Walford's Gibbet Ghost
Walford's Gibbet in Over Stowey is a spot where the air is thick with more than just the scent of the surrounding countryside. A pungent smell of rotting flesh lingers, attributed to the gruesome tale of John Walford, a local man who met a brutal end here. His crime was heinous - murdering his own wife. The gruesome punishment fitting the crime saw his body placed in a gibbet, a metal cage designed to display his corpse as a warning to others. But it seems his and his wife's restless spirits haven't moved on. The ghost of his wife is said to haunt Dead Woman's Ditch, where she met her untimely demise. In 2022, a ghosthunter claimed to have encountered her spirit, who rudely told them to 'f**k off'.
The story begins in the past, with John Walford's execution a stark reminder of the severe justice system of the time. His body, left to rot in the gibbet, was meant to serve as a deterrent. Yet, it's said that his spirit, along with that of his wife, still roams these parts. The haunting manifestation, characterised by a foul smell and aggressive spirit, suggests a lingering malevolence. While the exact date of the smell's appearance is unknown, the swearing incident in 2022 provides recent evidence of paranormal activity. This blend of history, tragedy, and unexplained occurrences makes Walford's Gibbet a fascinating, if unsettling, place to explore.
The gibbet was a form of punishment used in England from the 16th to the 19th centuries, where the bodies of executed criminals were left to rot in public as a deterrent.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Mysterious Feline Sighting
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Nether Stowey's rolling countryside is home to many a mysterious sighting, but few are as intriguing as the tale of the two kittens. In late August 2007, a group of builders on a nearby construction site caught sight of two large black cats lazing about in a field off South Lane. One curious soul decided to investigate further and was surprised to spot not just the two adult cats, but also a pair of much larger kittens. The sheer size of these kittens was remarkable, setting them apart from any ordinary domestic animals.
Fighting Soldiers of Dowsborough
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Singing Child and Fighting Soldiers
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Dowsborough, an ancient hillfort in Somerset, is home to a rather unusual and intriguing haunting. On autumn nights, the sounds of a young child singing have been reported, followed by the eerie sounds of soldiers crooning and chanting before engaging in battle. The atmosphere is said to be electric, with an air of anticipation and tension. It's as if the site is reliving a long-forgotten conflict, with the child's song adding a haunting and surreal quality to the experience.
Long Wyrm of Shervage Wood
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