Minsden Chapel, in Hertfordshire, was built in the 14th century, but by the 18th century had fallen into a state of disrepair, and was abandoned in 1738, when masonry started falling during a wedding.

In the early part of the 20th century, historian Reginald Hine made a deal to lease the old ruin, from the church, for the remainder of his lifetime. Such was his love and protective attitude toward the ruin, that he issued a dire warning to all tresspassers.

His warning was, that he would, `...proceed against them with the utmost rigour of the law and after my death and burial, I will endeavour in all ghostly ways to protect and haunt it's hallowed walls.' In 1949 he was buried in the chapel ruins, and his grave now lies beneath the undergrowth.

Naturally, the chapel has a ghost, a phantom monk that ascends a long-since missing staircase. His appearance is preceeded by the old abbey's bells, also long-since gone, and as he climbs the spectral staircase, mournful music can be heard.

In 1907, a photographer, T.W. Latchmore took a photograph of the ruins, and claimed to have captured the spectral monk on film. But did he?

Below, Latchmore's photograph...

And a close up.

Hi Cuffy I am sceptical. It looks like a picture of what someone in 1907 thought the ghost should look like.

Dot9M

I can't even make it out I'm afraid Cuffs......which way is it facing ????

Hi Cuffy

Apparently it was also a favourite spot of Peter Underwoods and apart from the monk there is also the sound of distant music and if i remember a little girl has been seen. oh an the site has been apparently used by Occult groups but that would not be suprising.
Funnily I am planning to go to Minsden Chapel soon if anyone is interested, once the weather gets better. Just to see for myself what the fuss is about and if there is a need for any.

Lottie

More info about Minsden Chapel:

As long ago as 1690 Minsden was reported to be 'totally ruinated, stripped, uncovered, decayed and demolished' but Reginald Hine, the Hertfordshire historian, leased the ruins for his lifetime ad cautioned 'trespassers and sacrilegious persons take warning, for I will proceed against them with utmost rigour of the law and after my death and burial, I will endeavour, in all ghostly ways, to protect and haunt its hallowed walls'. After Hine's tragic death his wife made of the ruins a memorial to her husband and the picturesque walls and arches seem to have been rescued from oblivion at the eleventh hour.

Minsden is traditionally associated with Alice Perrers, mistress of King Edward III, who is charged with stealing her royal lover's rings while he was on his deathbed. She infatuated the old king by 'occult spells' manufactured by her physician who was regarded as a 'mighty sorcerer' but eventually he was arrested on a charge of confecting love philtres and talismans.

All Hallows Eve, the night when ghosts are reputed to hold sway and be able to return and be visible, is the night of the years when Minsden's ghosts manifest and there are many stories of horses and dogs behaving as though they see or sense something invisible to their human companions as they climb towards Minsden Chapel on that night. Elliott O'Donnell told Peter Underwood that one All hallows Eve he heard sweet music here and thought he caught a glimpse of a white-robed figure standing in one of the archways.

It seems that the ghostly manifestations usually begin with the tolling of the lost bells of Minsden and as the sounds die away the figure of a monk is seen under the ivy-covered arch on the south side. Walking with bowed head he silently walks up steps no longer visible and disappears. After a moment the strains of sweet music fill the airbut almost as soon as the hearer is aware of the sounds they cease and all is quiet again.

Reginald Hine gave Peter permission to spend the night at Minsden one All HAllows Eve and on this occasion Peter heard music, but saw nothing.

It has a certain monkish mien, but I'm sure somewhwere it was revealed as a fake.

Hine, who had had a close association with Minsden, detailed a somewhat alarming encounter with another ghost, and had a distinctly odd death.

Underwood did visit the site on the appropriate night, but saw nothing of the monk. The ghost hunter caught a transient snatch of music, while his brother, nearby, heard nothing.

Ta Cuffy, now that I've seen it I have to agree with Lottie......all it's missing are some chains to rattle. .

Nice story all the same though and Lottie........take the camera please.....we live in hope lol

Yes, Marley's ghost. There is supposed to be a chained monk in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, btw.

*runs into thread*

*shouts*

IT'S A GREAT BIG FAT HAIRY FAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



*skips out again*

Oh yes the photo hehe!! Agree with Thistle absoloutely a fake. And if I do see a monk there I will go running up to it to make sure its not a hoaxer and then go screaming off down the lane when I realise its not! LOL

Lottie

You know what I mean ......... jippy git

Clanking chains are a bit of a cliche aren't they?
But they do feature in some cases. I've interviewed two people who were totally mortified to have to confess to hearing clanking chains!

Could ghosts with chains be another case of how the deceased envisaged themselves?

As Agent said, `Punishment for wickedness... Weighed down by chains, the links of which were forged in life.' Perhaps these are people who genuinely believed that would be their fate, and at the point of death, created that `replay.'

Or maybe ghosts with chains are just torture victims or the shades of those once imprisoned?

In 1991 I took a series of photos of Minsden Chapel for a school project, where one photo contain a shadowy monk-like shape. Funny enough it's more-or-less in the same position as the figure in the old photograph but it isn't that easy to see so I've highlighted the area in question. I think it's probably the arrangement of twigs and shadows, but it would be nice if it adds something to the old legend. The photograph is of the south side (the large hole would of been the main entrance for the congregation) and the photo was taken in February, not halloween!

There are some imperfections on the photo: the yellow dots are where the surface was rubbed away after I marked it with a black pen (you can see a small line by the monk's sleeve and one in the sky area - these were accidents done by me, whoops!)

Minsden Chapel is quite an atmospheric place, you approach via the bridleway and enter through the chancel area (the gap in the wall created by the absence of the main window, which I've heard is now in a church in St Ippollitts) lying on the ground is Reginald Hine's gravestone whose ashes were scattered on the site. It's a bit awkward to walk around because of the surrounding woods, but the area inside is usually clear from obstructions apart from the remains of campfires. The ghost appears to be situated in the far north-west corner of the nave facing towards the altar. Many visitors come over from the pub (I think its called the Royal Oak) where I think there is a rumour of a secret tunnel linking the two sites and stories of monks, nuns, secret rendevouz and tragic endings.

Yeah likely some wood and shadow, though good pic. However you could have just started a new thread instead of doing a four year necro