Chambercombe Manor, Ilfracombe, Devon
Chambercombe Manor near Ilfracombe in North Devon is very well known in certain circles for its spooky goings on; this old whitewashed manor house has been featured on Living TV's Most Haunted series and even has a room known as The Haunted Room, discovered nearly 300 years ago when a bricked up window led to the discovery of a hidden chamber where the skeleton of a woman lay on the bed. Yikes! That's enough to give anyone the heebie jeebies!
As you'd expect from a house of this age, Chambercombe Manor has plenty of history; it's mentioned in the Domesday Book when it was owned by the Champernon family, and in the early 16th century it was in the possession of Henry Duke of Suffolk who was father to Lady Jane Grey, queen for 9 days before Mary Tudor had her beheaded. At some time in the next however many hundred years Chambercombe became a farmhouse but somehow its former grandeur has been retained and many original features remain, like the barrel ceiling in the Tudor bedroom, the huge fireplaces, and a notable plasterwork frieze. Add to that a fine collection of 17th century furniture and you get a pretty good idea of how the house would have looked in those times.
Have a guided tour of the house, then have an amble round the grounds if the weather is behaving itself, and do round off your visit with a cream tea and a glass of local cider in the little tea room, charmingly named Ye Olde Manor Buttery.
Check the website for the latest opening times
T: 01271 862202 All information correct at the time of writing