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BATTLE ABBEY
Battle, Sussex On A2100
Founded by William the Conqueror and housing the site of King Harold's murder
by Norman knights, Battle Abbey is one of the most popular historic buildings
in the south of England. It was constructed within yards of the site of the
famous battle and offers an interesting view of the area from which visitors
can visualise the whole picture of the warring troops.
Since 1719 the Abbey has been the home of the Webster family but the largest
of the buildings, the Abbot's House, is currently occupied by a girls' school
which naturally is not open to the public. A popular but rather doubtful story
that the ghost of Harold, complete with arrowed eye, has been seen near the
spot where he was killed, now marked by a large fir tree, continues to be
told. But as Harold's death was caused by the swords of knights anxious to
retain their own position in William's court, if seems hardly creditable.
More acceptable was the incident which occurred one afternoon in June 1971;
In the ruined Great Hall, Howard Shepherdson, a young guide, was conducting
a party of visitors round the building and explaining the features to the
crowd when a young boy cradled in the arms of his father suddenly enquired
'who is that man over there, Daddy, the one with the long sword?' Only the
lad could see the phantom, though one or two others 'felt the presence of
something'.
This was not the first occasion that a ghostly knight has been seen in the
Great Hall but it has been some years since anyone has stated categorically
they they have witnessed it. Howard was convinced that the youngster could
see the apparition, gazing as he had been for some seconds into a blank corner
of the huge room. Up to that time the subject of ghosts had not been mentioned,
thus dismissing possible sceptical comments of 'imagination'.
The description given later by the boy certainly matched that of the phantom
believed for some time to haunt the Hall. One can only hope that this report
will prompt others who have been reluctant up to now to divulge their experiences,
to report any phenomena they may have seen in this, one of Britain's oldest
buildings.
Story by Andrew Green: 'Our Haunted Kingdom'
