The Headless Horseman of Butterton Moor

In the Staffordshire Moorlands there can be found a place which is said to have been haunted for generations by a headless horseman. The tranquil village of Butterton and the surrounding moorland have long held an attraction to this frightening phenomena especially when Butterton held its May Fair.

Most local people are familiar with the story and some have even caught sight of the ghostly rider, some have speculated that it is the earthbound soul of some wrong doer from another era, others say that it is one of four evil spirits cast out of heaven and cursed to roam the earth till the end of time itself!

A Mrs Wood of Back lane in Butterton was returning home from the May Fair many years ago, it was late at night when a terrifying experience befell her. She was walking down a lane heading towards her home when she became aware of something approaching her. She jumped over a wall at the side of the lane and crouched down, peering over the wall she was horrified to see the Headless Horseman turn his steed and proceed to ride through a wall of a nearby building.

A local farmer and Parish Councillor claims that he knows of at least two people who have seen the ghostly rider in recent years, and he also claims that the Headless Horseman not only haunts Butterton Moor, but can also be seen on the Grindon side of Butterton at around midnight. The same Parish Councillor also tells the story of a farm in Douse lane near Bradnop where a farm cart was seen to travel around the farmyard on its own with no-one near it, after the owner of the farm had died. Seven Clergymen were called in and held a special service, only then did things return to normal.