The Cranborne Chase National Landscape, a 380-square-mile expanse of rolling chalk hills, ancient woodlands, and quiet valleys, holds a unique place in the English countryside. Spanning the borders of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, and a small part of Somerset, this area was once a Royal Hunting Forest and remains a place of profound, unspoiled tranquility. But beneath its serene surface, the Chase is a repository of rich and often chilling folklore, a landscape where every barrow and byway holds a story.
These myths and legends, passed down through generations, speak not only of the ancient past but also of a history of human conflict, tragedy, and superstition. Here, we delve into some of the most compelling stories that define the haunted heart of Wessex.
Ancient Phantoms and Prehistoric Haunts
The deepest roots of the Chase’s folklore are intertwined with its most ancient monuments. The landscape is scattered with Neolithic long barrows and Bronze Age burial mounds, and these are often the settings for the area’s oldest legends. The Golden Coffin Myth is a persistent tale across the region, where a great golden coffin is said to be buried beneath a barrow. In a particularly fascinating version of the legend, linked to Clay Hill near Warminster, the myth is attributed to the devil himself, who, upon being tricked into believing it would take him years to reach a distant town, threw down a pile of dirt in a rage.
Even older is the so-called “Oldest Ghost on the Chase,” a prehistoric man on horseback. This terrifying apparition has been seen riding alongside cars and then vanishing into the side of an ancient barrow at Sixpenny Handley. The legend of this ghostly figure reminds us that the spirits of the very distant past may still be tied to the land.
Grisly Tales and Cursed Spirits
Beyond the ancient, the Chase is also home to a number of more modern and often disturbing tales. In Tarrant-Gunville, the manor house is said to be haunted by the spirit of a vengeful steward named William Doggett. He is reported to appear headless or driving a phantom carriage, as he did in life, but a more frightening footnote in the local legend is that he returned as a vampire. His body, exhumed years after his death, was observed to be uncorrupted and still had a rosy tint to its cheeks. To quell the belief that he was drinking villagers' blood, a stake was driven through his heart.
Another grim story is that of Molly Pert, also known as "Black Molly," whose ghost is said to haunt Pit House near Semley. Molly was hanged for the murder of her newborn daughter. It is said her skeleton was kept at the house for over a hundred years after she threatened to haunt the family unless her remains rested there. When her bones were finally moved, loud noises and a series of misfortunes plagued the house until her remains were returned to the cellar.
Historical Figures and Their Spectral Presence
The turbulent events of English history have left their mark on the landscape’s spectral population. The ghost of the Duke of Monmouth is said to appear at the site of the demolished Coaching Inn in Woody Yates, where he allegedly spent a night while fleeing after the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685. His flight has created a legacy of lore throughout the area, with places like the Monmouth Ash pub in Virwood marking spots where he was found hiding.
Similarly, the ghost of Lady Blanche Arundell is said to haunt the ruins of Wardour Castle. In 1643, she valiantly defended the castle for five days with only 25 men against a besieging force of 1,300 Parliamentarians. Her spectre is still reported to be seen at twilight, dressed for battle, moving towards the lake.
Bower Chalk, a Village of Ghosts
Perhaps no single location better illustrates the Chase's deep connection to the supernatural than Bower Chalk, a village where the three counties of Wiltshire, Dorset, and Hampshire meet. The village has so many tales that it is sometimes called the most haunted in Wiltshire. The valley of Woodmington is said to be the location of a great battle between the Romans and ancient Britons, and on moonlit nights, the sounds of fierce fighting and trampling feet can still be heard. A nearby bush is haunted by the ghost of a shepherd caught in a snowdrift, who can be heard crying that he wants to go home.
Even the village churchyard is not without its legends, with a procession of monks seen haunting the grounds. The three-county cornerstone is known as Kit's Grave, the burial site of a Romany lady who, in the most macabre version of the tale, threw herself down a well with a stake already through her heart.
Whether it's the ghosts of World War I soldiers at Codford St. Mary, the spirits of monks at Bower Chalk churchyard, or the Headless Horseman who rides a track in Pencilwood every New Year's Eve, the Cranborne Chase is a place where every corner seems to hide a story. It is a landscape of profound quiet, but perhaps, if you listen closely enough, you can hear the echoes of its mysterious and weird past.