staircase; this is believed to be related to the strangling of lady elinor cavendish, the cousin of the lady of newton house in the 1720s, by a lover whom she had rejected. the alleged hauntings at the property began to be investigated by television journalists in the 1980s, and on one occasion crewmen mysteriously fell ill one after the other while shooting there. during one investigation, the spectre of a young, beautiful girl was said to have glided across the room and disappeared through the cupboard door. the house was later the subject of an investigation in the 11th and 15th series of the "most haunted" programme.