Mole Valley in Surrey may be known for its proximity to London (less than an hour by train) and stunning countryside at the heart of the Surrey Hills, but it also hides a more mysterious, spookier side…
Rich in history, Mole Valley boasts grand country estates, historic homes, ancient churchyards and intriguing ruins that allow visitors to step back in time and walk in the past. Now, with autumn turning the leaves and a distinct chill in the air, these sites come alive with hidden histories of ghoulish ghost stories and tortuous tales, ready and waiting to be unearthed.
Visit Mole Valley, Mole Valley’s official tourism site, shares the region’s top six spooky spots guaranteed to give you goosebumps this Halloween and beyond…
Polesden Lacey, Bookham
The former weekend retreat of socialite Margaret Greville, who hosted and entertained high society at long weekends and lavish parties on the estate, Polesden Lacey is a beautiful Edwardian mansion and 1,600 acre estate known for its springtime rose gardens, exquisite collections and Surrey Hills views. Today managed by the National Trust, Polesden Lacey is said by some to have an unsettling side. For many years, rumours have told of a spectral figure that walks the estate on foggy nights, with some saying that this figure is a hooded monk, identifiable by his long brown cloak.
Betchworth Castle, Betchworth
Dating back to the Elizabethan period, Betchworth Castle was originally built as a fortress, becoming a family home as the centuries passed. Purchased by Thomas Hope in 1834 as part of the Deepdene Estate, who made of the castle into a romantic ruin, the crumbling castle is said to be haunted by the man’s ghost. Legend tells the tale of a prisoner who escaped from the manor house, after whom Lord Hope chased in the dark, tragically killing his own son instead when he mistakenly thought he was the escaped man. Lord Hope’s anguished ghost is not the only spectre said to haunt Betchworth Castle, with the ruins also said to be haunted by the ghost of a black dog that prowls at night.
Labilliere’s Grave, Box Hill
Peter Labilliere (spelt Labelliere on the tombstone) was a resident of Dorking and one of the town’s most curious characters. A one-time major in the British Army before leaving to become a political agitator, as the years went by, Labilliere became increasingly eccentric, often referred to as ‘the walking dung hill’ due to his stench. In modern times known locally as the man that was buried upside down, Labilliere left instructions that on his death he should be buried head-down, thinking the world was topsy-turvy and he would be the right way up. Today, some say that his sword-wielding ghost still roams the hilltop at Box Hill close to the mysterious gravesite.
Church of St John the Baptist, Capel
The Church of St John the Baptist in the delightful village of Capel may be a handsome example of the hamlet-chapels of the late 12th or early 13th centuries, but it also has a more bone-chilling tale attached that makes it perfect for a visit during spooky season. The churchyard of this Grade II listed church is not only home to historic graves, the oldest dating back to 1694, but also to an ancient yew tree thought to be some 1,700 years old. Curiously it is said that if you walk around the tree a hundred times at midnight, a ghostly apparition appears.
Pippbrook House, Dorking
Designed by the renowned architect, George Gilbert Scott, and built between 1856 and 1858, Pippbrook House features ornate arched windows, lavishly painted ceilings, marble fireplaces and elaborately carved woodwork in-keeping with its Grade II* listing. Today managed as an event space and creative hub by the team at Dorking Halls, perhaps not surprisingly, this Victorian gothic mansion is also said to be one of Surrey’s most haunted spots. Tales tell of a ghostly butler that has been spotted staring out of the upstairs windows silently watching passers-by, as well as of a grey lady that haunts the staircase. Perhaps most chilling however are the stories of knives thrown down the stairs by an angry poltergeist…
Wotton House, Wotton
Once the home of renowned botanist, John Evelyn, and boasting some of the finest Italian gardens in England, Wotton House is today a stylish 125 bedroom country house hotel that provides the perfect base for a countryside escape in the Surrey Hills. With a long and illustrious history stretching more than 400 years, it is not surprising that Wotton House is said to have its very own ghost – or two! Firefighters sent to put out a blaze at the property in the 1960s claimed to see a ghostly figure carrying fishing gear roaming the night-time grounds and it is also said that the ghost of Samuel Wilberforce can be spotted staring from the house’s front windows on the anniversary of his untimely passing.
For more ideas of places to visit and things to do in Mole Valley, see: visitmolevalley.co.uk and follow @visitmolevalley on both Instagram and Facebook.
