HAUNTED LOCATIONS
Barnstaple
A charming town in North Devon is nestled along the picturesque River Taw, it's considered as one of the oldest boroughs in the UK.
The town received it's charter in the year 930 and was licensed to export wool from the 14th century which contributed to it's wealth. From the 1000 year old pannier market and butchers' row to the castle and museum, Barnstaple is a beautiful place to visit. However, it has its share of ghostly tales.
Barnstaple Guildhall & Cinema
Barnstaple Cinema & Guildhall is an early 19th century grade II listed building and recently underwent long-overdue repairs. Originally opened in 1930 as the Central Cinema, it now houses a bar and four modern screens showing the latest releases. The cinema is known as one of the North Devon's town's most haunted building.
Many witnesses sitting back and waiting for the movie to start have reported to see the apparition of a man who could be the man who fell to his death whilst working on the roof in 1931.
The Devil's Stone Inn
The Devil's Stone Inn is reputed to be one of the most haunted pubs in britain.
Originally a 17th century farmhouse, around 400 years ago it underwent a fascinating transformation into a coaching inn. It has retained it's historical charm while embracing modern updates.
Legend has it that the Devil himself once threatened the local town of Shebbear. It is said that St. Michael the archangel intervened by casting a huge boulder, trapping the devil beneath it. To keep the village safe, the bell ringers must turn this stone regularly, which happens on the 5th November every year.
Many paranormal studies, article and TV programs have featured it's mysterious occurrences. Sightings of a young girl in white roaming the upstairs hallways, who may be the child who perished in a fire over 400 years ago. Visitors have also glimpsed an old coachman in red and a grumpy bearded man at the bar.
The Witch Trials of Bideford
The Bideford Witch Trials are one of England's most remarkable witch trials, partly because by the time they took place, witch hunting had mostly died down and the majority of trials ended in acquittal. The fact that this one ended in execution and that it took place in a fairly sophisticated area, rather than an isolated, rural community was incredibly unusual. That and it is widely believed that these women were the last to be executed for witchcraft in England make the Bideford trials some of the most famous in British history.
The trials took place in 1682 in Bideford and involved 3 women, Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles and Susanna Edwards.
Temperance was accused of witchcraft in 1682 by a shopkeeper after his sister in law fell ill due to the fact that she was suffering from an illness that Temperance had celebrated her recovering from.
Susanna had been heard speaking of how the devil had carnal knowledge of the suffering girl's body, and that she and Mary had gone to the girl's household to hill her and did so invisible.
The 3 women were tried together before judge Thomas Raymond and Lord Francis North. They were executed in Exeter on the 25th August 1682 and took place at the Heavitree Gallows on the outskirts of the city and their bodies were dumped on unconsecrated ground which today makes up part of a car park for the University of Exeter.
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