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Swanbourne
Contents -- Click Site Name to view details |
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A brief note about the area
The ghost of Elizabeth Adams |
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The name of Swanbourne derives from the Old English words swana or swan and burna. This means ‘peasants' or herdsman's stream' or ‘swan stream'. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 792 the village was recorded as Suanaburna. In the Domesday Book of 1086 it is referred to as Sueneborne, Sueneberne, Soeneberno and Sueneberie. In the 2001 Census the parish population was 466.
Between the old manor house and the church, dedicated to St Swithin, a ghost dressed all in green can be seen. This is the ghost of Elizabeth Adams who continues to walk the route from her home to her husband's tomb in the churchyard. Elizabeth Adams was married to Thomas Adams and bore him four children. Their life seemed ideal until, on 17th October 1626, Thomas was robbed and murdered by thieves. Elizabeth never got over his death and each evening she would walk from the manor house where she lived to visit the tomb of her husband. She was devoted to her children and they kept her alive. As her children grew older she just seemed to fade away as if she had lost the will to live. Eventually she died and was buried alongside her husband. Shortly afterwards her ghost made its first appearance and can still be seen today. Locals say that she is still searching for those responsible for her husband's death.
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