Haunted Abbeys
Whitby Abbey in North Yorkshire, England
Do you know what an abbey is? Well folks, an abbey is a monastery or convent under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who happens to serve as the spiritual father or mother of the community. Over the centuries, some of these monasteries have long ceased to function as abbeys and are now abandoned or are in ruins. Which brings us to our subject for the day. Ever been to a haunted abbey?
Haunted abbeys are quite common especially around Europe. There are always legends attached to these massive foreboding structures found throughout the globe, and more often than not, these stories involve ghosts.
One classic example is Westminster Abbey in London, where over 3000 people and 17 monarchs are buried. There are supposedly two ghosts that haunt the Abbey, the ghost of monk Father Benedictus as well as an infantry soldier from the First World War.
Here are some other abbeys that are said to be haunted as well:
Whitby Abbey, an abbey in North Yorkshire, England, is allegedly haunted by St Hilda’s ghost, and it is said that she has been seen frequently in one of the Abbey’s highest windows. The story of the apparition even made it into Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula.
In France, Mortemer Abbey, a former Cistercian monastery in the Forest of Lyons, is said to be haunted by Matilda of England. There are also a number of other legends surrounding the abbey, thus giving it the nickname “most haunted abbey in France.”
Rufford Abbey, a Cistercian monastery turned country house in Nottinghamshire, England, is said to be one of the most haunted places in England, especially inside the still-intact abbey chapel. Many of the ghost stories even involve children.
In Scotland, Melrose Abbey is allegedly haunted by the ghosts of monks that still wander around their former home. In addition, the so called black magician, Michael Scott is also said to haunt his own grave.
Several abbeys in Essex, England, are also said to be haunted. Tilty Abbey, is supposedly haunted by a headless monk. Coggeshall Abbey, by the ghostly apparition of a wrinkled monk. And Beeleigh Abbey, by a hooded figure that stands in the corner of a room.
There are hundreds of haunted abbeys scattered all over the globe. In the UK alone there seems to be dozens. Because of their age, these ancient monasteries will always have legends attached to them, and the older they get, the more the stories would grow.
Sources:
http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/index.php/haunted-churches/369-westminster-abbey-london-england
http://www.londonparanormal.com/landmarks/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortemer_Abbey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey
http://travelogged.com/2010/04/08/rufford-abbey-haunted/
http://hubpages.com/hub/Scotlands-Haunted-Abbeys
http://eerieplace.com/3-haunted-abbeys-in-essex/
Photo Credits
Photo By Archangel12 via StockPholio.com
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