Everyone loves a good Ghost story especially when they are, relatively speaking, on your doorstep. Coming up to Halloween, what better way to mark the occasion by telling a few ghost stories from the local area? When I started researching this article I assumed there would be maybe a couple of stories, but it seems Waterlooville and its immediate surrounding area has quite a wealth of ghostly sightings. Whatever you believe, they certainly make fascinating reading:
Hopfield House, Maralyn Avenue, Waterlooville
A very famous haunting listed in many official publications. Hopfield House is a Victorian Gothic style house which stands ominously at the end of Maralyn Avenue. Once a countryside retreat has now been converted into flats, the house was originally built by a man called Edward Fawkes and resented the idea of anyone living in the house apart from his direct descendants. It is said that Fawkes’ spirit haunts the building and at one time drove two previous owners to commit suicide by making their life intolerable. As a resident of Waterlooville, I had never seen Hopfield House and for the purposes of this story I had to visit to take a picture. I’d have to say that, although the house is now clearly converted into flats it is strikingly ominous and has quite a presence along Maralyn Avenue – I actually found it eerie and even quite intimidating.
Hulbert Road, Waterlooville
There are many similar stories regarding the ghost of young girl hitch-hiker either standing in The Hulbert Road or waiting for a lift by the side of the road. The young girl is said to be the ghost of a hitch-hiker who was hit by a car along the road in 1976. Some stories reportedly see a girl in the centre lane of oncoming traffic and horrified drivers think they’ve hit her. One driver gave a lift to a young girl from The Hulbert Road on a rainy night, when he arrived at the given address only a wet seat remained whether the girl had sat – she had faded away before the driver reached the destination.
hulbert-road
Ferndale, Waterlooville
So the story goes, that an old animal Drover (a person who moves livestock), hanged himself on an oak tree in the 1850s. Legend has it that he a brooding man smoking a pipe and when he disappears the smell of tobacco remains in the air.
I have personally smelt tobacco smoke on this road – but there was nobody around.
Merchistoun Hall, Horndean
With an lovely old, grade II listed house like this it would be disappointing if there wasn’t ghost stories attached to it! Indeed, there are many sightings from this beautiful old house and there are regular ghost tours.
Merchistoun Hall’s history dates back to the 1660s and was at one point, owned by Admiral Napier. The building is now owned by Horndean Community Association, and it was purchased in the 1950’s using funds donated by local residents.
As far as ghost stories go there are many, but Admiral Napier himself is said to roam his bedroom; his dark figure with flaming red eyes staring at you. Apparently there is a grey hooded figure wandering the grounds as well.
I’ve not seen anything unusual at Merchistoun Hall but I have spoken to many that have seen apparitions.
Colonial Bar, Horndean
The Colonial Bar in Horndean was previously called the The Good Intent, and before that The Woodman. The building has been in Horndean since at least the early 1800s, so inevitably there is the odd Ghost story attached to it. There are various anecdotes and tales which include a sighting of a female figure wearing Victorian clothing with a distinctive skirt bustle. This apparition is known as the ‘Grey Lady’, and is said to walk across dance floor area of the pub. Mysterious footsteps have been heard around the building when staff have been working alone.
Red Lion, Horndean
There are a many stories from this very old pub in Horndean:
- An old lady has been seen frequently over the years, especially on the staircase.
- A dress was once stolen from a past owner and the next day she found it ripped up under her bed.
- A waitress is said to have seen a glass smashing and the ghost of an elderly woman disappearing.
- There are many reports of doors opening and closing, latches lifting and then dropping.
- An old woman is said to have taken her life from a room upstairs and people have reportedly felt the ‘urge’ to jump from the window in the ‘suicide room’.
- Many patrons and resident have also sensed they have been ‘touched’ by an unseen presence.
- There are also reports of a lively spirit of a young ‘roughly dressed and in the style of a street tart’ who can be seen singing or laughing in the old part of the pub.
Ship and Bell, Horndean
Originally built from wood, the Ship and Bell burnt down and was re-built in the current Victorian style in 1869. There is said to be a ghost of an army officer. The owner of the pub was stopped in the staircase by this ghostly spectre.
What are your sights and spirits of Waterlooville? We’d love to know!
Happy Halloween everyone!
Just in the Fox & Hounds in Waterlooville and they are all set for Halloween…
Remember being told of the hall at Horndean being haunted
,
Oh dear lord, I live in that haunted house!!!!!!!
and me (gulp) xxx
Haley Blackmore
Sam Olby
Michael Dearing George Burnett
Naomi Rochelle Meszynski?? Don’t read if you believe in ghosts but I can say I’ve never noticed anything freaky when at yours?? Xx
Haha!!! It’s gonna freak u out if Lilly starts barking at nothing?! Naomi Rochelle Meszynski
i thought the drummer boy walked the dungeons and tunnels from widley farm upto the fort on top of the hill ?
Darryl Gibbs I remember you saying the colonial is haunted! Xx
Yh upstairs about 2am u can hear people talking, chairs being moved. Also quite often feels like ur being watched n doors slam shut on there own. When there was that bad snow storm that the a3 was closed in 2009/2010 it was like a gust of wind came through the flat up stairs but you heard it come along the hall way through the living room n down the stairs to the pub the sound then dissappeared
I’ve lived just off Lovedean lane my whole life and we decided to research into it once, just out if curiosity. We found that there used to be an estate called Keydell House (or something similar) which used to spread from around the too half of what is now Cypress Crescent. We live in one of the houses where this used to be and both myself and my sister (on separate occasions) have been woken up during the night from a sense that we are being watched, only to see a haze and a green man figure walking across the room- as if he was walking down a corridor. If I remember rightly, the house was once owned by an army general and his picture scarily matched the description of the green man we had seen! Definitely worth looking into!
Sam Miller
Brian Flynn Sandy Flynn
Tracy Bentham
I love my haunted house lol xx
My bedroom door often opens after I close it and it’s a heavy old door
Ghost or not – I love living at hopfield house
Cr Robba – u prob knew a these though.
my dad owns Keydell Nurseries, years ago it was a georgian walled garden. there hav been sightings from both customers and staff of a georgian lady. she moves alot of stock too playing tricks on us
Lived at cedar close in the 70s to 8os knew bout hopfield house being haunted then. Noticed an old lady back in the90s walking through the corridor
I live right by Ferndale and have too experienced the smell of tobacco and no one actually being present whilst I was walking down the road- never thought much of it at the time but after reading this it is amazing. Also, I know of people (who weren’t being the smartest of people for doing it), that did an Ouija board in the grounds or Merchistoun Hall (not knowing anything about the fact it is haunted) and one of the girls ended up with a scratch right across her. Luckily they don’t have any trouble now; but this only happened within the last year or so.
The Spotted Cow in Cowplain also has resident ghost
Has anyone ever seen the “ghost nun” standing on the tree stump by the pond at Merchistoun Hall? We would watch at twilight back in the 80’s to see if we could catch a glimpse, but never did.
I was very interested in your ghostly tales of Waterlooville. My wife’s great aunt was a local character Kate Smith who was the landlady of the original Woodman pub in Purbrook. I have been told that she haunts a house that she used to live in in The Crescent . Apparently the people that were aware of her in the house said she was a gentle person which really doesn’t sound like her at all as she was a absolute tartar and used to send my wife’s grandfather home very drunk just to annoy his wife!! Does anyone know about a murder that took place near Butser Hill? My mother in law commented once as she drove past the hill, ‘That was where the family murder took place.’ We were all so stunned no one thought to ask if the family member was the murderer or murderee!
I am descended from Thomas and Sarah Smith on my mother’s side. Sarah Smith looked after the children at the rectory. There was a Cousin Kate who kept the Woodman, daughter of George Smith whom my Great Uncle Arthur “Bert” Smith used to visit according to my mother.
Julia Operman
Steve Goodyer Sarah Goodyer Was Worth
Julia Operman
Catherine Goff
I know hopfield house is haunted, I’ve seen something hanging/swinging in one of the bedroom windows. I am surprised it didn’t mention Johnson coppice though.
What’s the story for johnsons coppice?
Clive Thomas
there is a ghostly spirit that haunts 17 broadmeadows lane,it is an elderly lady in an old fashioned dressing gown.i see her quite often on the stairs.She has a weird shuffling walk, accompanired some times with a strange little dog.
You’ll be in trouble for that
I am always in trouble.Its just the depth that varies.
loved reading all this.
When I was a kid , 8 years old , we moved into a house on Lovedean lane , better not say the number ( suffice to say it was very close to the woods at the brow of the hill. Moved in there about 1976/77.
Didn’t actually SEE a ghost but without a doubt that place has some haunting. My parents really tried to play it down at the time , obviously not wanting three scared young kids, but years later us kids swapped stories with our parents , that was quite chilling in itself as it was absolute confirmation that we hadn’t been imagining things.