I’ve got stacks of books containing various snippets of information about Wiltshire ghosts and folklore. One of the main reasons for this blog is to share these stories with you all but some of the information is so limited, they really are short, short stories! Sometimes it might be something as intriguingly precise as a sentence or two, rarely giving me enough information on which to build a blog. Other times I manage to eke out a paragraph and find a matching image.
I tend to share these little stories on Bluesky (sorry folks, I’m not on any other social media) but that means many of you probably miss out. So, simply because I don’t want you to feel like I am neglecting you, here are a few of these little tales for you today.
Quirky ghosts are all over the place in Wiltshire – have a little look above.
Giant’s Grave, Pewsey
Want to get fit AND see a giant? Run around the Giant’s Grave Long Barrow on Milton Hill seven times and it is said the giant will appear. At 90m long and 20m wide, you will definitely get a cardio hit and if the giant does rise I guarantee you’ll be running again, this time in fright, straight down the hill and beyond.
Devizes Market Square
Here’s some life advice: Be careful with your confessions! In 1753, Ruth Pierce of Potterne, swore to the Almighty that she hadn’t duped her friends when they all purchased a sack of wheat together. She was accused of not paying her fair share. As she protested her innocence, using the name of God, she was suddenly struck down dead; in shock the townspeople checked her for signs of life and found the withheld money in her hand.
To warn the good folks of Devizes not to be dishonest in the eyes of God, a metal plaque stands to this day in the Market Square, telling Ruth’s story. A moral for old and modern times – don’t rip off your friends.
The Ghostly Pig
On a track between Bishops Cannings and the village of Horton is a track known as Pig Lane. In the 1800’s locals would not venture down it at night for fear of encountering a large black ghost pig. A barrel is said to roll across the lane before the appearance of the spooky sow!
RAF Rudloe Manor, Corsham
Two ghosts are said to haunt this old manor, built in 1685. One is thought to be a German prisoner of war who was kept there during WW2. His spectre is so scary that those witnessing him have needed medical attention!
The other is a young girl dressed in white, perhaps a maid. But that’s not all the manor is known for! Rumours circulate that it was once at the centre of Britain’s very own top secret UFO studies with alien craft hidden in the nearby underground tunnels of Corsham. No surprise the centre of UFO studies was (or is) in Wiltshire really.
Flower Farm, Bratton
There was once a building called Flower Farm which dated back to the 1490s. An evil presence, an old woman in dark clothes, haunted the upstairs of the house and resented visitors coming to the building.
In 1967 Flower Farm was pulled down and another house was built on the site but the nasty ghost lady was said to still be there. Five of the builders of the new house had nasty accidents, one nearly being crushed to death. They knew nothing of the history of the location but declared they felt ‘a jinx on the house.’
The Bear Hotel, Chippenham
A grey lady haunts this old hotel. She has been seen drawing curtains in an empty room and may be responsible for other strange activity. The cellar door opened to one member of staff revealing a grey figure. You’ve also got spooky footsteps and noises from unoccupied rooms. There was a stool in the bar that patrons refused to sit on. Bad vibes apparently!
The Church of the Holy Cross, Ramsbury
Go to the north door of this church at midnight and count the 100 nails. But beware, the ghost of Wild Will Darrell will appear and open the door. Let me tell you, you don’t want to meet him (and we’ll be covering his wicked ways in another future blog)!
There are many ghostly locations associated with this horrid aristocratic man, who was accused of killing his baby by throwing them in the fire. It’s not clear what his connection is to this church but just don’t count any nails if you visit.
The Odeon, Salisbury
A haunted cinema you say? Why yes! ‘Geoffrey’ haunts Screen Two in the Salisbury Odeon. It was originally an old merchants house dated 1470. Staff see Geoffrey’s shadow sitting in rows C and D and always say ‘hello’ when they enter.
He moves the mop and bucket around when the screen is empty and locked and it sounds like he enjoys sitting in on a film or two. I really want to know if Geoffrey likes popcorn while he watches his film. You can go on a tour of this fantastic old building and hear all about Geoffrey’s antics!
Devil’s Den, Clatford Bottom
These large stones are all that’s left of a megalithic burial chamber, said to be built on a powerful geo-spiral (an earth energy). Come midnight along comes the Devil with four oxen to remove the 17-tonne capstone. Why? No one knows. Should you pour water in the hollows on top of the stone, whoever lays within will come out at night to drink the water.
Meanwhile a large white dog with piercing eyes protects whoever was buried within and baying dogs are heard in the area at night. And there’s also a white rabbit who sits atop the capstone.
Scottie of Tidworth
During World War One soldiers stationed in Tidworth reported a tall man in a kilt standing on the horizon on the opposite side of the road to their barracks. They named him Scottie.
No Scottish soldiers were known to have been stationed there but in 1836 a Roman villa was discovered on the spot. Could the kilt have been Roman tunic and did the excavation disturb this spirit? Another, or is it the same, Roman soldier is also seen near the site, marching around on patrol?
Lydiard Millicent Rectory
Lady Blunt haunts the gardens of the rectory where she lived with her husband, Sir Ferdinando, and she appears sitting under her favourite tree. She was once engaged to the village curate but he was murdered at the rectory.
It is on the anniversary of his murder that you will see Lady Blunt and hear her bloodcurdling screams.
That day is 30th October so if you want the chance to see an anniversary ghost you’ll need to sneak in and lurk around the rectory gardens at Lydiard Millicent. If you hear a scream, and it’s not the owner shrieking at you for trespassing, perhaps you have heard Lady Blunt.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog of quirky ghosts! I’ll be back soon with more in-depth tales and guest blogger, David Morgan will be back to share his blog on the Hindon Madhouse.
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Don’t forget; I’m always on the lookout for spooky and weird stories from Wiltshire and beyond. If you have a tale you would like to share I’d love to hear from you. Contact me here.
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