 A legend has it that under a certain gatepost in Dallinghoo lies a hidden treasure. The ghost of the former owner also haunts the site to protect his hoard - even the efforts of twelve clergymen failed to send him on his way!
Attempts to locate the treasure are now fruitless as no-one can remember where the gatepost stood! Another ghost also haunts the area. A widow by the name of Shawe cut her throat and was later seen haunting the lanes around the village. She is always seen without her feet! It could be that her spirit is simply a recording and she's walking on an earlier ground level.
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 Oliver Cromwell, who became Lord Protector in 1653, was said to have buried chests containing treasure in a group of ancient barrows, known as the Three Hills. Despite several attempts to locate the hoard, the chests remain hidden.
RAF Mildenhall is said to be haunted by the ghost of an American airman. In 1969, a homesick sergeant got drunk and stole a C-130 cargo plane. He crashed in the ocean after supposedly trying to make it back to the USA. His body was never found. His ghost reportedly wanders the parking area where he took off on his last flight. In 1834 Bealings House in Suffolk became notorious due to an outbreak of alleged poltergeist activity.
The haunting began on Sunday, February 2, 1834. The owner, Edward Moor, arrived home from church and was informed by his servants that the dining room bell had mysteriously rung three times between 2 and 5 PM. The bells again rang at the same time on the following day. The day after, when Moor returned home, servants again told him that the bells had been violently ringing in the kitchen. He went into the room and finally witnessed the ringing himself. They chimed so violently that he thought they would break free from their anchors. They continued like this until about 7:45 PM. The bells rang numerous times before the phenomenon stopped abruptly on March 27th. Sceptics suggested that the supposed paranormal activity was caused by mice running along the wires. Others have declared that the whole affair was a deliberate hoax. Major Moor thought otherwise. He later wrote a book, Bealings Bells, about the haunting. Thetford Priory of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre dates from the 12th century. As you would expect, ghostly monks have been seen walking through the ruins. Chanting has also been heard. A group of teenagers claimed to have seen one monk running through the grounds in 1992. Jangling keys heralded his appearance.
On another occasion, a monk was seen standing in an upstairs window. The full account can be read by clicking here LINK Summer evenings are said to be the ideal time to see and hear the phantom brothers. St Peter's Church in Westleton, Suffolk dates back to about 1300. A local legend claims that Old Nick himself lives below a small grating near a door in the church. Near to this is a 14th century fallen gravestone known as the ‘Witches’ Stone’. It is claimed that grass will not grow over it. It is said that if you put a piece of straw in the grating and run around the church seven times, anti-clockwise, the straw will either vanish or you'll hear the Devil rattling his chains below the surface. A word of warning if you do decide to carry out this ritual ...... you must never look at the grating until the end of your run! A local told me that the story was invented by smugglers to deter locals from visiting the churchyard at night. Smugglers were believed to have used the crypt to hide contraband from the revenue men!  This Suffolk village is thought to take its name from pits dug to trap wolves. The area is said to be the haunt of one such animal, caught and killed centuries ago. A farmer was once out looking for a lost calf and claimed to have seen it emerge from a hole in the ground. He rushed for his gun but lost it in the moonlight. He then noticed that it had left no footprints and concluded that he had seen the phantom wolf.
For some reason, the ghostly wolf is only said to appear after a fall of snow.  St Gregory’s church in Sudbury is said to be haunted by the ghost of Simon de Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered during the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381. His skull is still preserved in a case in the church. A truly grizzly exhibit!
His body was buried in Canterbury Cathedral. Some believe that his ghost still restless because he wishes his head to be reunited with his body.  I have already written about the haunting of Potsford Gibbet in a previous post but would like to share with you another interesting legend connected with the wood. According to tradition, there was a large stone or boulder next to the gibbet which screamed if you kicked it with your heel. Whether this story started circulating after the execution of Jonah Snell is not known. It appears that the stone has long since vanished as a recent visit to the wood failed to locate it.  The August issue of Psychic News sees me interview Jason Figgis about his latest film documentary on Simon Marsden, the photographer and author. www.psychicnews.org.uk/   Gun Hill is said to be haunted by the figure of a soldier. He is always seen standing next to one of the six cannon that can be found on the hill. He lost his head when one misfired.
Sutherland House is home to a phantom lady. The red-headed women is said to be waiting for the return of Lord Sandwich, who was killed in a 17th Century sea battle with the Dutch. Footsteps and the sound of doors opening are heard on 28th May, the anniversary of the Lord's death. Southwold is also known as the haunt of a strange creature. On the 21st October 1938, local fishermen claimed to have seen a grey coloured sea monster swimming near their boat. The beast was described as being over 65 feet long. |
AuthorJohn is a producer, TV/Radio presenter and writer living in Suffolk Archives
May 2020
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