The ancient manor is rumoured to be frequented by the spirits of the Lovell family, who are thought to remain frequent presences long after they passed away. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments
A startling discovery occurred at a 15th-century Cotswold manor house when labourers unearthed a concealed room containing the skeletons of a man sitting at a table and a canine at his feet.
The skeletal remains of Francis Lovell were located eerily upright at a table, bordered by books, paper and pens, as though arrested in time, making his demise a puzzling matter.
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Unsettling stories persist centuries later that Francis and his devoted dog continue to haunt the vestiges of Minster Lovell Hall, situated alongside the River Windrush in Oxfordshire.
Cotswolds.com characterises Minster Lovell as ‘the region’s most haunted village’, mainly owing to the spectral figures of the Lovell lineage, who are said to visit the locality well beyond their death.
The hall was built in the 1430s upon the foundation of an older structure by William, 7th Baron Lovell, a veteran of the well-known Battle of Agincourt alongside Henry V. He also refurbished the local church, considered to be his final resting place, although there isn’t any inscription or documented proof to confirm this assertion, reports <a href=”https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/history/chilling-history-haunted-coldwold-manor-10590036″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>Gloucestershire Live</a>.
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Minster Lovell Hall functioned as the central residence of the Lovell family for much of the 15th century, even housing Richard III as a guest of Francis, William’s grandson. Nevertheless, their intimate connection with Richard proved unfavorable when the family’s assets were seized following the Battle of Bosworth, and the village was given over to Jasper Tudor, uncle of Henry VII.
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However, it appears Francis wasn’t inclined to surrender, and in 1487 he confined himself and his dog inside a secret room, with only a trusted servant knowing of his actions and possessing the exclusive key.
As per History UK, he remained there until a crew of workmen stumbled upon the subterranean vault and his skeletal remains during restoration work on the estate in 1708.
Yet Francis wasn’t the only individual to encounter his end within the hall’s walls.
Cotswolds Journeys recounts that William’s new wife disappeared during a game of hide and seek on her wedding night, never to be spotted again.
Subsequently, years afterwards, a servant discovered the remains of a young woman dressed in wedding clothing, perfectly kept within a lead-lined cold storage container used for preserving provisions.
One individual who asserts he has come across supernatural occurrences at Minster Lovell firsthand is Jonathan, who reported on Darkling Room that he felt a “strange atmosphere” upon entering the hall’s dovecote.
Jonathan stated: “Upon entering, we were both immediately aware of the strange atmosphere around us. The bright daytime was gone, and an eerie atmosphere was enhanced by the dusky hues within. All was quiet.”
He also professed to have captured photographic evidence of some form of apparition: “I took a photograph of the roof beams… I was more than a little startled to see a large white mass appearing to the right-hand side of the image.
“It took me a moment to react, and sadly I panicked almost immediately. There was something very peculiar about the image, and my instinct was to leave the confined space, and return to the daylight beyond the small door.”
Sir Thomas Coke, the Earl of Leicester, acquired the manor in 1602, with his family overseeing its demolition for building materials during the mid-18th Century.
The medieval dovecote located in the neighbouring field can now only be viewed from outside, though the remainder of the hall remains open to sightseers.
Minster Lovell Hall is situated three miles west of Witney off the A40, and can be found by heeding the English Heritage signage from the village.