Nestled in the quiet village of Borley in Essex, England, stood Borley Rectory, a Gothic-style manor that became infamous as "the most haunted house in England."
From its construction in 1862 to its tragic ruin in 1939, Borley Rectory was a site of eerie occurrences, strange apparitions, and spine-chilling stories that have intrigued ghost hunters for over a century.
What really happened within its walls? We may never know as so much is now legend.
A Rectory With a Dark Past
The story of Borley Rectory begins in 1862 when it was built to house the rector of the parish of Borley and his family.
The building, commissioned by Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull, replaced an earlier rectory on the site. It was a large, red-brick structure with 23 rooms, including a chapel, a stable, and extensive grounds.
The rectory was built near Borley Church, which dated back to the 12th century, on land that had been used by the church for centuries.
From the outset, Borley Rectory was steeped in local lore and legend.
The site on which it was built was rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a nun. According to local stories, the nun had been bricked up alive in the walls of a nearby nunnery after falling in love with a monk from Borley.
The two lovers had planned to elope, but they were caught, and the monk was executed. The nun’s spirit, it was said, roamed the grounds of Borley, eternally searching for her lost love.
The First Signs of Haunting
The Bull family, who were the first occupants of the rectory, reported strange occurrences almost immediately after moving in. Reverend Bull and his family would often see ghostly figures, including the infamous “Nun of Borley,” walking the grounds.
One of Reverend Bull’s daughters claimed to have seen the nun peering into the rectory’s windows. The apparitions were not confined to the outside of the house; the family also reported strange noises, footsteps, and unexplained cold spots inside the rectory.
Reverend Bull, however, was noby these supernatural events. He even built a summerhouse in the garden, which he called the "Nun's Walk," where he could sit and watch the spectral figure move across the lawn. It was as if the ghostly presence was a mere curiosity, a benign resident of the rectory.
The Smith Family and the Intensification of Activity
After Reverend Bull's death in 1892, his son, Reverend Henry Foyster Bull, took over the rectory. The hauntings continued, but it wasn’t until 1928, when the Smith family moved in, that the paranormal activity began to intensify. The new rector, Reverend Guy Eric Smith, and his wife, Mabel, experienced a series of disturbing events soon after their arrival.
Mabel Smith discovered a mysterious package containing a human skull wrapped in brown paper while cleaning out a cupboard. Soon after this discovery, the couple began hearing unexplained footsteps, whispers, and the sound of bells ringing despite there being no physical bells in the house. Lights would flicker on and off, and objects would move on their own. On one occasion, the Smiths reportedly saw a phantom coach driven by two headless horsemen.
The paranormal activity became so severe that Reverend Smith contacted the Daily Mirror newspaper, hoping that public attention might lead to an explanation. The newspaper, intrigued by the story, sent a reporter and a paranormal investigator named Harry Price to Borley Rectory in June 1929. Price was a well-known figure in the world of paranormal research, and his investigations would bring Borley Rectory into the national spotlight.
Harry Price and the Investigation
Harry Price’s involvement with Borley Rectory is one of the most significant chapters in the history of the house. When Price arrived, he immediately experienced what he described as "a strange, oppressive atmosphere." During his initial visit, stones were thrown, a vase was shattered, and messages began appearing on the walls, seemingly written by an unseen hand. These messages, often imploring for help or prayers, were interpreted by Price as attempts by the spirits to communicate with the living.
Price’s investigations led to the rectory being labeled as the most haunted house in England. He published his findings in newspapers and books, capturing the public’s imagination. His accounts described the rectory as a place teeming with supernatural phenomena, from apparitions to poltergeist activity.
One of the most famous incidents during Price’s investigation involved a séance in which a spirit claimed that a fire would soon destroy the rectory and reveal the bones of a murder victim. Price took this prediction seriously and continued to monitor the rectory closely, even after the Smiths left the house in 1929, unable to cope with the relentless haunting.
The Foyster Family and Escalating Horrors
In 1930, the rectory was leased to Reverend Lionel Foyster, a cousin of the Bull family, and his wife, Marianne. The Foysters’ experience at Borley Rectory was perhaps the most harrowing of all. During their time at the rectory, the paranormal activity reached terrifying new heights.
Marianne Foyster reported being slapped, pinched, and even thrown from her bed by invisible forces. Objects would disappear and reappear in strange places, and more writing appeared on the walls, often addressed directly to Marianne. The messages seemed to plead for help or convey threats, adding to the growing sense of dread within the house.
One of the most frightening incidents involved Marianne being nearly suffocated by a mattress that was inexplicably thrown on top of her while she slept. Reverend Foyster attempted to perform exorcisms, but the activity only seemed to escalate, leading the couple to leave the rectory in 1935.
The Fire and the End of Borley Rectory
The prediction made during Price’s séance came true in 1939 when Borley Rectory was gutted by a fire. The fire started in mysterious circumstances, with the official cause being an overturned oil lamp. However, some have speculated that the fire was deliberately set, either by those who were trying to exorcise the spirits or by the spirits themselves, fulfilling the prophecy made years earlier.
During the subsequent demolition of the rectory’s ruins, Harry Price conducted further investigations. His team uncovered fragments of bones, which were believed to be the remains of a young woman. These remains were buried in consecrated ground, and some believed this act finally brought peace to the restless spirits.
Despite the destruction of the rectory, the legend of Borley did not fade. The site where the rectory once stood is still considered haunted by many, with reports of strange lights, sounds, and ghostly figures continuing to this day.
Skepticism and Controversy
While Borley Rectory’s reputation as a haunted house is well-established, it has not been without controversy. Critics have questioned the validity of the haunting, suggesting that many of the phenomena were either exaggerated or fabricated. Harry Price, in particular, has been accused of manipulating evidence to fit his narrative.
In 1956, the Society for Psychical Research published a report that questioned many of the claims made about Borley Rectory. The report suggested that some of the phenomena could be explained by natural causes, such as drafts, creaking floorboards, or the psychological state of the witnesses. They also pointed out inconsistencies in the accounts given by the various residents and investigators.
However, even with these criticisms, the legend of Borley Rectory persists. The sheer volume of reports and the consistency of the experiences across different occupants and visitors have kept the story alive. Some believe that the spirits of Borley Rectory were real and that the site remains one of the most haunted locations in England.
Legacy of Borley Rectory
Borley Rectory may no longer stand, but its legacy as "the most haunted house in England" endures. The story of Borley is more than just a tale of ghosts; it’s a story about the human fascination with the unknown, the intersection of belief and skepticism, and the way stories of the supernatural can take on a life of their own.
The history of Borley Rectory serves as a reminder of the power of place and memory. Even in its absence, Borley continues to capture the imagination of those who hear its story, drawing them into the mystery and intrigue that have surrounded the rectory for over a century. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the tale of Borley Rectory is a testament to the enduring appeal of the haunted house—a place where the boundaries between the living and the dead, the known and the unknown, are forever blurred.
In the end, the true mystery of Borley Rectory may never be fully solved. But perhaps that’s what makes it so compelling—the sense that, somewhere in the shadows of history, something unexplained, something truly otherworldly, once called Borley Rectory home.
We have done our own research regarding Borley Rectory and found some interesting facts that may sway what you think is the real story behind that hauntings of Borley and for that I invite you to listen to the True Hauntings podcast where we dive deeper into the history, myths, legends and truths about this most haunted site in England.
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