Phantom Cyclist of Ermine Street
Ermine Street in Swindon, Wiltshire, is home to a rather intriguing ghost story. A female cyclist, caught in a storm, sought refuge in a quaint thatched cottage along this road back in the 1930s. She warmed herself by an open fire, enjoying the company of an old grey-haired man. It was only later that she discovered the cottage had been abandoned and overgrown since the previous century. The encounter left her with a lasting impression, and it's an experience that has been etched in local folklore ever since.
The story of the phantom cyclist takes us back to a time when Ermine Street was a more rural and isolated route. The thatched cottage, where the cyclist took shelter, had clearly been standing vacant for many years, its thatched roof and walls slowly being reclaimed by nature. The fact that the cyclist was able to enter and find warmth suggests that the cottage, although dilapidated, was still accessible. The presence of the old grey-haired man remains a mystery, as does the reason for his apparent ghostly manifestation. What we do know is that the cyclist's experience has become a well-known tale in the area, with many regarding it as a genuine paranormal encounter.
The area has a rich history dating back to the Roman era, with Ermine Street being an important route.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
The Hooded Man of Highworth
King and Queen Public House, Highworth
The King and Queen Public House in Highworth, Wiltshire, has a reputation for being one of the most haunted pubs in the area. It's said that a former landlord was so spooked by the presence of a mysterious figure that he took out an insurance policy to protect himself and his customers from any potential harm. This hooded figure, often referred to as the Hooded Man, was reportedly seen drifting across the yard and vanishing through a brick wall. It sounds like the stuff of legend, but this sighting was apparently made by a credible witness - the landlord himself.
Armoured Knight of Maddington
Maddington Manor House, Maddington
Maddington Manor House is home to a rather unusual ghostly inhabitant - an armoured figure known simply as Knight. This spectral visitor is said to manifest in the early hours of the morning, walking through the building as if on a mission. His route takes him through the manor's corridors and out into the churchyard, where his ultimate destination lies. The exact nature of Knight's business is unknown, but his nocturnal strolls have been reported by numerous witnesses over the years.
Cross Shape Haunting Swindon
Ladder Lane, Swindon
Ladder Lane in Swindon is home to a rather unusual and intriguing haunting. A spot on the road is said to be marked by a cross-shaped patch where grass cannot grow. According to local legend, this spot commemorates the place where a rider met a tragic end after being thrown from his horse. The story goes that the rider's untimely death left an indelible mark on the location, quite literally. The cross-shaped patch of ground has become a morbid curiosity, drawing in those with an interest in the paranormal.
Flying Glasses Poltergeist
Clifton Hotel, Swindon
The Clifton Hotel in Swindon, Wiltshire, is home to a rather unusual poltergeist phenomenon known as the Flying Glasses. On Christmas Day, 1972, a sherry glass was seen to rise from its shelf and fall to the floor, remarkably without shattering. This bizarre event was not a one-off, as the glass repeated its aerial antics for two consecutive nights, leaving witnesses perplexed and intrigued.
Swindon Council House Poltergeist
Council house, Swindon
The Swindon Council House in Melksham Close has a reputation for being one of the most unsettling places in the area, thanks to reports of a mischievous poltergeist. In August 1985, tenant Beverley Walsh claimed she felt unseen hands pulling at her clothing and that an entity moved her bed across the room. It was a frightening experience that left her shaken. This wasn't an isolated incident, as a couple had been driven out of the property a few years prior by the same presence.
Mysterious Returning Items Haunting
Boundary House Public House, Swindon
The Boundary House Public House in Swindon, Wiltshire, has a rather curious case of ghostly activity. Manager Dave Howells got in touch with a paranormal investigation team after noticing that items which had vanished years ago started turning up again. It was as if the pub had a mischievous memory, recalling things that had been lost to time. The team that investigated the strange happenings claimed to have found not one, not two, but five ghosts in total. Catherine and James were said to be haunting the bar area, Amy and Tilly were reportedly making their presence known in the upper part of the building, and Alf was found to be lurking in the basement.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Ermine Street
