22

View
comments

Phantoms and ghouls aren’t just for Halloween if these real life spooky properties are anything to go by.

From ghosts of aggrieved murder victims, to inexplicable noises and strange flashing lights, these houses and castles have all had their fair share of paranormal activity. 

Brace yourself as FEMAIL takes you on a tour of Britain’s real haunted houses…

Arreton Manor on the Isle of Wight has a track record of paranormal activity including phantom monks, which have been sighted jumping out of the cupboards and a ghost of a girl who died at the manor in 1560

Arreton Manor, Isle of Wight

This historic stone manor house, which is set in 4.5 acres of formal gardens and grounds has a track record of paranormal activity.

According to folklore, the house is haunted and there have been several reports of ghostly sightings.

One previous owner, Count Slade de Pomeroy, who sold the property in 1987, reported often being woken to the sound of tapping on his bedroom door.

Whenever he opened the door there was nothing there, so he usually ignored the inexplicable noises.

But one day he told how he opened the door and was pushed back by invisible hands. At the same moment, his housekeeper reported seeing two monks enter the room and then disappear.

The manor was in the possession of monks for 400 years, until Henry VIII’s reign, when the dissolution of the monasteries meant the property was handed to the Crown.

It is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl named Annabelle Leigh, who was killed there in 1560 – and hasn’t been too happy about it ever since.

The manor is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl named Annabelle Leigh, who was killed there in 1560 – and hasn’t been that happy about it since

Her father Barnaby Leigh owned the property during the reign of Elizabeth 1st. But when poor Barnaby was on his death bed, his own son John smothered him with a pillow in an attempt to gain his inheritance.

Annabelle, John’s younger sister, found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is said John noticed her in the doorway as he committed his crime and decided to throw her to her death from the highest window in the manor.

According to folklore, there is an area in the room that is permanently cold and the ghost of little Annabelle is often seen and heard in the grounds. 

Reportedly cries of ‘Mamma, Mamma’ can also sometimes be heard.

For anyone who would like to hear it for themselves, the manor house is currently on the market for £2.1million.

It includes eight bedrooms and seven reception and two outbuildings – as well as a host of phantom visitors.

Rookyard Farm, Suffolk 

Building work at Rookyard Farm in Stowmarket, Suffolk, which is currently for sale, led to the spooky discovery of a mummified cat, a witch’s broom, a small skull and a pair of ancient shoes.

Building work at Rookyard Farm in Stowmarket, Suffolk, led to the spooky discovery of a mummified cat, a witch’s broom, a small skull and a pair of ancient shoes.

Around the 16th and 17th centuries, cats were believed to ward off witches and were therefore sometimes sealed into buildings – dead or alive.

Since their discovery ten years ago, the owners have kept the creepy remains in a cupboard in their bedroom for fear that disposing of them might reawaken evil spirits.

Owners Liza and Charles Mesquita have researched the significance of their discoveries and Charles explained: ‘The cat was mummified – you can see where the skin was.

‘The skull may have been older than the house and would have been seen as a powerful talisman.

‘The shoes would have warded off the evil eye. Shoes were a valuable piece of clothing and the evil eye would have thought that was where the person was.’ 

The home, which has two moats, inglenook fireplaces and beams, is listed in the Doomsday Book and is now on sale with Struttandparker.com for £1.1million 

The barn at Rookyard Farm, which is now on the market for £1.1million: Since their discovery ten years ago, the owners have kept the creepy remains in a cupboard in their bedroom

Furness Abbey, Lake District

Furness Abbey is a former monastery on the outskirts of Broughton-in-Furness in the Lake District national park with a spooky past.

The abbey, which dates back to 1123, is said to be visited by two phantoms who have a historical link with the property.

As a former monastery it’s no surprise one of the spirits to frequent the property is that of a monk.

Furness Abbey, is a former monastery on the outskirts of Broughton-in-Furness in the Lake District and is said to have a spooky past

He has reportedly been seen climbing a staircase and also walking towards the gatehouse before vanishing into a wall.

Another sighting is that of a squire’s daughter, who was known to meet her lover at the ruined abbey after the Reformation.

But the path of true love did not ruin smoothly for the couple and one day the young man went to sea and never returned.

For anyone who wants a taste of the ghostly action, a spooky-looking derelict cottage is currently for sale nearby. 

It’s in need of some modernisation and perhaps an exorcism, but is advertised for sale on Zoopla for £75,000.

In need of some modernisation and exorcism, Broom Handle Cottage, close to Furness Abbey, is advertised for sale on Zoopla for £75,000

Chillingham Castle, Northumberland

The aptly named, Chillingham Castle is sure to give you the heebie-jeebies. The medieval pile in the village of Chillingham in Northumberland is said to be the most haunted castle in Britain.

One of its previous owners, Lady Leonora Tankerville, who lived there in the 1920s, reported many a paranormal sighting and wrote down some of her experiences.

In one incident she said she was visited by the ghost of a young officer she knew at the moment of his death. 

She wrote: ‘It was after midnight and I stood at the dressing table brushing my hair, with most of my clothes lying on the sofa near at hand. 

‘Suddenly, I became acutely conscious of this young officer’s presence, and of being curiously scrutinised, and it was as if he were about to speak. 

The medieval pile, Chillnghma Castle, in the village of Chillingham, Northumberland is said to be the most haunted castle in Britain

‘Before listening or even looking, my first impulse was to seize my dressing-gown and throw it over me. 

‘Then, turning back, ready to hear what he had to say, he was suddenly gone. The room was empty and I stood alone.

‘I told my husband that our young friend must be dead, and we heard next day that he had died at that very hour.’

Since then there have been several other paranormal sightings. A frail figure in white is said to often appear in the pantry.

The pantry was where the silver used to be stored and a footman was employed to sleep in the room and guard it.

One night, when the footman had gone to sleep, he was accosted by a pale lady in white who begged him for water.

Close to the action of Chilligham Castle, the Game Keeper’s Cottage, is currently listed on Zoopla, with a guide price of £189,950

Thinking it was one of the castle guests he turned to help her but suddenly he remembered he was locked in and no visitor could have possibly entered.

This same pale figure is said to be seen haunting the castle to this today, and it is thought the longing for water suggests poisoning. 

There are also allegedly phantom noises in the chapel, which sits beside the Great Hall. The voices of two men are said to often be heard talking. 

The current owners say it is never possible to decipher what they’re saying as they stop talking when they realise they are being overheard.

But the most famous ghost of the castle is the ‘blue boy’, who haunts the castle’s Pink Room.

According to the owners, guests have heard loud wails and seen blue flashes and a blue halo of light above their beds.

It is also claimed that the hauntings ceased after renovation work revealed the remains of a young man and a young boy inside a 10-foot-thick wall.

If you fancy a slice of the action, a nearby two-bedroom property, the Game Keeper’s Cottage, is currently listed on Zoopla, with a guide price of £189,950.

Founded in 1091, Binham Priory was home to a Benedictine monastery for over 400 years – but according to locals some of the monks are still hovering around

Binham Priory, Norfolk

Founded in 1091, Binham Priory was home to a Benedictine monastery for over 400 years – but according to locals some of the monks are still hovering around.

Local legend talks of a spectre called ‘The Black Monk’ who allegedly haunted the grounds of Binham Priory.  

And current inhabitants of Binham have reportedly seen the black-hooded monk in the Parish Church, which was the nave of the Priory in olden times.

According to the local vicar, a ghost resembling a monk wearing a black cowl, has been spotted by locals walking along the ledge of the church and climbing up its spiral steps.

Founded in 1091 by a nephew of William the Conqueror, the monastery is said to have been steeped in scandal.

One of Binham’s Old Chapel’s has since been converted into a two-bedroom cottage and is now listed on Zoopla for £365,000.

One of Binham’s old chapel’s has since been converted into a two-bedroom cottage and is now listed on Zoopla for £365,000.

Share or comment on this article