Paranormal Kennet

Kennet is a land steeped in mystery, myth and Legend and no stranger to visitations from the paranormal.  Below are a selection of sightings and legends from local residents.

Avebury

The Red Lion, set inside the ancient stone circle in Avebury is reputed to be one of the most haunted Pubs in the south west.

The story goes that during the Civil War of the 17th century, a woman called Florrie and her soldier husband lived at the inn. The husband was called away to the war and Florrie, left behind, subsequently took a lover.

One night her husband returned unexpectedly from the battle and discovered his wife's infidelity.

In a fit of rage he shot dead his rival and slit his wife's throat. He then threw her body down the Inn's well and sealed it with a huge boulder.

"I've seen shadows and things have gone missing", said bar manager Richard Bounds. "Some guests at the Inn have refused to stay a night longer."

Customers have seen Florrie, dressed in black in the ladies toilets, and a previous pub landlady said the ghost of Florrie hurled salt and pepper over tables and chairs.

Ghostly horse-drawn carriages have been seen pulling up outside the pub, which dates back to the 16th century

Devizes

The Black Swan hotel in the Market Place dates back to the 16th century and has an interesting past.

There is a story of a highwayman who was reputed to keep his horse stabled in one of the underground tunnels leading from the cellar, along with a change of clothing.
It is reported that a figure of a man on horse back has been seen with a lady wearing a long dress and white cap.

Many guests who have stayed in room 4 have reported the apparition of a young woman who sits in a chair and looks out of the widow towards the market place. She is described as an attractive female figure with long blonde hair and dressed in a flowing white gown which drapes to the floor. It has been reported that the young woman sits in the chair for a short time and before rising to her feet and gliding across the room passing the bed before disappearing into the wall! She has yet to be identified, although it has been suggested, through a psychometric reading that she may be a young lady who died in childbirth in the room.

The Bear Hotel, also in the Market Place dates back to 1599 and was once linked to Devizes Castle.

The Bear is said to be haunted by the Grey Lady - a female, hooded figure dressed in grey. She makes her presence known at what is now the hotel's reception area. When she was first seen the hotel was two separate buildings divided by private apartments. At that time a lady draped in grey was seen passing through the corridor of these apartments before disappearing through the wall. The grey lady has yet to be identified.

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum on Long Street, Devizes has also seen it's fair share of paranormal activity.

Maud Cunnington, a Wiltshire archaeologist would have written many of her learned papers from her desk, which can now be found in the Wiltshire Heritage Museum. A ghost said to be Maud has been seen where her desk now sits in the Devizes museum.

Maud was part of a dynasty of Cunningtons who carried out important excavations at Woodhenge, All Cannings Cross, Avebury and many other prehistoric sites in Wiltshire.

Savernake

Amongst the many stories associated with Savernake, many concern ghostly apparitions, often seen at dusk darting in and out of the shadows.

One tale talks of a headless woman who rides a white horse along one of the avenues of trees.

According to Peter Underwood,a local ghost hunter: "She is said to be the ghost of a girl who was decapitated when her horse bolted through the trees that then grew everywhere, during a long ago royal hunting party.

"Those who live within Savernake, in places like Cadley or Great Bedwyn, talk of ghostly goings-on, with tales of eerie sounds coming from deep within the blackness of the forest as well as suggestions of witches covens and other 'dark' practices.