Watchet Church Zombie Uprising
St Decuman's Church in Watchet, Somerset, is said to be haunted by a most unsettling phenomenon. A schoolmaster walking past the church was approached by robbers who forced him to take them to the grave of a wealthy woman who had recently died. The schoolmaster was made to open the crypt and remove the gold rings from the corpse's fingers. But it was what happened next that has become the stuff of local legend. Halfway through this ghastly task, the dead woman sat up and cried for her brothers and sisters to help her - and nearby coffins opened and the dead sat up.
This bizarre incident is said to have taken place in the 19th century, although the exact date is unknown. The story goes that the robbers and schoolmaster escaped, but the schoolmaster died soon after sharing his story, possibly due to the shock of what he had witnessed. The incident has been documented as a case of 'waking the dead', and it remains one of the most bizarre and unexplained hauntings in English folklore. The church itself has a long history dating back to the 13th century, and it's possible that the disturbance of the corpse and the subsequent uprising of the dead was a traumatic event that imprinted itself on the location's psychic landscape.
13th-century church in rural Somerset
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Nearby Haunted Places
Hunting Pack Ghost Dogs
Cleeve Hill, Watchet
Cleeve Hill in Watchet, Somerset, is said to be stalked by a pack of ghostly dogs known as the Yeth hounds or Shuck. These supernatural canines are reportedly seen roaming the hillside after dark. The Yeth hound is a creature from English folklore, often described as a large, black dog with glowing eyes. It's said to roam the countryside, searching for victims to devour. While there's no record of anyone being harmed by these ghostly hounds, their appearance is often considered an omen of doom.
Ghostly Railway Crash Sounds
Site of former railway, Kentsford
Kentsford in Somerset is home to a haunted site where the sound of a tragic railway crash can still be heard today. It's said that on certain nights, the screams of the wounded and the screech of steam engines fill the air, reliving a horrific accident that took place back in 1857. Two steam engines collided at this very spot, claiming several lives and leaving many more seriously injured. Locals have reported hearing the sounds of the crash repeated at night, some even claiming to have seen the ghostly engine pass by.
Florence Wyndham's Haunted Return
Kentsford Manor, Watchet
Kentsford Manor in Watchet, Somerset, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Florence Wyndham, a woman who was mistakenly declared dead in the 19th century. Her remarkable tale of near-death experience and subsequent haunting has been passed down through the years. Apparently, Florence was placed in a coffin and left in the local church overnight, only to awaken when the sexton attempted to cut off her fingers to steal her rings. The sexton, understandably, died of shock. Florence then made her way back home, a journey she is said to still take in spirit form, tapping on the windows and door of Kentsford Manor upon her arrival.
Giant's Thrown Stone Legend
Battlegore tumulus, Williton
Battlegore tumulus in Williton, Somerset, is said to be the final resting place of a stone thrown by a giant from West Quantoxhead. The story goes that this giant, known as Old Nick, was competing with the Devil himself to see who could hurl a rock the farthest. Unfortunately for Old Nick, his rock fell short, and he was banished from the area. The tumulus, a type of ancient burial mound, has been linked to this legendary tale for centuries, and its rugged landscape still whispers secrets of a bygone era.
Dozens of Ghosts Haunt
Barton House, Washford
Barton House in Washford, Somerset, is a place where the living are outnumbered by the dead, or so its owners claim. They say that literally dozens of ghosts haunt their building, making it one of the most crowded spiritual hotspots in the country. While it's unclear whether these ghostly residents are metaphorical or metaphysical, one thing is certain - something strange is going on at Barton House.
Ghostly Procession of Bardon House
Bardon House, Old Cleeve
Bardon House in Old Cleeve, Somerset, is home to a multitude of ghostly residents, one of whom is Robert Leigh. He's often seen walking the grounds, carrying an unknown person's head under one arm. The atmosphere inside the house is just as unsettling, with reports of a woman in white, rustling silk, gliding along the corridors. The melancholy sounds of a harpsichord can be heard drifting through the halls, adding to the eerie ambiance. Outside, a black dog has been spotted lurking, watching and waiting.