Legend of Bayard's Leap
In the quaint village of Cranwell, Lincolnshire, lies the historic landmark known as Byard's Leap or Bayard's Leap. This legendary site tells the tale of a knight's horse named Bayard, who, back in the day, was traversing the village with its master when they were suddenly attacked by a witch. The startled horse, in a remarkable display of strength and agility, cleared a distance of sixty metres in just three leaps. During one of these incredible jumps, the witch lost her grip and tumbled off, meeting a tragic end in a nearby pond.
Historical records of this event are scarce, but the legend has endured, with the site now marked by two groups of horseshoes. The story of Bayard's Leap has become an integral part of local folklore, symbolising the extraordinary bond between a knight and his steed. While there's no concrete evidence to pinpoint the exact date of this incident, the enduring nature of the legend suggests that it has been a topic of fascination for the local community for centuries. The area, now a popular spot for those interested in the paranormal and local history, continues to draw visitors from far and wide.
Medieval period, local folklore
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Freddy's Phantom Photograph
Runway of post, Cranwell
Cranwell Airfield in Lincolnshire is home to a rather unusual ghost story. In 1919 a group photograph was taken on the runway of what was then a Royal Air Force base. The photograph shows a group of people but one face stands out - that of an engineer who had died just three days earlier in a tragic accident. Freddy Jackson, the engineer, had tripped and fallen into the blades of an aircraft that was ready for take-off. His face appears in the photograph, which has been widely reported and remains a fascinating example of a paranormal manifestation.
The Vanishing Young Man
Cornhill Vaults Public House, Lincoln
Down in the heart of Lincoln, there's a pub that's got more than its fair share of character. The Cornhill Vaults Public House has been serving up pints and plates for years, but it's not just the ale and atmosphere that draw people in. Staff have reported all sorts of strange goings-on, and one of the most puzzling involves a young man in a collarless shirt. He just walked up to the bar, and then vanished into thin air. It sounds like something out of a magic show, but the staff member who saw him was left feeling more than a bit bewildered.
The Pitted Face Phantom
A15, Ruskington
On the A15 near Ruskington in Lincolnshire, a driver had a terrifying encounter in February 1998. He was driving along when suddenly a ghostly figure with an olive skin tone and a pitted face appeared. The driver tried to shake the entity off by speeding up, but it held on to the bonnet of his car. The ghostly figure disappeared a short distance down the road, leaving the driver shaken. This incident was widely reported in the media, and it wasn't long before many others came forward with similar experiences of encountering the same figure, some dating back over twenty years.
White Horses of Sleaford Road
Sleaford Road, Ruskington
Sleaford Road in Ruskington has a rather unusual reputation for being a spot where a pair of white horses occasionally appear. These ghostly equines have been seen by numerous people, although the exact date and time of these sightings are unknown. The road, which is a rural route connecting the villages of Ruskington and Sleaford, has been a thoroughfare for locals and travellers for centuries. It's not hard to imagine that the sight of these ethereal horses would be a startling experience, especially if you're driving or walking alone at dusk or night.
Phantom RAF Cyclist
RAF Digby, Digby
RAF Digby is home to a rather unusual ghostly encounter. A phantom RAF officer on an old bike has been seen cycling around the base. On one occasion, he stopped and asked two guards to open the control tower for him. When they agreed, he vanished into thin air. This strange event has left many wondering about the story behind this ghostly cyclist.
Shadow Man of Scopwick
Road parallel to RAF Digby, Scopwick
Scopwick is a small village in Lincolnshire, not far from the bustling RAF Digby airbase. It's here, on a road parallel to the base, that two men travelling back to Waddington reported a bizarre sighting on 29 January 2007 at 17:25h. They spotted a figure wearing a long cloak or tailcoat disappearing into a hedge row towards the airbase. One of the witnesses described the figure as transparent or shadowlike, and unusually, it didn't appear to have any legs. This strange apparition has left many questions unanswered, and its connection to the nearby airbase, if any, remains a mystery.