Specific Location: Hungerford

Darrell’s Stile

Thought to be the site where the accused infanticide ‘Wild’ William Darrell of Littlecote House died in a hunting accident on 1 October 1589. He is said to haunt the stile.

Littlecote House Hotel, Hungerford

Part of the Warner Leisure group, the Littlecote House Hotel is a large Elizabethan country house with a reputation for being haunted. John Ingram in his ‘The Haunted Homes and Family Traditions of Great Britain (1897) gives the following account.

Hocktide

7th May – Hocktide which was a medieval English festival was generally celebrated on the second Tuesday after Easter.  The men of the village would tie up the women and demand a kiss for their release.  The following day thewomen would tie up the men and demand money for their release which would go to Parish funds.  It is suggested that it celebrates the massacre of the Danes in the 11t