Owlpen Manor, A Haunted Tudor Retreat

Owlpen Manor

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Owlpen Manor in Gloucestershire mixes Tudor elegance with ghostly legends, offering a brilliant haunting glimpse into England’s royal and paranormal history

Hidden away in the Cotswolds lies Owlpen Manor, a spooky Grade I listed Tudor gem that seems plucked from the pages of a gothic novel.

Its honey-hued stone walls and terraced gardens exude timeless romance. But beneath the ivy-clad charm lies a deeper, more spectral legacy – one that has earned Owlpen Manor a reputation as one of England’s most haunted homes.

Hauntings of Owlpen Manor

Owlpen’s most storied ghost is none other than Queen Margaret of Anjou, the indomitable wife of King Henry VI.

In May 1471, amid the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses, Margaret is said to have spent a night at Owlpen Manor, while en route to the Battle of Tewkesbury.

That fateful encounter ended in tragedy: her son, Prince Edward, was slain, and Margaret was captured shortly after.

Legend holds that the queen’s spirit lingers in the manor’s Great Chamber, appearing as a “grey lady” in a fur-trimmed gown and wimple—a quiet, sorrowful presence bound to the last place she knew hope.

Owlpen Manor

The manor’s wartime history adds further weight to the tale.

During World War 2, evacuee children billeted at Owlpen Manor reported seeing a lady in “beautiful clothes” wandering the halls.

Their descriptions matched medieval attire, and the manor’s owner at the time believed they had encountered Margaret herself.

Other hauntings at Owlpen Manor

Margaret is not Owlpen’s only spectral resident.

The manor is said to host at least three other ghosts, each with their own eerie lore.

One is the “Black Monk”, believed to be Bartholomew de Olepenne—a medieval figure allegedly walled up and left to starve within the manor’s walls.

His remains were reportedly discovered centuries later, crumbling to dust upon exposure.

Visitors and investigators have also reported the spirit of a mischievous child peering from windows, unexplained footsteps on the staircase, and poltergeist activity in the attic.

These phenomena are possibly linked to a former alchemist or wizard said to have once resided there.

The manor’s haunted reputation was further cemented when it featured in the television series Most Haunted, where investigators experienced a dramatic possession and captured images of a mysterious woman in an upstairs window.

A legacy of mystery and beauty

Despite – or perhaps because of – its haunted history, Owlpen Manor remains a cherished destination.

The manor’s architecture, dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries, showcases the evolution of English domestic design.

Its gardens, described by Vita Sackville-West as “a dream”, feature terraced lawns and ancient yews, offering a serene counterpoint to the manor’s ghostly tales.

Today, Owlpen Manor serves as a private home, wedding venue, and holiday retreat, inviting guests to immerse themselves in its rich tapestry of history and legend.

Whether you’re drawn by the allure of Tudor craftsmanship or the whispers of its spectral inhabitants, Owlpen Manor offers an experience that lingers long after your visit.

Have you experienced a ghostly encounter at Owlpen Manor? Share your story in the comments below!

Author

Spooky Isles

The Spooky Isles team has been bringing you the best in the best in ghosts, horror and dark history from the UK and Ireland since 2011!

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