GHOSTS AROUND UNITED KINGDOM

COVENTRY, WARWICKS

COVENTRY, WEST MIDLANDS, WARWICKSHIRE

Situated deep in the W. MIDS, Coventry, in Warwickshire, is further frm the coast than NE other city in BRIT.. Dating back 2 Bronze Age times, twas severely bombed in WWII, ESP. during a Luftwaffe air raid known as the 'Coventry Blitz' in NOV, 1940.
     Since then, this bustling city hs bounced back & welcomes 1000's of visitors ea yr, ESP. those who like 2 mk the acquaintance of the odd ghoul / #2! 

Coombe Abbey:
The 4M'R Warwickshire monastery, Coombe Abbey, is now a luxury hotel tht's famous fr its medieval banquets.
     But if an awkward monk approaches u on #1 of these Eve's, ensure tht his ft r firmly on the ground - he may not b a fellow diner in fancy dress.
     Henry, as staff call him, wz a monk who wz murdered w/in the Abbey walks in 1345 by his fellow bro's.
     Since then he meanders in the courtyard, 2-3ft above the FLR. This monk hs a drk side. He's responsible fr shifting & smashing glasses in the banqueting kitchens. He doesn't approve of the revelry... 

Gibbet Hill:
The ominously named Gibbet Hill is prt of the University of Warwick's campus, & it's call'd tht fr a reason.
    PUB. executions used 2 take plce here frm a Gibbet - the nme fr NE instrument of PUB.  execution (in this case an old oak tree). On drk, blustery nyt's, the snd of groaning is carried thru the wind. Some say it's the FIN'L death sighs of criminals Robert Leslie, Edward Drury & Moses Baker, who beat Thomas Edwards 2 death during a robbery in 1765. Aftr they were hngd fr their crime on the hill, they suffer'd the indignity of gibbeting, wh wz the practice of LV'ING the d. hngng fr all 2 c.

The Grey Lady Of Baginton Village:
Fr ov a CENT., the Grey Lady hs haunted Baginton village, outside Coventry.
      Wiv wild BLK hair & shining eyes, this wraith-like creature & her cloying perfume is sd 2 linger aftr drk 'round the village rectory.
     LOC'S r convinced tht she is the ghost of a servant who fell in luv w/ a farmhand. In death, she still mks her wy thru the churchyard 2 W8 fr her sweetheart @ the rectory, once the farm whr her luvr wrkd.

Samuel Bartleet:
In the L8 19th-CENT., Aussie cycling enthusiast Samuel Bartleet wrkd in Coventry w/ Dunlop, famous fr bicycles & tyres.
    Sammy COLL'D bicycles til he took his last breath in 1943, YL out riding his tricycle. Danny's collection is now on display @ the Coventry Transport Museum. According 2 some employees thr, an old bald man dress'd in tweeds & resembling Sammy's photo hs bn spotted 'round the cycle exhibition. On #1 occasion, staff CLR'LY heard him boom "Get out!" at them.

Charlie The Ghost:
Fittingly, Charlie the ghost haunts the Phantom Coach on Coventry's Fletchamstead Highway. He peruse a the bar area, PREF'S the cider keg taps & stays ^ 2 c the bar managers cash & clean ^.
     Some say tht he wz the DRV'R of a Victorian coach, wh plunged IN2 a swamp, whr the pub now stnds, 200 YR'S ago, killing all passengers. Others believe tht Charlie wz once custodian of the pub, & is simply doing wot he does best, ensuring tht his hostelry is well run & the customers r happy.

Sent To Coventry:
Eva wondered abt the origins of the saying 'Sent to Coventry'?
     Bng sent 2 this city is equiv. 2 bng ostracised, but no-one kno's exactly Y. One theory is it's due 2 evnts in Coventry during the English Civil War in the 1640's. Back then, Royalist TRP'S captured in Birmingham were sent 2 prison in Coventry. The city's residents LRG'LY support'd PARL. rule, so they gave the prisoners a hrd time!
     The phrase wz L8R used 2 ref. 2 wrkrs who were not supportive of strikes. In Charles Dickens's 'Hard Times', a character is sent 2 Coventry aftr spkng out 'gainst an impending wrkrs' wlk out.