The World’s Scariest Houses

Published: 26/10/2018

The spookiest time of the year is finally here - Halloween!

Given property is our primary cup of tea here at GWlegal (we have been in the conveyancing field for almost 35 years!), we have a soft spot for all things house-related.

As such, we thought it was only appropriate to sum up some of our favourite scary houses across the UK and even the world… should you be interested in a scary day trip (or at least spooky Google search) ahead of All Hallow’s Eve!

Let’s get scary…

1. Borley Rectory, Essex.

   Apparently this IS the most haunted house in England, so only Google this Essex Victorian mansion (which was destroyed by fire in 1939) if you aren’t faint-hearted! The first signs of paranormal activity at the Rectory occurred in the 1860s, when footsteps were heard in the dead of the night. Other ghost sightings have included the ghost of a nun, two headless horsemen and a phantom carriage, as well as the phantom ringing of the servant’s bells and bottle-throwing. Even the Daily Mail has sent a paranormal investigator to the old mansion - it’s that well known for ghostly incidents. Spooky!

2. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire.

   Also referred to as the currently most haunted house in the UK (there are a lot of them, apparently!), this supposedly haunted house is said to have been the location of sacrifice, suicide, black magic rituals and was also used as a hideout by criminals. Two demons, a witch, orbs and other ghostly presences all live at the house, according to owner John Humphries. Sounds like a lovely place to spend the night!

3. Athelhampton House, Dorset.

   This house has hosted a number of paranormal incidents including tapping sounds from the cellar, a pair of duellists fighting, and the ghost of the Grey Lady, which has been seen on various occasions. The padding sound of a phantom cat’s feet has also been heard on the bare floorboards around the house. Scary stuff!

4. Woodchester Mansion, Gloucestershire.

   Turns out Gloucestershire is a paradise for paranormal-lovers, with yet another old property from the area making the list of top haunted houses in the UK! This mansion seems normal from the outside, but inside, several rooms and whole floors are missing. Some visitors to the mansion claim to have been attacked by ghosts and others have collapsed, while women who have been to the bathroom reported seeing a floating head. Other supernatural beings such as the ghost of an old woman and a little girl have also been spotted.

5. Monte Cristo Homestead, NSW, Australia.

   The Land Down Under is filled to the brim with beaches, kangaroos and tanned surfers, right? Well, apparently Oz has its fair share of ghosts and ghouls too! This late Victorian mansion, built by a wealthy landowner in 1876, is reputedly Australia’s most haunted house. Some of its ghosts supposedly include: a young child who was dropped down the stairs, a maid who fell from the balcony and a stable boy who burned to death. The most active, however, is the ghost of the son of the caretaker who was found curled up next to the dead body of his mother. Creepy.

6. Château de Brissac, Maine-et-Loire, France.

   Some of the ghosts spotted at this castle-turned-hotel boasting seven floors, 204 rooms, numerous portrait galleries, and a private opera house which seats 200 people, include: La Dame Verte (Green Lady), who was apparently the illegitimate child of King Charles VII and was later murdered by her husband in the château in the 15th Century after he caught her having an affair. She is often seen in the tower room of the chapel, wearing her green dress, with gaping holes where her eyes and nose should be. When not startling guests by her appearance she can be heard moaning around the castle. Lovely!

7. Mrytles Plantation, USA.

   As soon as you hear the phrase ‘ancient Indian burial ground’ you know there’s some Stephen King-esque haunting going on! According to legend, this old plantation was home to 10 murders. That’s not to mention the ghosts of former slaves that have been sighted, as well as others who previously lived in the house, including the ghost of children. To top it all off, the ghost of writer William Winter, who was reportedly shot on the house’s front porch, has been spotted writhing in agony, crawling up the stairs, before disappearing into the air of the 17th step. Scary!

8. The Old School House, Merseyside.

   Alex, our marketing manager recently bought an old school house dating back to 1799. According to Alex and his partner, the house is home to ‘Brenda’ the ghost. Brenda loves throwing the occasional book from the shelf and turning on Alexa. Talk about blending old with new! According to Alex her newest hobby is running down the corridors.

I’m buying a house! What should I do next?

Whether it’s haunted or not, the team at GWlegal is well equipped to deal with conveyancing processes of all kinds. We do after all have almost 35 years’ experience in the property field!

Why are we the best solicitors for you?

GWlegal are a property solicitors based in Liverpool, specialising in buying or selling, remortgage, declaration of trust, bridging and buy-to-let landlords.

If you have a legal matter you wish to discuss don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can call us on 0345 373 3737 email us hello@gw.legal with your question.

Who are GWlegal? We’re a national firm with local values.

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Content correct at time of publication.