Skip to main content

Headless Horse of Welwyn

White Horse Lane, Welwyn, Hertfordshire Apparition English Civil War

White Horse Lane in Welwyn is said to be haunted by the ghost of a headless horse. This eerie apparition is believed to have originated from the English Civil War, a time of great turmoil and bloodshed. Locals claim that on certain nights, the sound of hooves can be heard pounding the pavement, followed by the fleeting glimpse of a horse's body, minus its head. It's a chilling sight that has left many a passerby shaken.

The English Civil War, fought between 1642 and 1651, was a period of intense conflict that saw many battles take place on English soil. Hertfordshire, where Welwyn is located, was a key location for several skirmishes. It's likely that the headless horse is a casualty from one of these battles. While there's no concrete evidence to support the claim, the persistence of this ghost story suggests that something unusual has been observed on White Horse Lane over the years.

Historical Context

English Civil War battles took place in Hertfordshire

Location

Location Details

Location Type
Road
Activity Types
Visual Audio
Witness Credibility
Multiple Witnesses
Threat Level
Harmless
Accessibility
Public Access
Date / Era
Unknown
Postcode Area
AL6

Nearby Haunted Places

Apparition 0.4 mi

Phantom Cart of Datchworth

Rectory Lane, Datchworth

Rectory Lane in Datchworth is home to a rather bizarre and unexplained phenomenon - a phantom horse-drawn cart seemingly propels itself down the lane, with a pair of human legs dangling from the rear. There's no sign of a horse or any living creature attached to the cart, which has left many to wonder about the origins and meaning behind this strange apparition. While there's no record of the exact date or time of this haunting, it's clear that it's a sighting that's been etched in the memories of those who've witnessed it.

Road Unknown
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.7 mi

The Jester's Fiery Revenge

The Tilbury, Datchworth

The Tilbury in Datchworth is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of a jester who met a grisly end. According to local legend, this poor soul failed to crack a smile from one particularly tough crowd and was subsequently tied to a whipping post - which still stands today - and beaten to death. His anguished cries are said to still echo through the inn's corridors and rooms, a chilling reminder of the brutal fate that befell him.

Historic Inn Medieval
Read Full Story
Apparition 0.8 mi

The Headless Lady of Datchworth

Hawkins Hall Lane, Datchworth

Hawkins Hall Lane in Datchworth is home to a rather unsettling sighting - a petite elderly woman dressed in black, walking down the road without a head. This ghostly apparition has been spotted by numerous people, and her presence is as intriguing as it is eerie. The fact that she can be seen quite easily, despite her head being missing, adds to the mystique of this haunting.

Road Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 1.1 mi

The Weaver's Ghost

St Martins Church, Guildtown

St Martins Church in Guildtown has a spooky reputation that's been making waves in local media. This Lowlands church has been sold, but its new owners might not be the only ones with a claim to the property. Rumour has it that the ghost of a minister's wife, who was also a talented weaver, still roams the premises. Her presence is said to be a gentle one, but it has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike.

Church Unknown
Read Full Story
Apparition 1.2 mi

White Horse Ghosts of Burnham Green

General area, Burnham Green

In the sleepy Hertfordshire village of Burnham Green, a strange and ancient phenomenon has been observed for centuries. Residents and visitors alike have reported seeing ghostly white horses galloping through the neighbourhood at night, their ethereal forms seemingly connected to a long-forgotten battle fought over a thousand years ago. The exact date and circumstances of this battle are shrouded in mystery, but its legacy lives on in the form of these spectral equines.

General Area Pre-Victorian
Read Full Story
Apparition 2.1 mi

The Girl in Red Apparition

Non pedestrianised bank between the two Welwyn tunnels, Welwyn

Between the two Welwyn tunnels, a stretch of non-pedestrianised bank has borne witness to a rather eerie sighting. A train guard, gazing out the window of a slow-moving train in the mid-2000s, caught a glimpse of a young girl clad in an old-fashioned red dress. He looked away for just a second, but when his eyes returned to the spot, she had vanished into thin air. This wasn't an isolated incident, either - it transpired that a driver had seen the same figure several years prior, in the late 1990s.

Railway Victorian
Read Full Story

Stay Nearby

Haunted hotels and accommodation near White Horse Lane