Exeter is rated as the fourth most haunted city in the UK and it is not surprising considering the fact that Exeter has a number of historic buildings and is one of the oldest cities in the UK. These are the top most haunted places in Exeter for you to visit this Halloween:
1. Exeter Cathedral:
Not surprisingly at the top of the list is St Peters Cathedral. There are a number of spooky figures that are said to haunt this area. The Cathedral Close is thought to be haunted by a monk and a nun. It is rumoured that these figures date from the 14th century at a time when the Cathedral was being rebuilt. John the monk and Martha the nun had come to Exeter to supervise the more spiritual aspects of the rebuilding. The pair are said to have fallen in love with each other and so when the time came for them to return to their separate houses they did not want to be apart. They committed suicide so they could be together forever.
2. Cathedral Green:
500 years ago the Cathedral Green was the primary burial site in Exeter. Archaeologists identified layers upon layers of burials, people were buried ten deep and the ground level was said to have risen to the level of the Cathedral windows. Only later were the bodies removed and reburied elsewhere.
3. Prospect Inn, Exeter Quay:
The Prospect Inn is thought to be the haunt of a ghost of a little girl carrying a rag doll, appearing every Christmas Eve in the upstairs living area. The story dates back to 1870 and some of the biggest ghost hunting companies have become interested in this story. Who she is and why she haunts the Prospect is not known.
4. The White Hart Hotel, South Street:
This Hotel is thought to be the haunt of Judge Jeffreys. More recently however there have also been supposed sightings of a woman in a long black cape seen in the courtyard, resembling the lady in the Scottish Widows advert.
5. Rougemont Castle:
The Three Devon witches – Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles and Susannah Edwards – were the last people in England to be executed for witchcraft in the 1680s. They were tried at Rougemont Castle before being hanged in Heavitree after being accused by their neighbours of casting spells. In August more than 300 people gathered at the castle to campaign for these witches to receive a pardon for these false allegations.
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6. Former Elephant Inn (now part of Sainsburys in the Guildhall):
The Guildhall is said to have been haunted by an American who was killed by the husband of a woman he was having an affair with. People reportedly heard footsteps and other noises after his death in the former Elephant Inn. There are several other individuals thought to haunt the Guildhall shopping centre and are blamed for wrecked displays and setting off fire alarms.
7. Martins Lane (Ship Inn):
A crying mother is said to stand along Martins Lane at night waiting for her daughter who ran away to follow Sir Francis Drake on his last voyage. Her daughter never returned. As well as this, the Ship Inn claims to once have banned Drake from entering and so he now returns to the Inn as revenge.
8. Exeter Marks and Spencer Store:
The Marks and Spencer in Exeter is thought to have been built on an old Roman burial ground. There have been several reports of phantom like breathing and objects being moved without explanation as well as cold chill-like feelings in several areas around the store.
9. Custom House, Exeter Quay:
Custom House housed her Majesty’s custom and Excise staff up until 1989. The wide ground floor arches was originally an open arcade that allowed custom officials to inspect the wagon loads of goods under cover before they were taken away. There is a phantom wagon that has supposedly been sighted driving straight through the walls and into Custom House.
10. Underground Passages:
A phantom cyclist supposedly pedals through the underground passages, although who he could be is unknown. There is also rumoured hidden treasure somewhere in the tunnels.
Photo Credits:
http://pubshistory.com/Devon/Exeter/ShipInnMartins.jpg
http://www.syntagmamedia.com/wp-content/Rougemont4003.jpg
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/d4/85/5e/white-hart-hotel.jpg
http://www.exeter.gov.uk/ecqt/media/ecqtcontent/b/6/Picture_009prospect.jpg