Skip to main content

The haunting of Ayot St Lawrence ghost stories from a Hertfordshire village

Visit Ayot St Lawrence in Hertfordshire and you may hear the roar of a motorcycle, Lawrence of Arabia's motorcycle. Thomas Edward Lawrence was a friend and frequent visitor to  Ayot St Lawrence resident, George Bernard Shaw and it would seem that the ghosts of both Lawrence and Shaw are still present in the village.

Lawrence of Arabia's motorcycle has been heard travelling the Hertfordshire lanes to Shaw's Corner, former home of George Bernard Shaw. Shaw's ashes are buried there. He died in 1950 and his housekeeper, Mrs Alice Laden, saw and heard him in the house several times after his death.

Ayot St Lawrence seems to be a bit of a magnet for famous ghosts with some folk saying that Anne Boleyn haunts the Manor House. There's an old legend that Henry VIII and Anne were riding past Ayot St Lawrence when a courtier, Nicholas Bristow, admired the place and asked whose it was. Henry replied, "It is mine, but now shall be your's" and apparently gave Nicholas his hat and the Queen's slippers as proof of intent.

Henry's hat and Anne's slippers have remained at the estate ever since.


Sadly there is something a little awry with the story as Ayot St Lawrence didn't belong to the Crown until 1539, 3 years after the death of Anne Boleyn, It was granted to Nicholas Bristow, John Alway and John Brockett in 1543.

The Brockett name is immortalized in the village by another haunted location The Brocket Arms. Famously this 14th century inn is haunted by the ghost of a monk who was hanged there. There's a poem about him displayed behind the bar:

A monk had ridden as he fled from the mob
Of howling villains who fear no God.
They slung him up to a beam in the bar
Declaring he should not have ridden so far.

If you do go ghost hunting in Ayot St Lawrence be sure to avoid Hollowdane Spring in Brimstone Wood where a witch was burned to death. As well as having a very unpleasant atmosphere it's believed that bad luck will follow anyone who enters that particular clump of trees.

Image: King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn by William Power Frith (1819-1909)

Comments

  1. anthony c penny15 June 2017 at 14:25

    I was born in Ayot in 1938.In my early days I and my brothers used to play in the grounds and also the house This was during the War years. In charge of the house ,which was home to the land girls was a Mrs Reece ,her son was our playmate.It did feel a bit spookey at times though we never encountered any ghosties. Someday perhaps when im dead and gone that I can go back to the place that I love dearly and do some gentle haunting. ACP Wells

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hannath Hall

Hannath Hall, a private dwelling in Tydd Gote near Wisbech has a long history of paranormal activity. It's an Elizabethan manor house, formerly known as Sparrow's Nest until purchased by Josepth Hannath in 1812. Legend tells that when Joseph's wife died he became deranged and refused to allow the body to leave the house. For two months Joseph Hannath kept his wife's body in her bedroom and insisted that her meals were taken to her.  One poor maid was driven to suicide by this madness and it's believed to be her ghost that has been seen walking the corridors of the house. Eventually Joseph allowed his wife to be buried, under a chestnut tree in the garden. But some say that thereafter no-one could sleep in the bedroom where the body had been kept. Fast forward to 1957 when a Peterborough journalist has car troubles near Hannath Hall. The then owners, Derek and Catherine Page (Derek Page went on to become the MP for Kings Lynn) invite him in and inevitably ...
3 comments
Read more

Sarah Preston the ghost of Boston Stump a September Haunting

The ghost of Sarah Preston, who was blamed for spreading the plague that resulted in over 400 deaths in Boston, is a recurring ghost that is said to be more active during the month of September. Sarah lived in a cottage in the shadow of St Botolphs church in the Lincolnshire town of Boston, the principal port of England in medieval times, and it here, in her husband's absence, that she entertained a sailor  who, unbeknown to Sarah, was carrying the plague. Guilt stricken, Sarah Preston climbed the 365 steps to the top of St Botolph's tower, known as Boston Stump, and committed suicide by leaping from the top. Sarah's ghost has been seen to jump from the top of the tower only to disappear before touching the ground. Image: Immanuel Giel via Wikimedia Commons Other September hauntings: Ghost of King Edward II Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire The Grenadier Pub, Wilton Row, London The Ghost of Annie Chapman, a September Haunting The ghost of Amy Robsart wife of Sir...
Post a Comment
Read more

Marion de la Bruyere, the ghost of Ludlow Castle

Set in the 12th century Marion de la Bruyere 's tale is one of illicit romance, betrayal and guilt. Marion de La Bruyere lived in Ludlow Castle which at the time was held by Josce de Dinan who having aquired the castle and lands in Shopshire via King Stephen then rebelled against him. Marion was in love with Arnold de Lys who was not on the side of de Dinan. There were many contenders for the castle,  King Stephen wanted it for the Earl of Leicester plus Hugh de Mortimer and Gilbert de Lacy were both trying to take Ludlow. Marion's lover de Lys was on the side of Gilbert de Lacy. Castle security was of the utmost importance but even so Marion and Arnold found a way to meet. Marion would lower a rope from the castle for Arnold to climb for their secret assignations. But one night, knowing that Josce de Dinan was away from the castle, Arnold left the rope hanging allowing Gilbert de Lacy's men to breach the castle. Realizing that Arnold had betrayed their love and ...
Post a Comment
Read more