Headless Black Dog
The roadway near the Hampton Fields entrance to the 730 acre Gatcombe Park Estate is said to be haunted by a headless Black Dog. In 1976 the Daily Express newspaper interviewed Joe Hattersall who lived nearby; “I’ve seen it four times. It moves fast and silently, then brushes up against you, and one doesn’t hang about when it happens.”
A second witness named Fred Webb reported seeing the reputedly labrador sized Black Dog whilst he was driving along the stretch of road.
It may be worth noting that Gatcombe Park was bought for Anne, Princess Royal and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, in 1976 by Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Anne now lives there with her second husband Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence.
Re: Headless Black Dog
Close to this area is Woefuldane Bottom and carters were said blindfold their horses whilst passing this stretch enroute to market, fearful of a black dog. So the tradition of this area being associated with a black dog goes back some time.
Re: Headless Black Dog
Strange, I live right near there and have never heard anything of the sort. Then again I suppose I’ve never gone and asked. I have a free day tomorrow; I might run up and have a poke about, see if I can’t find anything else out.
Re: Headless Black Dog
According to the Paranormal database it is called the ‘Hound of Odin’. I found a piece by Andrew Green mentioning the case and Trystan Swale (ASSAP) in a BBC Glouscestershire article also refers to the case. Both refer to the Daily Express article. I hope that helps Columbine đŸ™‚