A BEAUTIFUL woman has been seen roaming Lacock Abbey but nobody knows who she is.

Eyewitnesses have seen the ghostly figure walking around the 13th century building and a number of theories about her history have been put forward. Ela, the Countess of Salisbury founded the abbey in 1232, and it was used as an Augustinian nunnery until 1539. Some say she is the mysterious figure returning to the place she loved.

A Lacock guidebook describes her as one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages and tells how she helped found Salisbury Cathedral. When her husband died she buried his heart and had a church built in his memory.

Although the countess seems to be the most likely candidate, Kerry Guignard from the Lacock Estate office has another theory.

The abbey was converted into a private residence in 1550 when the Sharrington family moved, and Mrs Guignard said Olive, the daughter of Henry Sharrington, could be the unknown spectre She said: 'Olive allegedly jumped from the tower but was wearing a big dress which acted like a parachute, ensuring she had a soft landing.'

The ghost of a woman has also been seen near the lake. Her identity is also unknown but it could be one of a number of maidens who died there.

The Abbey is no stranger to ghost sightings according to author Kathleen Wiltshire. Her book Ghosts And Legends Of The Wiltshire Countryside tells several tales of ghosts in the building.

It is said two children staying at the abbey were frightened when an ugly little man walked through their room.
Many years later the skeleton of a deformed man was found buried in the bedroom wall.

To celebrate Halloween, the abbey opens its doors to a group of children every year who are told scary tales and make ghastly masks.

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