Like most historic towns, Thame has its fair share of spectres and unexplained phenomena. Here are a few of the most common ghost stories and sightings seen by a number of witnesses.
The ghost of William Edden – also known as Noble Edden
Noble, a 69-year-old market gardener, was murdered on his way from market in 1828 and was found in a field on the Turnpike Road between Aylesbury and Thame. Mr Edden’s wife had a vision that her husband had met an untimely death and ran to neighbours to tell them so – and that she’d also seen the face of the murderer in her vision – Benjamin Tyler.
The following year, two men were tried for his killing (Benjamin Tyler and Solomon Sewell) but acquitted after the testimony of one of the men was deemed untrustworthy. On being released, one of the accused men travelled to Thame to taunt and annoy witnesses.
In 1830, one of the two men was arrested again, for stealing. For the crime of theft, he was sentenced to transportation. In an attempt to get the sentence changed, he confessed to the killing of Noble Edden and shopped his partner in crime. The two were tried in Aylesbury and sentenced to death by hanging which was watched by a crowd of many thousands.
The motive for the murder is reported to have been because Nobel Edden knew the men had been stealing sheep and taunted them with a knowing ‘Baa’ whenever he saw them. His tomb at St Mary’s Church is also supposed to be haunted – by an animal with horns not unlike a ram.
Ghosts of animals have also been seen in other places – another Ram has been seen to appear down by the Thame River and a Sheepdog has been seen to wander the lanes of Towersey.
The ghost is reported to have been seen on Ford Road and Aylesbury Road.
The Green Man
Many different reports have appeared over the years of a Green Man who appears in the road by the Toll Gate House on the Thame to Postcombe road. Several witnesses have had to slam their brakes on after seeing a man in the middle of the road. A man driving back from High Wycombe even ended up in a ditch after swerving to avoid this ghostly figure and another witness came off of a motorbike in a similar incident.
The Birdcage Inn
The Birdcage Inn is one of the oldest buildings in Thame and is steeped with history – if only the walls could talk!
An ex-employee from the Birdcage Inn (which by the way has nothing to do with Birds in cages but that’s another story) described hearing mutterings of a non-English voice and was also woken in the night by a dark floating presence above the bed he was sleeping in. Other witnesses have seen objects move, heard footsteps and seen unexplained mists.
There is also reported to be a ghost of a leper who still resides there after being stoned to death in Thame.
And it’s not just the staff that experience the ghostly goings-on. If you look on Trip Advisor then you’ll see a review from 2018 with the title ‘Haunted Ladies Toilet’! There are other reviews on there too that report the place is haunted.
The headless horseman of Towersey
There are a few conflicting tales regarding the headless horseman of Towersey but many agree that he exists! It is said that he was either injured nearby and went to seek help only to be beheaded by local parliamentarians. The other tale says he was hiding in a barn and his horse made a noise that gave him away. Either way, he has been seen in and around the churchyard in Towersey. The headless horseman is so entrenched in local legend that it’s now used as the emblem for the Towersey Morris Men.
The Ram of the River
This harmless ghostly Ram has been seen many times by the River Thame and has been reported to follow people down to the river before disappearing. Apart from witness statements, there isn’t much other information on this ghostly Ram but all agreed that it was more curious than anything else.
