Haunted Berkshire Facts & Myths.
Between 1800 and 1900, 3524 people were hanged in England and Wales; 1353 of them for murder. Executions were nearly always carried out in public. Up until The Prisons Act of 1868 it was made mandatory that all future executions were to be undertaken within the prison walls.
Some facts on Berkshire before 1800
Shefford Woodlands - Is a village in the county of Berkshire, near Great Shefford and Whickham. Shefford Woodlands is said to be where 'Wild Will Darell' was thrown from his Steed and killed after seeing a vision of a baby in flames. He had earlier that day killed a new born baby by throwing it into a roaring fire at his house, he had escaped hanging owing to family connections.
Mary Blandy 1720 -1752 - This nice lady murdered her own father by poisoning him with arsenic. She believed the arsenic was a medicine of love that would make her father approve of her relationship with William Cranstoun, a dashing army officer.
Mary was sentenced to death and was Hanged outside Oxford Castle Prison
George Broomham and Dorothy Newman - Were jointly executed together by the noose in Combe Gibbet in 1676 Berkshire. George and Dorothy were involved in a torrid love affair and were hanged for murdering George's wife Martha, also their son Robert. The Gibbet was only ever used once by them it was then left as a deterrent for others.
Herne the Hunter - Is the most famous ghost associated with Windsor Forest and the Great Park in Berkshire, His appearance is most noticeable by the deer antlers he has upon his head. Herne is believed to have been a huntsman and worked for King Richard II, The king's other huntsmen suspected and believed him a thief, thus framed him for the crime. This resulted in him losing all respect from the King. The following day he was found hanging dead from a lone oak tree. That same oak tree is in grounds of Home Park at Windsor Castle.
Hauntings
Ascot - Along the A329 & A332 some nights the badly scarred face of a phantom policeman can be seen wearing the uniform from the early 20th century, the ghost is s a mystery to why he haunts the area. There is also a well documented case of poltergeist activity in a house in Fern bank Road Ascot, which fortunately now has ceased.
South Ascot - A silent carriage drawn by two white horses has been seen in Woodlands Ride, it was driven by a man in a cravat and carried a well to do lady wearing crinoline. A small white dog ran along behind. The same area is haunted by a ghostly man.
Sunninghill - The Berystede Hotel is a deluxe Hotel, built on the site of a previous home of the Standish family. The old house was burnt down on 27th October 1886. The French maid, Eliza Kleininger, was killed in the blaze. Her ghost apparently still roams around the new building.
Bracknell - The Old Manor in Tudor times was a previous home to a catholic family, who hid many priests. The spirit of one of these cowled figures has been seen on occasions around the building and has been nicknamed ‘Old Fred’. Other spirits in the building are a portly figure known as Bert and a young girl.
Quelm Lane is said to be haunted by a phantom rider on a large black horse. Quelm Lane means ‘Hangman’s Lane’ and probably shows the ghost to be that of a criminal hanged on a local gibbet. The ‘Horse & Groom’ public house nearby is supposedly haunted by an old lady.
Clewer - The Swan Inn is reputedly haunted, perhaps by a publican who was a part time coroner’s assistant and mortician.
Easthampstead - Mill Pond is a well-known recreation place in Bracknell and in olden times was haunted by the ghost of a Beggar who drove a family away from their abode for not supplying him with food and shelter.
Littlewick Green - The apparition of Dorcas Noble. Her damned spirit is condemned to lead one of the spectral wild hunts around Windsor Forest: a headless young woman in grey apparel.
Reading - The Roebuck Hotel, on the A329 by the River Thames, is said to be haunted by an old admiral who particularly favours the guest-room named after him.
Windsor - The old Theatre Royal in Thames Street opposite the Castle was burnt down in 1908, when a girl named Charlotte died in the blaze. Her ghost still haunts the present theatre.
Sir Christopher Wren’s House has had the reputation as a haunted house for many decades, the servants of one owner Baroness Vaux, refused to stay in the building and local workers had to be sought instead.
The Old Institute House in Sheet Street is prone to sudden drops in temperature, and is supposed to be haunted by a group of phantoms dressed in long cloaks.
Ghostly footsteps upstairs are heard at ‘Elizabethan House’ in Peascod Street.
A ghostly figure wearing ‘of a Quaker with long flowing hair and a beard’ appears on occasions at the Engine House Restaurant in Church Lane.
Servants Quarters at Castle Hill House are said to be haunted.
The Castle has many ghosts, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, George III to name only three.
Winkfield - Nobbscrook Farm behind Drift Road is said to be haunted by a woman in a mob cap.
Wokingham – The King’s Head is said to be haunted by an 18th century gentleman in a full-powdered wig.
The A329 is haunted, at a point outside the ‘Three Frogs,’ by an old London Coach which disappeared in the area.
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