Ghostly encounters at National Trust estate ideal for ‘Dark Tourism’ enthusiasts

A historic estate, famed for ghostly legends and eerie sightings, is a top ‘Dark Tourism’ destination featuring spectral monks, mysterious apparitions and spine-chilling experiences alongside rich history

A National Trust property in Devon has become a notable spot for ‘dark tourism’ enthusiasts for its ghostly sightings, including a famous explorer.

National Trust properties are often known for their beauty and prestigious backgrounds, but there are some with dark pasts and abnormal sightings making them ideal for Halloween.

Buckland Abbey in Devon is not the traditional Halloween destination. Dating back to the 13th century as a monastery, the abbey has a wealth of historical stories. Its most well-known resident, Sir Francis Drake, lived at Buckland Abbey during the 1500s and famously helped to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588.

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Many individuals at the time he was alive, even believed Sir Francis had made a pact with the devil. In 1596, during the raids on Panama, Central America, Sir Francis fell ill with dysentery and shortly before he died, he ordered the drum that always accompanied him be taken back to Buckland Abbey and vowed that if England were ever in danger, someone should beat the drum and he would return to defend the country.

According to legend, the drum was heard at times of war, the last time being in 1939.

Some claim to have also seen Drake’s ghost ride across Dartmoor in a black coach, drawn by headless horses and frantically chased by a pack of hounds and 12 goblins. According to legend, the hounds are searching for the souls of unbaptised infants and any dog that barks at the commotion is said to die immediately.

Other paranormal activities have been noted at Buckland Abbey including ‘sightings’ of monks walking the staircases added long after the time they resided in the abbey. The monks are also often supposedly seen in the Great Hall, which was once at the heart of the abbey and where the nave would have been.

There have also been reported sightings of a well-dressed woman resembling former resident Elizabeth Beatrice Drake (Lady Seaton), who uncovered and restored the abbey’s chapel during the 1920s.

Eleanor Hopkinson, visitor operations and experience manager at Buckland Abbey, said there had been other reports of some other strange events thought to be linked to Lady Seaton. Flower petals have been seen on the top floor in the Long Gallery. After they were cleared up, the petals kept reappearing even though there are no flower displays on the top floor.

“’When I first started working here, I felt that the building was apprehensive of me but after I’d been here a while it seemed to accept me. I think it knows we’re here to look after it. There are strange things that happen here but none of it feels malicious,” said Eleanor.

Author of ‘Britain’s Ghosts: A Spine-chilling Tour of Our Most Haunted Places’, Anna Grove said: “Many of us are drawn to places with a rich history. The fabric of the building and the things it contains can delight the eye but what many of us want, myself included, is to know as much as we can about the people who lived there.

“That’s what really fires the imagination, and that imaginative response is the basis of many sightings.”

Buckland Abbey is open to the public and is home to many different things to explore including the abbey itself, the Great Barn, gardens, estate, a restaurant and a shop. Admission costs £15 per adult, but between November 4 and 29 and January 1 and February 15, admission is only £9 per adult.

The property also offers many seasonal events including guided tours of the gardens or orchard, Tudor cooking or small barn mini markets. If you want to spend more time there, you can also check out the Cider Cottage and stay at The Cider House and Starbed Hideaways.