Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

The Falstaff Experience

Clopton House

Clopton House is a 17th-century country mansion which has been converted into residential apartments. It is a Grade II* listed building. It is NOT open to the public.

 

The building is supposedly haunted by the wraith of Charlotte Clopton, who lived there in 1564. It was a time of the plague, and Charlotte fell ill. She was wrongly declared dead and interred. It was only when her mother died and was interred two weeks after Charlotte that they discovered her body at the entrance to the Vault. Charlotte had seemingly bitten herself to relieve the agony of her thirst.

 

Margaret Clopton, who was born in 1564, is also said to haunt the house. Unable to marry the man she loved, Margaret committed suicide by drowning herself in the stream to the rear of Clopton House. A priest allegedly murdered in the house, is also said to have been seen, and and his blood left a stain that remained for many years after it was spilled.

 

For further information, please read Britain's Haunted Heritage by J.A. Brooks.

The Falstaff Experience

The Falstaff Experience is situated at 40 Sheep Street (pictured above), and it an amazing place to visit, especially if you are on a budget. Walk down the oldest surviving cobbled street in Stratford and see recreations of the Tudor era, including a plague cottage. However, the building is reputed to be incredibly haunted.

 

There are a number of apparitions reported in the premises. These include an archer from the time of Henry VIII; a serial murderer from the 18th century; a little girl who was a pickpocket during the time the building was a tavern; a Catholic gentleman from the time of the reformation and a justice of the peace who used his power to run an extortion ring with threats, violence and trumped up charges. There are also sightings of the parliamentary soldiers, children and animals. During certain times of year a dark hooded figure with red glowing eyes, which is said to be a very ancient spirit, stands back and watches.

40 Sheep Street,

Stratford-Upon-Avon,

Warwickshire,

CV37 6EE.

 

For further information, please visit:

www.falstaffexperience.co.uk

The Red House Hotel

The author Coxe in “Haunted Britain” referred to the Red House Hotel as “being haunted”. However, searches to find this location have so far proved unsuccessful.

 

For further information, please read Haunted Britain by Antony D. Hippisley Coxe.

Location

Visitor Information

Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town in Warwickshire, England.

It lies on the River Avon, 22 miles southeast of Birmingham and 8 miles southwest of Warwick. The town is a popular tourist destination owing to its status as birthplace of English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, and receives an estimated 4.9 million visitors a year.

Pictured left is the Falstaff Experience courtesy of Rob Newman. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.