The ghosts of Mannington

The village of Mannington has its fair share of ghosts, two of which haunt the village's more significant buildings…

Mannington Church

Mannington Church.

Mannington Church is haunted by the ghost of a female member of the Scalmers Family, which owned Mannington Hall before it was taken over by the Orfords.

It was the Second Lord Orford who is said to have destroyed the Scalmers tomb at the church and the ghost was seen many times, especially in the 18th century.

Until the end of the 19th century, the hearse bearing the coffins of subsequent members of the Orford Family was driven three times round the church, in an attempt to placate the phantom lady.

Mannington Hall

It was at Mannington Hall on 10th October, 1979, that Doctor Augustus Jessop saw a ghost whilst he was staying as a guest of Lord Orford. Four other people had been present at dinner that evening but had retired to bed early so Doctor Jessop decided to go to the Library to read for a while. By the light of four candles he sat at the table and started reading.

Mannington Hall.

He was reading the last of six books that he had selected when he noticed a large white hand resting on the table near his elbow. Turning his head, he noticed a large man bending over the table, apparently examining the books that he had already read.

The man was dressed in the habit of a monk and his hands were clenched, showing large blue veins on his left hand. Doctor Jessop looked at the newcomer for a few seconds and realised that the man who had joined him was a ghost, although at no time did he feel alarmed. His first instinct was to grab hold of a pencil and make a sketch of the visitor. At that point the apparition disappeared.

Five minutes later the apparition appeared once more and Doctor Jessop tried to say something to him but found that he could not utter a word. The man vanished only when Dr Jessopp dropped a book on the floor, making a noise.

Throwing himself back in his chair, Doctor Jessop sat for some time looking at the fire and wondered whether the figure would return a third time. After a long wait, and there being no return of the figure, Doctor Jessop retired to bed, still thinking of his very unusual experience.

Supposedly, the 'ghost' was a servant, having crept in to remove the bottle of brandy over which Dr. Jessopp had fallen asleep. According to the scientists own account, however, he had had no spirits whatsoever, he had been drinking seltzer.

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