It’s the summer holidays, where we find wonderful things to bestow on the kids and create magical memories, but magic isn’t just for the kids. Adults everywhere still enjoy a bit of modern-day mysticism, whether it’s lighting a full moon candle or simply popping a crystal next to the bath, there’s just ‘something about it’.
Winchester, with its ancient woods, centuries of folklore and just the right amount of mystery, is the perfect place to tap into the mysterious. Not quite Charmed or Supernatural, think more Gilmore Girls with incense instead of junk food or Escape to the Chateau with a moon calendar. We’re taking a look at some of the local legends, from King Arthur’s Round Table to the ghosts of St Giles’ Hill, are you brave enough to visit?
Folklore and the Great British weather
Living in the UK, we love to talk about the weather, it’s positively part of our culture! But do you know the story of St Swithin and his weather curse superstition? It’s said that if it rains on July 15th, then it will continue to rain for the next 40 days. St. Swithin's remains were re-buried within Winchester Cathedral and the reported storm that occurred that night sparked the legend of this ‘curse’.
Winchester’s magical roots run deep, to the time of Anglo-Saxon spells and charms. One old incantation, delightfully named Wið færstice (pronounced with-fair-stitch-uh – the magical healing charm), warned of sudden pains caused by unseen forces. Think hags, elves, and rather formidable women shooting invisible arrows of pain towards unsuspecting passers-by. These otherworldly ladies were the original mysterious Spice Girls, and their legacy lingers on in the folklore of the region. If you’re over 21 and have ever blamed a random ache on the weather... maybe it was actually ancient magic?
Legends and ghost stories around Winchester
Now, let’s talk about King Arthur and his round table sitting proudly in Winchester’s Great Hall. A 13th-century wooden relic, later jazzed up by none other than Henry VIII (because of course he did) with painted knights, a Tudor rose, and plenty of artistic licence, possibly one of the only things that didn’t lose its head during that time! While historians might talk about tournaments and political symbolism, we prefer to think of it as the kind of place where ancient stories echo off the stone walls and chivalrous spirits maybe still hang about, sizing up your honour. Ghosts? Maybe not officially. But tell that to your imagination when the lights flicker during your next visit.
All corners of Winchester are steeped in history, including the great outdoors, namely St. Giles' Hill. This Saxon burial ground with graves dating back to 1694 later became the home to the biggest fairs in the land. The old cemetery, hidden among overgrown lime trees and ivy, is the perfect place for telling ghost stories. Winchester folklore also whispers of shadowy figures drifting near the Buttercross at dusk, a “shadow” apparition said to glide toward the cathedral when the bells toll around 8pm. So, if you’re up on St Giles’ hill at golden hour, you’ve got the perfect ingredients: old graves, fairground history, and a hint that maybe, not everything is sleeping soundly? Failing that, it’s a lovely spot to picnic and enjoy the vista of the city below! You can join your own Ghost Tour in Winchester and see for yourself.
Winchester’s pub scene is not exempt from a story or two, why not begin at The Eclipse Inn, a charming pub with beautiful original beam ceilings and delicious food, where Lady Alice Lisle is said to have spent her final night before being mysteriously and inexplicably led out through an upstairs window onto a scaffold in 1685. Patrons and staff report glimpses of a tall grey lady in the upper corridors, drifting silently in the shadowy hush above the bar…but they may have enjoyed one too many pints or indeed, belong to Ravenclaw (if you know, you know)!
There are so many tales to discover during your stay here, from the Highclere Grampus (a seriously bizarre legend of a tree‑dwelling sea creature haunting the Chapel grounds at Highclere, a mere 20 miles from Winchester town centre), to The Winchester Valkyries (folktales about 3 terrifying female spirits, who haunted the Water Meadows in early July 1971, terrifying a local man with venomous, paralyzing power before divine intervention saved him).
The list is endless, why not delve into this rich and colourful tapestry of myths, legends and strange happenings, we’d love to be your sanctuary, your home from home, your pied-à-terre and humble destination of choice. You can check out our availability right here: https://www.southwinchesterlodges.co.uk/contact/. So, whether you’re here to chase ghosts, soak up some moonlight, or just enjoy a pint or a few spirits, Winchester’s got a little mystery for everyone.