Haunted Essex

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On the evening of a full moon, the ghost of Hopkins in said to haunt Manningtree and particularly Mistley Pond where he infamously drowned many people for witchcraft. People have even witnessed bizarre and violent occurrences like beds shaking and the opening and slamming shut of trap doors. To this day, owners, staff and guests have all felt the presence of a spirit in the pub, while occupiers of neighbouring cottages have also reported paranormal activity.

It supposedly takes its name from Princess Osyth who beheaded by Vikings after she refused to renounce her faith. It is believed the grounds are haunted by a spectral nun who was executed for falling in love with a monk. Given the manner of her death, we doubt anyone would blame Sarah for becoming a vengeful spirit, but the truth is, she is actually quite mischievous and fun! As a result the building suffers from phantom footsteps on the staircase and numerous other bangs and crashes.One of the many Colchester ghosts which have startled residents of the town for years is one that is linked to St Botolph’s Priory. Founded in 1100, the ruins of St Botolph’s Priory sit within a cemetery so it’s no surprise that it’s said to be one of the most haunted places to visit in Essex. The stories about the Castle are about a ghost named James Parnell, who was a Quaker that was arrested and killed violently in April 1656. Curious about the incident, Sue shared her experience with some colleagues and one of our housekeepers said “oh yeah, I know her! One of the more famous Basildon ghost stories is that of the red monk of the Holy Cross Church, on Church Road.

The legend goes, that after she was beheaded, Osyth rose from the ground, retrieved her head from the floor and walked to the nearby monastery where she knocked on the door three times before collapsing. The poltergeist has been known to turn water taps on and off, unlock doors, hide household items and antagonise animals.The monk was seen floating across Church Road before heading for the churchyard and simply disappearing from view. Whether you believe in the ghosts or not, it’s fun alternative to the traditional trick or treating which has fallen out of vogue in recent years. However, in 1993 a young local girl was playing in the ruins with her friends when she suddenly spotted a dark figure standing next to one of the tombs watching her and her friends! A headless soldier haunts this fort; his neck apparently became trapped in a rope that was being used to hoist a gun.

A couple of witnesses have seen a grey apparition in the boiler room and there also seems to be a naughty poltergeist in the kitchen who likes to move kitchen utensils around often hiding them only to make them reappear in strange spots a little later! A small man, whose strange sideways walk earned him the nickname "Spider," he had the peculiar habit, when drunk, of crawling up the tap- room chimney and emerging, soot covered, from the fireplace of the next bar. K. The village has been long associated with historic witches and witchcraft; as well as the occult and paranormal phenomena, which includes ghosts and much other unexplained activity.

Many photographs taken of the church exterior have been found to include ghostly forms gliding amongst the sunken graves or along the uneven paths of what is still one of England's eeriest and marrow - chilling places.