5 Spooky Secrets of Wymering Manor
One of England’s oldest - and most haunted - houses.
Tucked away in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Wymering Manor is more than just old bricks and creaky floors. With origins tracing back to the Saxon era, this manor has survived conquests, religious turmoil, and wartime Britain - all while accumulating one of the richest collections of ghost stories in the country. As investigators prepare to spend the night here, we’re peeling back five of its darkest, strangest secrets - all rooted in real history and chilling reports.
It Was Listed in the Domesday Book (1086)
Wymering Manor is one of the few surviving buildings in Britain mentioned in William the Conqueror’s Domesday Book, placing its existence at least as early as 1086. The land belonged to King Edward the Confessor before the Norman invasion, and the original house may have stood on Saxon foundations.
Through the centuries, it passed through powerful hands - from the Warblington family to the Bilsons, with links to ecclesiastical and royal circles. Every significant period of English history has left its imprint here — and some believe its ghost spans across those centuries.
👻Local folklore claims that even the ancient timbers of the house retain energy - including from the Roman road that once ran nearby.
People Hear a Phantom Latin Choir
Several independent witnesses have reported hearing chanting or singing in Latin echoing through the halls - usually with no identifiable source. One theory connects this to hidden priest holes discovered during renovation works. These were used during the Reformation, when Catholic clergy were persecuted under Elizabeth I's rule.
The chilling part?
Recordings have allegedly captured Gregorian-style harmonies
Some have described it as low and mournful; others say its overlapping voices are like a group in mid-mass.
No audio systems were active at the time
Could it be the residual energy of a secret mass? Or something more intelligent, echoing the building's past?
The Mirror in the Blue Room Shows ‘‘Things That Shouldn’t Be There”
One of the manor's most talked-about haunted objects is an antique mirror located in the Blue Room. Guests and investigators alike have reported seeing figures reflected behind them, only to find the room completely empty when they turn around.
Documented claims include:
A man in a dark cloak appears briefly in the mirror
Faces pressed up to the glass
One guest allegedly fainted after watching their own reflection smile independently
This isn't just a jump scare - paranormal teams using EMF and temperature equipment have recorded unexplained anomalies centred around the mirror. Whether it's a portal, a cursed object, or a hotspot for residual energy, it's one of the building's most unnerving features.
The Legend of the Bloodstained Nun
This story is rooted in tragedy and horror. According to long-standing legend, a young nun was murdered - either for breaking her vows or during a period of religious unrest - and her body was hidden within the manor's structure.
Her ghost has been described as:
Wearing tattered robes
Dripping with blood from her hands
Appearing near the old servants' quarters and stairwell
Several guests over the years have reported sudden feelings of grief or guilt, cold sports, and even the sound of sobbing. In one chilling account, a visitor reported feeling their hand being gripped tightly by something invisible - right where the nun is said to appear.
Sir Francis Austen’s Spirit May Still Linger
One of the manor's most surprising links is to Sir Francis Austen, a Royal Navy Admiral and older brother of author Jane Austen. He lived at Wymering Manor in the mid-19th century after his retirement.
Though Sir Francis died peacefully, several sightings have been reported of a tall man in naval dress, often near the study and upstairs corridors. Is it a residual haunting - a loop of a once-powerful man walking the home he loved? Or could it be something imitating a familiar face?
The Austen connection deepens the manor's mystique, drawing literary fans and paranormal investigators alike.
Bonus Lore: Other Reported Activity
In addition to the above, Wymering Manor has a long list of spooky phenomena:
Unexplained footsteps on the upper floors
Doors opening and slamming shut without cause
Children's laughter heard from empty rooms
Cold spots so extreme they've frosted over camera lenses
The building is now run by the Wymering Manor Trust, who continue to preserve and investigate its mysteries.
Final Thoughts
Wymering Manor isn't just one of Britain's oldest buildings - it's also one of its most paranormally layered. With hundreds of years of trauma, religion, war, and grief embedded in its walls, it's no wonder so many spirits seem to linger.
I'll be investigating it in person this weekend, and I'll bring the complete kit. Let's hope we leave with answers... and not attachments.
Beth 🖤