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Do you believe in ghosts? If so, then this blog post is for you. Somerset is said to be haunted by many different spirits, and there are haunted places all over the area. From haunted castles to haunted hotels and train stations, we will explore some of the most haunted places in Somerset!
King John’s Hunting Lodge, Axbridge
The haunted places in Somerset are haunted by a number of ghosts. One of these haunted places is King John’s Hunting Lodge and it’s haunted for multiple reasons. The haunted place is a former wool merchant’s house, built in around 1460. It has also served a multitude of purposes over the years with shops, workshops and even a pub using areas of the building.
In 1971, the lodge (a Grade II listed building), was bequeathed to National Trust, who undertook repairs to reverse the damage that had come with the building’s age. It is now a local museum, including exhibits relating to local geology and history from the latter parts of Stone Age, to the Second World War.
The haunted place is named to commemorate Axbridge’s link to royal hunting parties, but it is equally as famous for the ghostly sightings some have experienced. There are at least two haunted figures that have been spotted at the haunted place – one of which is a lady wearing a white Elizabethan dress and she doesn’t have an identity or probably not a member of the royal family.
The haunted figure number two is a tabby cat, has been sighted by the local residents and usually spotted in the doorway to the panelled room on the first floor of haunted place – many have seen it in its entirety but if you go looking for the haunted creature, chances are it will be hiding from you.
The Francis Hotel, Bath
The Francis Hotel is a hotel in Bath, England, famous for its luxurious venues and striking architecture. Guests at The Francis Hotel have reported seeing a ghostly figure resembling a former housekeeper who hanged herself. One guest even said that they heard eerie scratching and tapping noises and their hot water bottle was thrown from the table in their bedroom.
Assembly Rooms, Bath
The Assembly Rooms is said to have the ghost of Admiral Philip, governor of New South Wales, who often visited the area. Another ghost is a woman in white who terrified a guard by walking straight through him. His colleague resigned instantly when he saw a disembodied head watching him through a window – can’t blame him for that! The final ghost is an elegant Georgian era lady seen passing from the Ballroom to the Tea Room.
The Choughs Hotel, Chard
The Chough’s Hotel frequently appears on lists of the most haunted places in the UK with a wide range of paranormal stories.
One of the first-floor bedrooms has the ghost of a Victorian girl who died here in the 1840s after being forced into prostitution. A former landlady saw the ghost of a man in armour who she initially believed to be with a travelling circus – until he vanished completely as she asked to get past him!
A more sinister story is that of a guest woken by the sound of a woman whispering then laughing and then a man’s voice, sounding angry and telling her off for something. The sinister part was when the man awoke the next morning he had a red mark on his face as if he had been slapped.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury Tor
This landmark is so rich with history, including once being visited by the King of the Fairy Folk because he believed it was a door into the dead. Monk St Collen banished the King along with his army from the Tor and has been heard screaming and howling since.
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey is the home to a number of ghostly monks. Many visitors to the abbey have reported hearing low chanting, while others have witnessed fleeting glimpses of robed figures who quickly disappear. One visitor has even captured one of the monks on camera.
The George and Pilgrims’ Hotel
The George and Pilgrims’ Hotel was built in 1475 for people visiting the nearby Abbey and also a few of them stayed in ghostly form. A ghost monk is seen in the corridors, usually in the early hours of the morning. He makes the floorboards creak, just like a living person would do.
There’s also an elegant look lady who follows him. A medium who visited the pub said the two were lovers but they never consummated their love due to his vows and remain doomed to walk the halls, never meeting.
The Plough Inn, Holford
The Plough Inn was the honeymoon spot for Virginia Woolfe and her husband and she later returned here when her health took a downwards turn. However, she isn’t mentioned as one of the resident ghosts.
Instead, there’s a Spanish traveller from the 16th century who was murdered in his bed but his killers left empty-handed as he had no gold. His ghost is seen in the room where he died and after this was remodelled, he is heard on the stairs. Whether he is the same person as the dark cloaked figure also seen upstairs is unknown.
Dunster Castle, Minehead
Dunster Castle is an Anglo-Saxon era fortification with a castle has stood there for almost one thousand years. No surprise there are a few ghosts!
Phantom footsteps and a male voice are reported and there’s a grey lady said to be connected with the Luttrell family who owned the property before the National Trust bought it.
Skeletons have been found in the cell under the castle including one man who was seven feet tall. There’s an oppressive feel to the place and dogs will avoid it.
A man in green has been seen around the gift shop area and green ghosts lights also appear on the floor then vanish. It also has a strange feel and there’s often a weird brown liquid that appears in unopened boxes.
Other ghosts include a Civil War soldier, an elderly man sitting in the butler’s chair and a human foot that appeared before one volunteer.
Sandhill Park
The house was built in 1720 but is now deserted. During the time it was a children’s home, a hospital and a prison of war camp so no surprise it kept a few ghosts. Stories tend to be a little vague but there are whispers and unexplained noises, lights that switch on and off and doors that slam for no clear reason as well as cold spots.
Sedgemoor Battlefield
The Battle of Sedgemoor happened on July 6th 1685 and was the last in the Monmouth Rebellion. The government was victorious but Monmouth escaped before being later captured and executed in London.
There were some 1500 men who died at the scene and ghosts of them are commonly reported. Men on horses are seen as well as voices while some have seen Monmouth himself, fleeing the battle.
One very sad story is about a young girl who was looking for her lover. He had been executed during the battle aftermath. She drowned herself in the river and is seen walking the battlefield.
Shepton Mallet Prison
Probably one of the biggest reasons people visit Shepton Mallet Prison, aside from its history and famous inmates, is the fact that it is haunted. Ghost hunters from all over make regular visits to the prison, often staying the night to see if they can catch any ghostly activity on film.
Open from before 1625 to 2013, it ran as a house of correction and a state prison, where it housed criminals and later acted as a military prison, home to soldiers in the British and American forces. Many hundreds of people were executed on the grounds over many years, by hanging and sometimes even firing squad.
In terms of hauntings, there is a woman in white on the stairs as well as an American soldier seen in the kitchen and halls. A ghost often appears in photos and one staff member was even burned by an invisible cigarette during a tour. A number of visitors have also reported ghostly encounters.
Taunton Castle
Taunton Castle also houses the museum for the town and was originally built by the Anglo-Saxons before being rebuilt in 1138 as a castle. It served both sides during the Civil War and was partially destroyed and rebuilt by Judge Jeffreys, notable for his activities during the reign of King James II. He sentenced 144 supporters of the opposition to be hung drawn and quartered in the castle.
Jeffreys himself is seen in ghostly form in the castle, stomping around the grounds and frightening visitors. There is also a young woman and a lady in grey as well as poltergeist activity and cold spots.
Wookey Hole Caves and Mill
The caves here have said to be home to people for 45,000 years. It includes the Witch of Wookey Hole, a famous human-shaped stalagmite. She was said to have been turned to stone by a monk from Glastonbury but her spirit still haunts the caves.
Workers have also seen a young girl on the mill on the site as well as a somewhat aggressive male ghost who is fascinated with the Magical Mirror Maze attraction.
Yeovil Railway Station
Yeovil Railway Station is home to the ghost of Molly, a tea lady who worked the buffet carriage at the station in the 1960s. She often plays tricks such as swapping around cutlery and turning off electrical appliances. But if you ask her nicely, she’ll stop.
Corfe Castle, Yeovil
Corfe Castle sits on impressive cliffs but is mostly a ruin today. There’s a deep moot, walls and strange remains that are confusing to imagine as a whole castle. The original building was created by William the Conqueror but King John made it into a royal castle. It was refortified in the Civil War era by Lady Bankes but she was betrayed and enemy soldiers allowed in.
There are reports of strange flickering lights on the ramparts and a child crying is heard in the cottage that sits beside the castle. A headless white lady is seen in the castle, frightening everyone that sees her before slowly vanishing.