Borley Rectory: The Most Haunted House in England

For over seven decades, Borley Rectory in rural Essex was the site of intense paranormal activity that earned it the title “The Most Haunted House in England.” The Victorian building experienced phantom footsteps, a spectral nun, objects thrown by unseen hands, mysterious wall writings, and séance communications—until it burned down in 1939, fulfilling a prediction made years earlier. When the ruins were excavated, workers found the skull of a young woman beneath the cellar floor.

The Building

The rectory was built in 1863 by Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull on the site of a medieval monastery. Local legend held that a monk from the monastery had conducted a forbidden affair with a nun from a nearby convent. When discovered, the monk was executed and the nun bricked up alive within the convent walls.

Whether this legend predated the rectory or grew from its hauntings remains unclear.

The Hauntings

The Bull Family Era (1863-1927)

The Bull family occupied the rectory for nearly 65 years and reported:

• A ghostly nun walking the grounds
• Phantom footsteps throughout the house
• A spectral coach driven by headless coachmen
• Unexplained sounds and cold spots

The nun became so familiar that family members reportedly treated her appearances casually.

The Smith Era (1928-1930)

When Reverend Guy Eric Smith and his wife moved in, activity intensified:

• Servant bells rang with no one pulling them
• Lights appeared in windows of empty rooms
• Footsteps echoed through unoccupied areas
• A skull was found wrapped in paper in a cupboard

The Smiths contacted the Daily Mirror, which sent reporter V.C. Wall and brought the rectory to public attention.

The Foyster Era (1930-1935)

Reverend Lionel Foyster, his wife Marianne, and their adopted daughter Adelaide moved in, and phenomena exploded:

• Objects thrown violently
• Marianne physically attacked (slapped, pushed)
• Mysterious messages appearing on walls, addressed to “Marianne”
• Bottles and stones hurled at visitors
• Lockings in rooms
• Writing appearing saying “Marianne please help get”

The Foysters eventually fled, unable to endure the activity.

The Price Investigation (1937-1938)

Harry Price, a famous paranormal investigator, leased the rectory in 1937. He recruited 48 observers for a year-long investigation. They documented:

• Temperature drops
• Object movement
• Strange sounds
• Séance communications predicting the rectory would burn down

The Fire and After

On February 27, 1939, the new owner was unpacking books when an oil lamp allegedly fell, starting a fire that destroyed the building—just as the séance had predicted.

During excavation of the ruins in 1943, workers found the skull of a young woman beneath the cellar floor, along with a religious medal. The remains were given a Christian burial.

Legacy

Borley Rectory remains controversial. Skeptics point to potential fraud, especially during the Foyster period. Believers note the consistent phenomena across multiple families over decades.

The rectory is gone, but the site remains a pilgrimage for paranormal enthusiasts seeking whatever lingers on those grounds.

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A rectory built on monastery ruins. A legend of a nun bricked up alive. Decades of phenomena culminating in fire. And beneath the cellar floor, the skull of a young woman waiting to be found. Borley Rectory earned its reputation—and took its secrets with it when it burned.