A house in Hillson Close had been suffering from paranormal phenomena for fifteen years before the occupier decided to have it exorcised. The haunting began with things disappearing but later the occupier would find herself waking up at night and being drawn to the window to look at the bottom of the garden. The vicar who turned up to perform the exorcism, the Reverend John Greenway, rector of the Anglican Church in Marston Moretaine, believed that there was an evil spirit in the owner’s garden. She had also been troubled by poltergeists which were possibly connected with the previous occupants of the house. After the exorcism the strange happenings ceased. The owner later discovered that the house was on the site of an ancient pond which may have been used as a ducking or swimming pond by witch finders.

The above was allegedly the story of the site but it seems the original source was mistaken. We were contacted by the owner of the property who was upset about the information and saying that it was incorrect. It seems that the house was only haunted for a few months before the rector was called in and not for 15 years. The owner also said that she did not believe that there was any poltergeist activity and she and her husband were the first owners, there were no previous occupiers. Old village people generally said that the house was near an old village pond.

It is never our intent to put incorrect information on this website but this is sometimes difficult to do as such information is either very old, often apocryphal and generally given in good faith. We welcome comments from the people involved in the events so we can be more accurate and our apologies go to the original owner.

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Marston Moretaine, Hillson Close

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Rectory

During the Civil War a skirmish took place in Marston Moretaine between Roundheads and Cavaliers. The Cavalier troops were in danger of losing so they retreated down a tunnel which is said to exist between the church and the rectory. The Parliamentary troops decided not to follow them, instead they sealed both ends of the tunnel and waited for the Cavaliers to die. The last sound heard was the drummer boy beating his drum. Now on windy days the beating of his drum can still be heard.

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Marston Moretaine, Rectory _____________________________________________________________________
St. Mary the Virgin

The church of St. Mary The Virgin was built in the fourteenth century and is very unusual as the church tower stands some way away from the main part of the church. It is believed that the tower was probably used as a refuge in Saxon times, either from flood or from attack. It is around this tower that a dark shadow has been seen.

There are two Devil legends associated with the church. The first says that the tower used to be attached to the church but the Devil tried to steal it. The weight of the tower proved too much for him so he dropped it in its present position.

The second legend says that the Devil climbed up the tower and when challenged leapt from the top of it. He landed one hundred feet away in a field. From there he took a second great leap and landed by a pub, long since demolished, called the Leaps. He then took a third leap across the road and landed next to a group of boys playing leapfrog. He joined them in their game then tricked them into jumping down a hole to his realm. The boys were never seen again.

The church of St. Mary the Virgin is a large and very attractive church. The tower, separated from the nave by 75m makes the church very unusual and well worth a visit. From a ‘night time visit to see the church’ point-of-view the bright lights which illuminate it are excellent, from a ‘night time paranormal’ point-of-view they limit the number of dark places.

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To view images see: Marston Moretaine Album

To view a report about St. Mary's see: 27-02-2004

Marston Moretaine, St. Mary the Virgin