Just 90 minutes' drive from Bristol, the quaint village of Minster Lovell has been described as one of the prettiest in the Cotswolds to visit for a day out. But it also has a dark history with many haunting tales passed down through the centuries.
According to My London, this tucked-away village on the River Windrush has cosy thatched cottages made of Cotswold stone and has the reputation of being the most haunted village in the region. With wildflower meadows and picnic spots next to the river, the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall is an ancient and impressive monument that visitors won’t want to miss.
Records show there had been a manor house at Minster Lovell since the 12th century. Around the 1440s, the extremely wealthy William, Baron of Lovell built a grand new Minster Lovell Hall.
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His son John was a Lancastrian and servant to Henry VI, while John’s son Francis was a Yorkist and was made Viscount Lovell by Richard III. But legend has it that after the defeat of the Yorkists at the Battle of Stoke Field, the final bloody battle of the War of the Roses, Francis went into hiding in a secret room at the hall.
He was locked in by a faithful servant who died unexpectedly, which left Francis to starve. When the building was renovated in 1718, workers found a secret room which contained the skeleton of a man sitting at a table, with a skeleton dog still at his feet.
According to the story, both skeletons crumbled to dust when disturbed. Eerie wailings and a ghostly cloaked figure, believed to be Francis Lovell pacing the ruins have since been reported, as well as groans and the sounds of footsteps around the hall.
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The ‘Mistletoe Bride’ adds to the mysterious happenings around the ruined Hall. The story speaks of a merry young bride who played hide-and-seek on her wedding day and disappeared. Many years later an old locked chest in the attic was opened up revealing a skeleton wearing a bridal dress.
Some stories suggest this was William’s bride who had mistakenly been locked in the chest and his cries of anguish at losing her have been heard to ring out at night. Others have reported a woman in a white dress haunting the ruins, said to be the phantom of the unhappy bride.
Following the War of the Roses, the property was passed into the hands of the Crown and in 1602, successful lawyer Sir Edward Coke took possession of the hall. In the 1700s his descendant, Thomas Coke took residence of the hall and assumed the title Lord Lovell of Minster Lovell.
But the great hall was abandoned in favour of the Cokes seat in Norfolk. It started falling into disrepair, with some buildings being demolished for their stone.
Today Minster Lovell Hall and Dovecote is a Grade I listed building. It is protected by English Heritage and attracts many tourists to the village every year.
To get to Minster Lovell, head out of Bristol on the M32 and take the M4 eastbound to junction 15. Follow the A419 towards Cirencester before turning off for Highworth on the A361. At Burford, turn right on to the A40, before a couple of miles later taking the left B4047 to Minster Lovell.
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