Tanfield's Fiery Coach Haunting
In the sleepy Oxfordshire town of Burford, a spine-tingling legend has been doing the rounds for centuries. They say that the malevolent spirits of Sir Laurence Tanfield and his wife, the Lady Tanfield, roam the local roads in a blazing coach, striking fear into the hearts of anyone who dares to catch a glimpse. According to local lore, simply observing the coach is enough to bring bad luck or even death - not exactly the kind of thing you'd want to stumble upon on a dark and stormy night.
Historical records suggest that the Tanfields were a rather unsavory pair, and their fate was sealed in a rather gruesome manner. One story claims that Lady Tanfield was imprisoned in a bottle and cast into the River Windrush, while another variant suggests that both Tanfields are trapped beneath the bottom stone of the bridge that spans the river. Whatever the truth may be, their restless spirits are said to be doomed to roam the roads, forever trapped in their fiery coach. The exact date of these events is lost to history, but one thing is certain - the people of Burford have been whispering about the Tanfields' ghostly antics for generations.
The Tanfields were a prominent family in 16th-century Oxfordshire, with Sir Laurence serving as a Member of Parliament.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Monk in Brown Apparition
Burford Priory & Old Rectory, Burford
Burford Priory & Old Rectory is a place where the past lingers, and the veil between worlds seems thin. Every morning at 02:00, the sound of an unearthly bell echoes through the grounds, a chilling portent of the paranormal activity that unfolds. A phantom monk, clad in brown, is said to roam these historic halls, accompanied by the ghost of a gamekeeper who patrols the area with his rifle. It's a haunting that has left many a visitor with a lasting impression of the supernatural forces at work here.
The Wandering Monk of Fifield
Footpath leading to Shipton Under Wychwood, Fifield
On a quiet footpath leading to Shipton Under Wychwood in Fifield, Oxfordshire, a lone figure is said to roam. This is the haunting of a monk, a refugee from a vanished local monastery who has yet to find his way home. The exact date and time of the haunting are unknown, but the legend of the wandering monk has persisted. Some say he's a benign presence, simply trying to find his way back to a place he once called home.
The Haunted Wardrobe of Carterton
Carterton Manor, Carterton
Carterton Manor in Oxfordshire was once home to a rather unusual and terrifying haunting. It started in 1937 when the doors of a large wardrobe began opening and closing on their own, even breaking string that had been tied around them to keep them shut. The wardrobe had been purchased by Mrs Barclay three years earlier, but it wasn't until the start of 1937 that the strange occurrences began. Shortly after, a phantom man started appearing around the house - an old, bent-over figure wearing a deerstalker hat.
The Grey Lady Haunting
Mill and Old Swan Public House, Minster Lovell
The Mill and Old Swan Public House in Minster Lovell is home to a rather restless spirit known as the Grey Lady. This former landlady seems to have a hard time leaving her old stomping ground and has been spotted wandering the premises. But she's not the only ghostly presence here. Staff have reported all sorts of strange occurrences, from a knife flying across the restaurant to footsteps and bangs coming from a locked room. And then there's the mysterious man who stood by the bar after closing time, only to vanish into thin air.
Phantom Horse-Drawn Coach
Road to Kingstanding, Leafield
On a rural stretch of road in Leafield, Oxfordshire, a spine-tingling encounter took place. Two women, walking home to Kingstanding, were startled by the sound of a rapidly approaching horse-drawn coach. To let the vehicle pass, they climbed up a bank, but what happened next was nothing short of astonishing. The coach, seemingly too wide for the road, hurtled past them at speed, veered off the road, and plummeted into a ditch. In an instant, the coach vanished into thin air, leaving the witnesses in a state of utter bewilderment.
The Black Cloud of Burford
Road between Burford and Minster Lovell, Burford
On the winding road between Burford and Minster Lovell in Oxfordshire, a sense of unease settles over drivers and pedestrians alike. It's here that a mysterious black cloud has been spotted moving against the wind, its presence striking fear into the hearts of those who witness it. The cloud seems to appear out of nowhere, and those who have seen it report an extreme state of terror that lingers long after it's vanished.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Roads in the area
