'The lingering souls that won't leave'
Hellens Manor is an old beautiful private home which is located in the peaceful country village of Much Marcle which is located just outside of Hereford. The inside of the manor is impressive with Tudor style architecture and fine delicacies. The manor which has a known ghostly reputation, hence the popularity with ghost hunters dates back to the 11th century when the manor was originally occupied by French monks but in a short while after in the year of 1096 the manor was granted to the De Balun family who became witnesses of the signing of the Magna Carta. In 1301 Hellens went to Lords Audly, a nephew .James who was companion to the Black Prince rented the manor for a pair of silver spurs. Afterwards he then leased the manor to Walter Helyton who then later gave his name to the house. There is a rare effigy of Walter in Much Marcle's parish church of St. bartholomew. Over the following centuries the manor passed through several hands including those of Richard Walwyn who became occupier of Hellens Manor in the late 14th century and in the 15th century the wealthy family made many changes to the house. The Walwyns held court in the stone hall, passing judgement on the accused from the gallery above, strangely the family still hold the right to hand people at Hellens. Hellens manor had an earthquake in 1571, this was severe and was very loud, around this time Fulke Walwyn bought Hellens as Richard became bankrupt.
During the Civil War Fulke's son John and his cousin Sir Henry Lingen got into a battle at Ledbury, they were soon injured badly and had't to immediately return back to Hellens, Lingen's wounds were so severe that he died and legend says that his body was buried under the floorboards somewhere in the house, his remains have never been found. There is a tear jerking story associated with the manor and that is of woman called Hetty Walwyn. Hetty fell deeply in love with a man who her family considered to be to under class so when Hetty left the family home and married her man it caused huge disrupt within the family circle who would have been angry and embarrassed by their daughter's actions. By the time Hetty was 20 her husband died and so she then decided to move back to Hellens Manor which at the time was the family home, however upon her arrival Hetty was not as welcomed as she thought she would be and she was sadly locked away in a room which she remained in for the rest of her life, the only communication Hetty had with her family and servants was a bell which was used for her to call at times when needed, after being alone everyday, locked up in a room with no one to talk to Hetty understandably eventually became lonely and depressed and whilst feeling this way she used her diamond ring to engrave into the window pane the following words'It is a part of virtue to abstain from what we love if it should prove our brane', these thoughtful words can still be read clearly today, Hetty eventually went totally mad and so she committed suicide and it is believed that her sad soul is said to haunt this room today where she was locked up in for more than thirty years.
Her apparition as been seen in the room many times, she as been seen standing there for a few seconds before fading away. The manor is also said to house another resident spirit, Sir Philip Musgrave has been seen many times wandering around the music room of the manor and his portrait hangs in the house. Many other items of a famous background are in the house, some items that belonged to the famous Mary Tudor, Ann Boleyn, Charles I and the Earl of Essex are still around the house today along with the owner's private belongings. After Sir Henry lingen died the roundheads went to Hellens Manor and murdered a monk in The Bloody's Mary's room, this unfortunate monk is still said to haunt this room and visitors staying in this room have witnessed his apparition described as a man in a dark hooded gown. Hellens Manor apparently had so much paranormal activity occurring in the Victorian times servants refused to stay in the house overnight and in the 1920's a gentleman left Hellens after he was so annoyed of being woken in the night by what he says is a 'dotty old family member', no one else was staying at the manor at the time of this incident.
Hellens is open to the general public at certain times of the year and organized ghost events take place at the manor regularly, there is much to explore at Hellens, the outside gardens are beautiful there is a walled knot garden, a yew labyrinth, short woodland and a pond walk. The 16th once derelict barn has now been restored, the barn is full of natural oak beams and is now used as a multipurpose venue for all activities. The Old Cider Mill house is also on show and the Derby coach and family carriages can be seen. Hellens manor really is a historical delight and history and ghosts are still very much alive in this beautiful 11th century building.