For over a thousand years, Waltham Abbey, Essex, England, has been a place for Christian worship. During this time the church has been associated with ghostly figures and mystical music which haunt the grounds at night.
A ghost dressed in a black cloak is regularly witnessed by the local residence as it passes them by, then mysteriously disappears leaving a lingering smell of incense
In the late 18th century, a local female committed suicide in the river Lea after rejection from her lover. Her sad spirit is said to haunt the abbey ruins. She waves her arms beckoning people to her, and then disappears.
There is also believed to be a mass grave somewhere in the abbey grounds. The dissolution of the monasteries began in the 1520s. Henry VIIIs soldiers came to Waltham Abbey in 1540. This was the last monastery to be destroyed. Several monks of the abbey were murdered and buried.
To bring the story up to date: in January 2003 a local man ran wild around the grounds waving an axe around in an angry manner. He then ran into the abbey attacking two people and causing £200,000 of damage to various precious artefacts. The whole community was in a state of shock; their beloved church was left in ruins.
Visit Waltham Abbey Yourself
Further true stories:
The founders of spiritualism - Fox Sisters
