Berkshire's creepiest

Berkshire is an ancient county with more ghost stories than you can wave a stick at. Here is our Top 10 in reverse order, naturally

- Stephen Roberts

10 READING

The phantom car of Berkeley Avenue has been spotted by other motorists on many occasions, driven by an attractive red-headed woman. Her hair doesn’t match the vehicle, which is blue. It never has any lights on, and moves silently, without engine noise, but will get so close you can clearly make out the driver, before it disappears. That’s certainly one way of avoiding the traffic.

9 BAGNOR

The famous Watermill Theatre (1981) on the Lambourn occupies a converted water mill, which still retains its water wheel. It may have more besides. The theatre is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a little girl who appears in an upstairs room. As for why, perhaps she was employed at the former fulling mill and may have been tragically killed after becoming caught in the dangerous machinery.

8 THREE LEGGED CROSS INN

It’s 500 years old and said to be cursed by a gypsy woman who won’t leave the place in peace. The Three Legged Cross, Warfield, was previously the ‘New Inn’ and seems to have been cursed over a century ago after the Romany lady was barred. It’s apposite to have a calamity after a curse and the landlord of the time obliged by falling ill and dying soon afterwards. Rumour has it the gypsy femme fatale still haunts the place, shuffling around outside, cursing the landlord, even though he’s long gone.

7 DONNINGTON CASTLE