The
Black House- Brixham
The
Black House was built in the 14th Century, and used by monks when
the building of St Marys Church took place nearby. The house is in
fact painted white not black.
The ghost of Squire Hilliard who lived in the 16th Century is said
to come back to search for his son.
The story goes that the Squires son fell in love with a young girl
from Cheriton, but apparently the Squire didn’t think his son
ought to marry the young lady, and forced her to marry another man.
Whilst the Squires son was out riding one day he saw the love of his
life coming out of the church after being married on the arm of another
man. He was so heartbroken that he hung himself. Strange things happen
in the Black House. Doors lock for no reason even though the bolts
are not shot, and the owner of the house now has even been locked
out of his house. Noises and footsteps have been heard, both inside
and out. Horses hooves have been heard on the lawn, as if the lawn
is of cobblestones, and not grass. Also mysterious lights have been
seen inside the house by onlookers.
Apparently there are traces of an old cobblestone surface which has
been found under the lawn.
It
is thought that the Squire is still searching for his sons forgiveness.
Churston
Court Inn
Churston
Court is an old saxon manor house which can be found nestling next
door to St Mary the Virgin Church. More than one ghost has been see
here in the medieval inn. Reputedly there is a ghost of a monk that
walks through the passages and rooms, and there are stories of candles
that have been put out, being relit of their own accord. Nowadays
Churston Court is still an Inn, and a Restaurant, which still has
its original oak panelling, oak beams, mullioned windows and inglenook
fireplaces.
From
Windy Corner traffic Lights follow the A3022 towards Brixham after
passing the Go Kart track on left take the 2nd left into Churston
Rd. Continue right to the end of the road and turn left, Churston
Court will be found on the left by the church.
The Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey
Torre
Abbey was founded in 1196 as a monastery. In 1662 after the dissolution
of monasteries it was the home of the Cary family until1930. The Tithe
Barn which stands next to Torre Abbey known as the “Spanish
Barn”, was used to imprison 397 Spanish prisoners who were captured
by the English Navy when fighting in the Armada in 1588. Their ship
was towed to Torquay, and the prisoners were all held captive in overcrowded
conditions. With a plague of Rats, Sickness and Disease very few of
the prisoners survived. However, one of the Spaniards was given last
rites on their deathbed by a local priest of the time, and it was
discovered that the person was not a seaman at all, but a woman in
disguise, who had been smuggled onto the ship in order to be with
her lover or husband.
Her ghost has been seen reappearing in Torre Abbey Meadows near to
the waterfront, drifting slowly back towards the entrance of the Barn
with a very down and tired looking face.
Torre
Abbey Can be found at Kings Drive Torquay, very near to the sea front.
Tel: 01803 293593
Castel-a-Mare
In
Middle Warberry Rd, Torquay opposite a house called Edwinstowe for
a long time there was a gaping void between the houses of Norfolk
Lodge, and Grendon, where a house called Castel-a-Mare once stood.
Apparently approximately around 1870 a terrible murder occurred.
Story
has it that the property was once owned by a local doctor who had
moments of madness, and murdered his wife, and then their maid because
of what she’d seen. Another version of the story is that a guest/patient
was visiting the doctor and he murdered him. However, what’s
more important now, is, what has been left behind as a gruesome legacy
so to speak.
Apparently
for years the old house had been haunted by the maid. When she had
seen what the doctor had done there were awful screams, and she took
flight through the house, eventually the doctor caught her and strangled
her and put her body in a cupboard, which at a later date was incorporated
into a bathroom. From then on the Ghost of Castel-a-Mare began to
haunt the house and stables outside. These were so affected that the
horses which were used then, didn’t want to go want to go into
the stables unless they were forced to backwards. None of the doors
in the house would stay locked, even dogs being taken for walks would
bay and howl outside in the street, and their owners had to walk on
the other side of the road. Screams would be heard, and footsteps
running through the house could be heard. No tenants would stay very
long, and eventually the house fell into disrepair. In 1920 the house
was demolished, but prior to that Mediums went to the house, but even
they were violently shaken, and no exorcism could be effected.
It
had been said it was to be hoped that never again would a house be
built on the site where Castel-a-Mare stood.
But
a little while back another house was built. Whilst being built the
builders were asked if anything strange had happened on the site,
and by all accounts, one of the men said they had locked up their
ladders and paint one night- no one had broken in because everything
was still locked up, but the ladders had been knocked over, and the
paint had been spilled. And added that they didn’t like the
feeling and atmosphere of the new bathroom at the top of the stairs.
It made them feel a bit spooky.
Has
some disembodied soul taken up residence!
Berry
Pomery Castle- The White Lady
Berry
Pomerory Castle reputedly has two ghosts one of a female member of
the 14th Century Pomeroy family, who was said to have given birth
to a child, as a result of an incestuous relationship with her father,
and who killed the baby in one of the upper rooms of the castle.
The
ghost of the mother has been seen wringing her hands in despair.The
sound of a baby crying has been heard many times, perhaps this is
the cry of the murdered infant.
The
other ghost of Berry Pomeroy Castle is of Lady Margaret Pomeroy. Both
she and her sister Lady Eleanor were very beautiful women. However,
Eleanor being so jealous of her sister,had Margaret imprisoned in
the dungeons of the castle, where she was starved to death.
The
ghost of Lady Margaret has been seen many times in the area of the
gatehouse. She is known as the White Lady, and it is said that her
spirit beckons to passers by, luring them to fall to their death down
into the ruined dungeon. For information
on Berry Pomeroy Castle Click Here
