How to Build a Haunted House

The History of a Cultural Obsession

Caitlin Blackwell Baines

A cultural history of the phenomenon of the 'haunted house’ as seen through art, architecture, and ghost stories.

What makes a house haunted? Why do some buildings conjure up a reputation for being particularly creepy, while others leave us unmoved? Barring the possibility of a looming afterlife, what are the particular features, contexts, and histories that lend a building the dreaded identity of haunted house?

How to Build a Haunted House tours some of the world's most famously spine-chilling structures in search of answers. From Medieval Scotland to Enlightenment-era London; Victorian suburbs to pre-Civil War Louisiana, Blackwell Baines, an expert in Gothic art and architecture, will explore that specific set of ingredients that captures our imaginations and contributes to our collective understanding of the eternally eerie. After all, whether a staunch sceptic or paranormal enthusiast, we all know a haunted house when we see one.

Caitlin Blackwell Baines is an art historian specializing in Gothic art and architecture. Born in Toronto, she later emigrated to Britain to pursue an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art and a PhD from the University of York in art history. Upon completing her studies, she worked as a curator at Mount Stuart, a late Victorian Gothic Revival palace. When she isn’t visiting haunted houses and recording her ghost story-themed history podcast, Haunted Homes, Caitlin is based in East Sussex, England.

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Endorsements & Reviews

“From New Orleans to the silver screen, these houses are haunted by more than ghosts: Caitlin Blackwell Baines unpicks the spectral stitches of a gothic staple and reveals the political turbulence, commodification of tragedy and commercialization of fear in this ectoplasmic exploration of the humble haunted house. Every horror fan, coffin boffin and certified creep needs to read this book.” Alice Slater, author of the instant Sunday Times bestseller Death of a Bookseller

“Why are the British so fascinated by haunted houses? Baines suggests that collectively we cannot stand the idea of grand houses standing empty or only partially used, and we must, therefore, populate these empty houses with the inhabitants that we believe should rightly be there. As a nation, we still have an anxious attachment to the past ... The more things change, the more they could yet stay the same. Whether that is a comforting thought or a horrifying one is in the eye of the beholder.” Leon Craig, The Telegraph

“An interesting cultural exploration of some of the best-known houses where things are said to go bump in the night.” Edward Parnell, author of Ghostland

“An authoritative yet accessible examination of some of the most haunted houses in history. Rich in detail, it is wide-ranging and eclectic, and strikes the perfect balance between being both anecdotal and meticulously researched.” Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of Bound in Blood

“This has that exhilarating quality that you get from the very best non-fiction. Fascinating, intriguing and thought-provoking, beautifully and intelligently written, it's as absorbing and seductive as any fictional ghost story. An absolute must-read.” Bridget Collins, bestselling author of The Binding

“Entertaining ... we pick up all sorts of fascinating titbits on this supernatural safari. This is just the sort of book to read over Halloween, as the shadows lengthen and the candle flickers ... the author, an art historian, is less interested in whether ghosts are real than in how they and their dwellings gained such a grip on our imaginations.” The Daily Mail

“With irresistible flair, How to Build a Haunted House is chillingly clever, richly atmospheric, and a feast of gothic curiosity. Baines gives voice to houses that whisper.” Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb

“A fascinating study of some of the world's most famously haunted houses. From local legends and ghost stories to hugely popular money-making entertainments, Caitlin Blackwell Baines give us the facts, which seldom align with the legends, while communicating the mysterious appeal of haunted places. I finished reading with a strong desire to take up ghost-hunting myself.” Lisa Tuttle, author of My Death

“As someone who lived in one of these haunted houses, I found Caitlin Blackwell Baines' book a remarkable document of the truth. All houses are haunted, but she singles out notable sites of spectral activity and writes about them with a glorious matter-of-factualness.” Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan

"How To Build A Haunted House is an intriguing read that delves deep into the cultural obsession with the haunted house, and while Baines isn’t afraid to play devils advocate, she’s more than happy to scare the reader to death in the process. Perfect Halloween fodder." Buzz Magazine