This magnificent ‘truly haunted’ Grade 1 listed Dorset Manor House was recently on sale for the first time in 287 years.
This magnificent ‘truly haunted’ Grade 1 listed Dorset Manor House was recently on sale for the first time in 287 years.
Sandford Orcas Manor was on the market last year for £6.5 million, through Knight Frank, for the first time since 1736.
This incredible manor house, said to be ‘truly haunted’, is among the most exquisite in the county.
In the 14th century, the manor was held by the Knoyle family from Wiltshire and, in 1533, was inherited by Edward Knoyle, who built the present house in about 1550.
Much of the interior stonework, such as the fireplaces in the hall and the parlour, dates from this period.
The fireplace in the hall is 16th century, with further 16th-century fireplaces in the Solar chamber-bedroom and upstairs chambers.
A stone spiral staircase at the west end of the screens passage leads to the Red Room ante-chamber, bedroom and bathroom, beyond which are the inner chamber and Great Chamber bedrooms.
The surrounding gardens and grounds complement the house perfectly with a mixture of established borders, mature trees and formal lawns, interspersed by attractive stone walls and with gravel pathways.
To the south of the house is a large swathe of lawn and parkland, which borders the agricultural land beyond.
According to Haunted Britain and Ireland, this house has been labelled ‘truly haunted.’
In the 18th century a farmer is said to have committed suicide by hanging himself from a trap door inside the house.
Quite what act of betrayal or infamy led to his taking such drastic measures is now long forgotten, but his ghostly form has been seen roaming around the building.
His nebulous ramblings received considerable publicity in the mid 1960's when a member of a BBC production team were caught a glimpse of him dressed in what she described as being an old-fashioned farmers hat and smock.
The witness became ill with fright when it was explained to her that she had, in fact, seen the ghostly farmer.
Haunted Britain and Ireland added that ‘so many ghostly tales swirl around it that many people consider it the most haunted house in England.
’Intrepid ghost-hunters really have their work cut out with the 14 ghosts that are said to reside there.’
According to their website, more ghosts consist of the following:
A lady in a beautiful red silk, Georgian dress; a little girl in black who is seen at the foot of the stairs; a wicked priest whom guests have awoken to find bending over their beds holding a black cape; and a sinister man who walks from the gatehouse to the staff quarters.
And if an encounter with any of these is insufficient to elicit cold shivers, there is always the ghost of the young man who, having grown up in the house, set off to join the navy.
But no sooner had he enrolled at Dartmouth College than he killed another cadet, was judged insane and was sent back to Sandford Orcas Manor.
Here, he was locked in a room at the back of the house and was never allowed to leave.
He is said to have died at the age of 27 and to have been buried in a secret passageway behind the Great Chamber.
But on certain nights when the moon is full, his ghostly cries are said to echo throughout the property and he is heard banging on the door of the room screaming to be released.
Would you be brave enough to buy this house?
The photos in this article were provided by Knight Frank, estate agents.
It looks like that house has now been sold, and therefore taken off the market.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please follow Exploring GB on Facebook for daily travel content and inspiration.
Don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts below!
Thank you for visiting Exploring GB.
