There were two Sir John Byrons who occupied Newstead Abbey.

The second, who lived there in the middle of the 17th century, was known as ‘Little Sir John with the Great Beard’.

By a strange quirk of fate this Little Sir John died on the very same day as his wife, just a few hours later.

Soon after, the servants refused to go into the library of Newstead because the master could be seen sitting in his chair in front of the fire, smoking his pipe and reading a book.

This went on for six months at which time, for no apparent reason, the apparition vanished and was not seen again.

The Roller
One of the owners of Newstead was a Colonel Wildman who live there in the mid 19th century.

One night he was awoken by the sound of a great roller being dragged over the gravel outside the house.

The next morning he enquired of his head gardener why it had been necessary to keep working through the night...

Part two >>