The Most Haunted House in England

Borley Rectory in Essex earned its reputation as the most haunted house in England through decades of reported phenomena, including apparitions of a phantom nun, poltergeist activity, and mysterious writings on walls. Paranormal investigator Harry Price made it famous worldwide.

The Building

Borley Rectory:

• Built 1862-1863
• Victorian Gothic style
• Remote Essex location
• Replaced older structure
• Clergy residence

The Legend

Local tradition:

• Medieval monastery nearby
• Nun and monk romance
• Forbidden love discovered
• Both executed
• Spirits returned

Early Phenomena

From construction:

• Footsteps heard
• Bells ringing
• Phantom coach
• Shadowy figures
• Servants fled

The Bull Family

Reverend Bull built it:

• Lived there decades
• Family saw apparitions
• Phantom nun walks
• In the garden
• Multiple witnesses

The Nun

Most famous ghost:

• Woman in black habit
• Gliding across grounds
• Sorrowful expression
• Seen by many
• At twilight

The Foyster Period

1930-1935:

• Reverend Foyster arrives
• Wife Marianne targeted
• Intense activity
• Objects thrown
• Messages appeared

Wall Writings

Strange messages:

• On walls and paper
• “Marianne please help”
• Childlike scrawl
• Appeared overnight
• Photographed

Harry Price

Famous investigator:

• Arrived 1929
• Documented everything
• Lived there
• Conducted séances
• Published findings

The Investigation

Price’s methods:

• Scientific approach
• Multiple witnesses
• Photographic evidence
• Daily logs
• Extensive records

Phenomena Documented

Price recorded:

• Objects moving
• Temperature drops
• Apparitions seen
• Sounds heard
• Physical effects

The Séance Prediction

Spirit communication:

• Fire predicted
• Rectory would burn
• Bones beneath
• Murder revealed
• 1939 deadline

The Fire

February 27, 1939:

• Rectory burned
• Mysterious origin
• Price vindicated
• Structure destroyed
• Prediction fulfilled

The Excavation

Bones discovered:

• Human remains found
• Beneath cellar
• Young woman
• Perhaps the nun
• Properly buried

Controversy

Critics argued:

• Price exaggerated
• Some hoaxing
• Marianne suspected
• Complicated truth
• Debate continues

Later Research

Subsequent investigations:

• SPR examined evidence
• Some phenomena genuine
• Others questionable
• Complex picture
• Legendary status

The Site Today

After demolition:

• Only foundations remain
• Still investigated
• Paranormal tourism
• Ghost walks
• Legend lives

Significance

Borley Rectory significant for:

• Decades of activity
• Professional investigation
• Extensive documentation
• Cultural impact
• Defining haunted house

Legacy

Though the rectory no longer stands, Borley remains synonymous with haunted houses. The combination of tragic legend, documented phenomena, and Harry Price’s investigations created the template for modern ghost hunting.