Roos Hall in Suffolk is home of one of the UK’s only festive ghosts, says KATE CHERRELL
Britain holds a long tradition of enjoying ghost stories at Christmas.
From Dickens’ moralistic tale of spectral enlightenment to MR James’ seasonal spirits, when December calls, we can’t get enough of them.
However, not all seasonal spirits spring from the pages of fiction.
Roos Hall in Suffolk is not only reported as being one of the most haunted houses in England, but is in possession of one of the UK’s only festive ghosts.
The Hall is no stranger to the other-worldly, having an infamous ‘hanging tree’ within its grounds.
Tree, the site of an old gibbet
The tree – an old oak often called ‘Nelson’s Tree’ – was planted on the site of the old gibbet, the same gibbet that facilitated the deaths of hundreds of local criminals.
At night, a white lady may be seen walking around the base of the oak six times, in order to conjure the Devil himself.
Adding to Roos’ spooky credentials, within the house it is said that the mark of the devil’s hoof, known as the ‘Devil’s Footprint,’ is imprinted inside a cupboard and a ghostly girl stares out from an upstairs gable window.
However, it is on Christmas Eve that Roos Hall’s spooks come out to play.
Christmas ghost tradition at Roos Hall
Local legend tells of a headless horseman racing down the driveway of the hall, followed by a ghostly coach and four undead horses.
At the same time, every year, the horseman and his carriage soundlessly travel down the drive at great speed, rushing towards the house before disappearing as suddenly as they appeared.
And why does this headless spirit restlessly travel the grounds every Christmas Eve? Nobody knows.
But, after all, what would Christmas be without a little fear?
Check out more ghostly stories from Kate Cherrell at her blog, Burials and Beyond.
