Lewdown, Devon
Lewtrenchard Manor is renowned for its peaceful but persistent hauntings, most famously the tragic bride Susannah Gould who died of heart failure whilst returning from her wedding ceremony on 19th March 1729. Her forlorn phantom, still dressed in her wedding gown, is said to drift sadly along the very drive where the tragedy occurred. The manor is also home to the benevolent spirit of Margaret Gould, affectionately known as 'Old Madam', who died in 1794 after successfully rescuing the family finances from her gambling son's debts. This spirited matriarch continues to wander the Long Gallery, keeping a watchful eye over her beloved home. Local folklore tells of her protective nature, with accounts of her confronting intruders and even chasing away a carpenter who dared peek into the family vault. The presence of Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould himself is also felt throughout the house, with his spirit said to imbue the entire manor, particularly evident in the front hall where his portrait hangs. The hauntings are universally described as peaceful, reflecting the deep emotional connections these former residents maintained with their cherished home.
Susannah Gould (The Wedding Day Bride), Margaret 'Old Madam' Gould, Sabine Baring-Gould's Presence
The most poignant haunting concerns Susannah Gould, whose wedding day joy turned to tragedy in an instant. Historical accounts describe how she was returning from her marriage ceremony at the local church when she suddenly gasped in anguish and collapsed on the manor's drive, dying instantly from heart failure. Witnesses report seeing her ethereal figure, still clad in her wedding dress, drifting along the same stretch of driveway where her earthly life ended so abruptly. The apparition appears as a forlorn, melancholy figure, suggesting the profound sorrow of a life cut short on what should have been its happiest day. Margaret 'Old Madam' Gould presents a contrasting ghostly presence - one of protective vigilance rather than sorrow. After her death in 1794, she began appearing throughout the manor, particularly in the Long Gallery where she paces whilst keeping watch over the house. Local accounts describe her as wearing a phosphorescent light and sometimes combing her long brown hair with a silver comb. Her protective nature manifests in confrontational encounters with perceived threats to the property, including forcing an apple-stealing girl to return stolen fruit from the orchard. One particularly dramatic account tells of a carpenter who opened her family vault, only to claim she sat up, opened her eyes, and followed him home whilst emanating intense light. The manor also resonates with Sabine Baring-Gould's scholarly presence, felt most strongly in the book-lined Long Gallery and near his portrait in the front hall.
The benevolent but watchful spirit of Margaret Gould, the formidable businesswoman who saved the family estate and continues to guard her beloved manor.
The enduring spirit of Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, the renowned writer and folklorist who so loved Lewtrenchard Manor that his presence still permeates the house.
The tragic spirit of Susannah Gould, who died of heart failure on her wedding day in 1729, still drifts along the manor drive in her wedding gown.
Early 17th century (built circa 1600, substantially remodelled 1881)
Jacobean manor house and family seat
Lewtrenchard Manor stands as one of Devon's most historically significant country houses, with parts dating from around 1600. Originally owned by Sir Thomas Monk, the estate was sold in 1626 to Henry Gould due to financial difficulties, beginning its association with the Gould family that would span centuries. The manor became the ancestral seat of the Gould family and later the Baring-Gould dynasty through marriage. Most notably, it was the beloved home of Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924), the prolific writer, folklorist, and composer of 'Onward Christian Soldiers'. Baring-Gould substantially remodelled the house from 1881, creating what Cherry and Pevsner described as 'an intriguing creation'. The manor features remarkable architectural elements including the Long Gallery with its leather-bound books and remarkable wooden ceiling, wood-panelled dining rooms, and original Jacobean features. The property includes Walter Sarel-designed gardens with formal terraces, a granite cloister loggia based on the Moretonhampstead almshouses of 1637, and extensive grounds. Listed Grade II*, the manor embodies centuries of English country house tradition and literary heritage, having inspired George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion through Baring-Gould's romance with mill girl Grace Taylor.
Jacobean manor with Victorian remodelling, featuring original oak beams, wood panelling, and period features
Apparitions in wedding dress on the drive, protective confrontations by Old Madam, footsteps in the Long Gallery, phosphorescent lights, phantom combing of hair, watchful presence in corridors
The main drive (Susannah's apparition), Long Gallery (Old Madam's pacing), Front Hall (Baring-Gould's presence), Family vault at local church, Manor corridors and passageways
Multiple generations of the Baring-Gould family reported encounters with Old Madam throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Local villagers have long spoken of seeing the White Lady along the drive and in the grounds. A carpenter's account of Old Madam rising from her coffin became local legend. Modern visitors and hotel guests continue to report unexplained presences and atmospheric phenomena, though specific recent testimonies remain largely private.
While formal paranormal investigations are not widely documented, the manor has been featured in various ghost and folklore publications. The haunting accounts have been preserved in Sabine Baring-Gould's own folklore collections and local oral traditions spanning over two centuries.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near the main drive (susannah's apparition) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
Lewtrenchard Manor, Lewdown, EX20 4PN, Devon, England
Phone: +44 1566 783222
Status: Operating (recently reopened)
Wedding packages, romantic breaks, ghost story experiences, exclusive use available for groups up to 30
Historic building with some accessibility challenges, contact hotel for specific requirements, dog-friendly accommodation available
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