Bisham Abbey, located in Bisham, Berkshire, England, dates back to the 13th century. Originally built as a preceptory for the Knights Templar, it later became an Augustinian priory in 1337. The abbey was dissolved in 1538 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, who granted it to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce settlement.

The most famous ghost story associated with Bisham Abbey revolves around Lady Elizabeth Hoby, who lived there in the late 16th century. According to legend, Lady Hoby was a harsh and cruel mother who beat her young son to death for failing to master his studies. Her ghost is said to haunt the abbey, washing her hands in a ghostly basin to remove the blood of her child.

Numerous sightings of Lady Hoby’s apparition have been reported over the centuries. Witnesses describe seeing a tall woman dressed in grey, often appearing near the fireplace in the Great Hall or gliding through the corridors. Some visitors have reported feeling a sudden chill or sensing an oppressive atmosphere in certain areas of the building.

Another ghostly presence said to inhabit Bisham Abbey is that of a monk, believed to be connected to the building’s monastic past. People have reported seeing a dark, hooded figure moving silently through the grounds or appearing briefly in windows.

The abbey’s long history has also given rise to reports of other paranormal phenomena, including unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and a general sense of unease experienced by some visitors and staff members.