Faringdon Family Phantom
Oriel Cottage in Faringdon, Berkshire, is home to a most unsettling presence. In 1964, a group of around twenty people gathered for a vigil at the cottage, and it was then that the entity made itself visible to the witnesses. The event was significant enough to warrant an exorcism, as the family matriarch was understandably concerned about having a breakdown due to the intense experience. This remarkable event has become a part of local lore, drawing interest from those fascinated by the paranormal.
The haunting at Oriel Cottage is a well-documented case from the 1960s. Historical records indicate that the family living at the cottage were deeply affected by the entity's presence, prompting the exorcism. While details about the entity itself are scarce, the fact that multiple witnesses observed it lends credibility to the account. The event remains one of the more intriguing cases of paranormal activity in Berkshire, with the specifics of the entity's nature and motivations still a topic of speculation among researchers.
The haunting occurred in 1964, a time of growing interest in paranormal phenomena in the UK.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Faringdon Poltergeist Haunting
Unnamed cottage, Faringdon
In the quaint town of Faringdon, Berkshire, a most unsettling poltergeist haunting took place at a small, unnamed cottage in 1963. The family who lived there was driven to distraction by persistent tapping and howling sounds that seemed to follow them wherever they went. It got to the point where they had to leave their home, but the strange occurrences didnt stop there. The family eventually moved back to the cottage and, desperate for a solution, they asked the local vicar to perform an exorcism. This drastic measure seemed to do the trick, as the sounds finally ceased after the rite was carried out.
Footsteps at Wooden Hill
Wooden Hill House, Earley
Wooden Hill House in Earley, Berkshire, is said to be home to a rather unusual ghostly presence. This former grammar school, which was attended by a local journalist, has been the site of unexplained footsteps heard on the staircase. The journalist, who wrote about his experiences in the Bracknell Times, couldn't help but wonder if the sound of footsteps was due to an overactive imagination or something more sinister. Whatever the reason, the creaking of stairs has become a familiar sound to those who have walked these halls.
Wild Darrell's Twisted Ghost
Road passing Shefford Forest, Great Shefford
In the sleepy town of Great Shefford, Berkshire, a chilling apparition is said to roam the road that passes through Shefford Forest. The phantom of Wild Darrell, a figure with a gruesome and unnatural presence, is rumoured to haunt this stretch of road. His ghostly form is characterised by a grotesquely twisted neck, a sight that is sure to send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned paranormal enthusiasts. Locals and travellers alike have reported encountering this eerie apparition, which is said to be doomed to roam these woods for eternity.
Shadow Creature of Bagley Wood
General area, Bagley Wood
Bagley Wood has a reputation for being a place of eerie encounters. It's here that a couple, walking through the woods after dusk, found themselves being chased by a large, shadowy, quadruped creature that stood just over a metre tall. One of the witnesses described its movement as unlike that of a deer or a dog, adding to the mystique of this already unsettling experience. The woods, it seems, have a history of paranormal activity, with tales of a phantom highwayman said to roam the area.
Lady on White Stallion Haunting
A338, Hungerford
Hungerford's A338 road has a rather eerie reputation thanks to a series of unexplained sightings. Locals and travellers alike have reported seeing a female rider on a white stallion galloping across the road, only to vanish into thin air once she reaches the other side. This ghostly apparition has been a topic of conversation since 1957 when the first sightings were documented. The area seems to be a hotspot for paranormal activity, with reports of a spectral coach being pulled at breakneck speed by four horses and a hooded man riding a bicycle also surfacing.
Aldermaston's Haunted Hinds Head Pub Ghost
Hinds Head, Aldermaston
The Hinds Head Pub in Aldermaston, Berkshire, has a ghostly presence that's been felt for centuries. According to local legend, a man who was locked up on the premises to sober up met a tragic end when he accidentally burnt to death. This unfortunate soul is said to haunt the grounds of this historic inn.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Oriel Cottage

Warner Hotels - Littlecote House
Near Hungerford, Wiltshire (on Berkshire-Wiltshire border)
The Hind's Head
Aldermaston, Berkshire

Best Western The George Hotel
Pangbourne, Berkshire