The ghost of a former head gardener has also reportedly been seen working in the gardens

A posh hotel in a picturesque Cambridgeshire village is said to be haunted by a former queen. Many sites across Cambridgeshire are bound to be haunted given how old they are – if ghosts exist, of course.

The Haycock Manor Hotel, dating back to the 16th century, is set in the beautiful village of Wansford, near Peterborough. It’s considered one of England’s most haunted coaching inns.

One notable name said to haunt its hall is Mary Queen of Scots, nicknamed ‘Bloody Mary’, as she executed a lot of Protestants. Mary stayed at the Haycock on the way to her execution at the nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Many people have said they have seen her at the hotel, as well as other establishments that she stayed in before her death.

When people have ‘seen’ her, she appears tall and regal, and in Tudor dress. She is also seen carrying a rosary. Also, those who see her have reported feeling sadness and a drop in temperature. People have also said they have heard whispered Scottish prayers from her.

Other figures believed to haunt the hotel include a man named Richard Braithwaite, who has been seen in 17th century clothing. He appears in the older parts of the hotel. In the walled garden, an old man with a gardening trug, believed to be former head gardener, has been seen.

As well as being visited by Mary Queen of Scots, the hotel has been visited by many notable names in its past. It was seen as a desirable location as it was a convenient stop between London and Stamford in Lincolnshire. Another queen who visited the hotel was Queen Elizabeth I.

Over its history, the hotel has changed hands a number of times. Its first innkeeper was noted to be William Hodgson, who died in 1706. It then changed ownership several times before it went over to the Percival family. This family owned it for around 100 years until 1898.

Throughout the 19th century it was run as a successful farm, before it became a private home in 1928. It was changed back into an inn after dairy farmer Charles Allday purchased it. It has been refurbished, mixing the traditional and modern, and is a popular wedding destination.