Chagford, Devon
The Three Crowns is renowned throughout Devon for its compelling supernatural history, primarily centred around two tragic figures whose untimely deaths forever linked their spirits to this ancient granite building. The most frequently encountered apparition is Sydney Godolphin, known locally as the Chagford Cavalier, a young Royalist poet and Member of Parliament for Helston who met his tragic end during the English Civil War in February 1643. Following a fierce skirmish between Royalist and Parliamentary forces outside Whyddon House (as the building was then known), Godolphin was mortally wounded by musket fire, reportedly shot in the buttocks, and carried to the stone porch where infection quickly set in and claimed his life the following morning. His commanding officer remembered him as 'an absolute piece of virtue as ever our nation bred', and it seems this reverence has kept his spirit bound to the place of his death. Witnesses consistently describe encountering a flamboyantly dressed cavalier figure complete with plumed hat and period military uniform, appearing both on the historic stone porch where he died and wandering the hotel's corridors. The second tragic spirit is that of Mary Whiddon, a member of the family who owned the manor for centuries, whose story reads like something from a romantic tragedy. In 1641, Mary was shot dead on the steps of St Michael's Church opposite the hotel immediately after her wedding ceremony, allegedly by a jealous former lover who couldn't bear to see her married to another. Her lifeless body was carried back to the family home, and her spirit has been witnessed in the Bishop's Room and upstairs corridors, forever mourning her stolen wedding day and truncated life.
Sydney Godolphin (The Chagford Cavalier), Mary Whiddon (The Tragic Bride)
Sydney Godolphin's appearances have been documented by countless witnesses over nearly four centuries, establishing him as one of Devon's most consistently active spirits. Staff members and guests regularly report seeing a distinguished figure in full Cavalier dress, complete with flamboyant period costume and distinctive plumed hat, materialising suddenly in corridors and rooms throughout the hotel. His manifestations often begin with witnesses catching glimpses of him standing solemnly on the stone porch where he died, sometimes smiling broadly before vanishing, other times appearing melancholy and forlorn as if still processing his untimely death. Hotel staff have described their hair standing on end when encountering the cavalier silhouetted in white while walking through darkened corridors during night shifts. One chef was particularly startled when Godolphin's ghost walked directly through an unopened door into the bar area, demonstrating his apparent mastery over the building's incredibly thick granite walls. Guests frequently report being gently surprised when entering their rooms to find the cavalier standing there momentarily before disappearing, though his presence never feels threatening or malevolent. Mary Whiddon's spirit manifests quite differently, her appearances characterised by an atmosphere of profound sadness and loss. Witnesses report sensing her presence most strongly in the Bishop's Room and along the upstairs corridors, where she seems to drift in her wedding dress, forever mourning the life that was stolen from her on what should have been her happiest day. Some guests have reported hearing mysterious footsteps along carpeted corridors at around 4 AM, with no logical source for the sounds, which housekeeping staff attribute to Mary's restless wandering. Her story has become so embedded in local folklore that visitors often report feeling overwhelming emotions of grief and loss in certain areas of the hotel, as if Mary's eternal sorrow continues to permeate the very stones of the building where her body was brought after the shooting.
The heartbroken spirit of Mary Whiddon, shot dead on her wedding day in 1641 by a jealous former lover as she left St Michael's Church, whose body was carried back to her family home.
The distinguished spirit of Sydney Godolphin, a 33-year-old Royalist poet and MP who died from musket wounds on the hotel's stone porch during a Civil War skirmish in February 1643.
16th century (built 1550s-1560s)
Manor house and dower house for the Whiddon family
The Three Crowns stands as one of Devon's most architecturally significant historic buildings, constructed in the mid-16th century of solid Dartmoor granite as the dower house for Sir John Whiddon, who died in 1575. The building showcases the finest 16th century façade in Chagford, including magnificent granite stonework, splendid mullioned windows, and massive oak beams that create an atmosphere of stepping back into a bygone age. Archaeological investigations have revealed that the current building was constructed across three medieval burgage plots, with evidence suggesting previous high-status buildings may have been lost to fire. The property served as the family home of the wealthy Whiddons for several centuries, becoming intertwined with local tragedy when Mary Whiddon was shot dead on her wedding day in 1641 at the nearby church steps. The building's transformation from manor house to inn occurred sometime in the late 17th century as the Whiddon family fortunes declined, initially operating as the Black Swan before becoming the Three Crowns. The hotel's granite walls are so thick that even paranormal investigators marvel at the ghostly feat of spirits passing through them. Today, it stands as a Grade II* listed building, recognised as 'particularly important and of more than special interest', testament to its exceptional architectural and historical value.
16th century granite construction with Tudor features, mullioned windows, massive oak beams and open fireplaces
Apparitions in period dress, figures walking through granite walls, phantom footsteps in corridors, cold spots, doors opening unexpectedly, sensations of being watched, emotional atmospheres of sadness
Stone porch (Sydney Godolphin's death site), hotel corridors, Bishop's Room (Mary Whiddon sightings), bar area, upstairs corridors and guest rooms
Multiple landlords, chefs, housekeeping staff and guests have reported encounters spanning centuries. One landlord, despite claiming not to believe in ghosts, described seeing the cavalier silhouetted in white during a midnight corridor walk. Kitchen staff have witnessed Godolphin walking through unopened doors. Guests frequently report being startled by the cavalier's sudden appearances in their rooms. A contemporary visitor reported heavy footsteps in carpeted corridors at 4 AM with no identifiable source, corroborated by housekeeping staff familiar with Mary Whiddon's story
The hotel has attracted paranormal investigators and enthusiasts for decades due to its consistent supernatural activity. The building's reputation has been featured on various paranormal websites and publications, with researchers particularly intrigued by the spirits' ability to pass through the exceptionally thick Dartmoor granite walls. The hotel's supernatural reputation has been documented in multiple ghost-hunting publications and websites, establishing it as one of Devon's premier paranormal destinations
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near stone porch (sydney godolphin's death site) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Historic accommodation packages, locally-sourced dining experiences, Dartmoor exploration packages, romantic getaway breaks
Historic building with some accessibility limitations, contact hotel directly for specific requirements, car parking available
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