The Old Rectory is a Queen Anne style building, which was rebuilt after a fire in 1709. The rectory was home to the Reverend Samuel Wesley, his wife Susanna and their children, one of whom was John Wesley. He grew up to become a founder of the Methodist Church. The building has has been restored and is now the property of the World Methodist Council, who maintain it as a museum.

 

The Rectory is renowned for being the location of one of the most well-known and documented hauntings or poltergiest cases. The events in 1716 were recorded by Samuel Wesley's journal, correspondence with Samuel Junior and John Wesley's own account written much later and published in the 'Arminian Magazine'. The entity, whom the family termed 'Old Jeffrey', arrived on Christmas Day 1716 and ended in January 1717. The apparition was said to look like "a headless badger", and other phenomena included various noises.