Britain's Ghosts: A Spooky Tour of Britain

by Anna Groves

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published December 17, 2024

Reviews

[kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although an interesting read i would have liked more on the ‘hauntings’ back stories not just a quick snippet then on to the next

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look at Britain's haunted places around the country. from pubs to castles, forests to lakes. I was particularly intrigued by the The Ancient Ram Inn in Gloucestershire - reputedly the 'most haunted building in England'. This is a great introduction to local history as the author kindly fills in the historic details, but it all felt rather surface detail. This is more a gazetteer of haunted places than a discussion about the supernatural. Enjoyable read.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Collins Reference/National Trust Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good compilation of ghosts from all around the UK.
Well written and very informative, lots of background and history included. X

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that seeks – and finds – a suitably intelligent, 'just the facts' way to discuss Britain's ghosts. Just because it's a National Trust book doesn't mean that they only feature in National Trust properties, and it's only when we leave Dartmoor, Glastonbury et al behind and cross to the SE and London that the Trust is actually mentioned as owning anything here. What we don't get is an explanation for everything, we either believe in ghosts or we don't, and we read these pages for the almost dry way they just report the hauntings (and the fascinating cursed sword from Glencoe). Nothing is heightened to detail every instance of poltergeist activity, nothing is ramped up to chill the reader.

In some ways the book can be too staid – one entry was too concerned with connections to the Gunpowder plot rather than the actual spooks, and when the author does try to shake some levity into things to counter the dryness it is too noticeable, and too noticeably not working. But it's still a very good achievement, and in documenting things that are related to the National Trust and probably haven't been mentioned in too many of the copious similar books, then it remains of interest to even the oldest of hands at this subject. Not quite as old as the singular hand creeping about the four-poster, or the one lopped off a stalwart Royalist at Edgehill, but old hands all the same...

[Gemma Stockham · Rating 4 out of 5]

👻It's very rare that a book comes into my possession that I immediately read. In all likelihood, the book comes onto my TBR and then usually sits on the shelves for months, but more often than not, it's years!
This year, though, I'm actively trying not to add books on. Plus, this small non-fiction novel piqued my interest.

👻Due to the nature of the short ghostly tales, it meant it was an easy pick up and put down read that I found I could read a couple of tales while making dinner or just before going to bed!😱
I was particularly interested in the supernatural tales from my area of the country and will certainly be paying more attention to how I am feeling at these locations as these eerie tales attest to.
Let's go Ghost Hunting!

👻👻👻👻/5

[Anthony Benwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was mainly a quick pick whilst at a national trust building.

Some interesting stories and could be a cool idea to plan trips around the stories.

Not much to it other than a short read though.