Hellens Manor House is located in Ledbury, Herefordshire in England.
The de Balun family was granted the manor house in 1096. It was then passed through to the Mortimer family by marriage followed by the Audley’s in 1301.
Walter de Heylon Leased Hellens Manor. Walter’s effigy can be seen in St Bartholomew’s Church.
In the 19th century the Radcliffe Cook family owned Hellens Manor. Charles Radcliffe Cook was born at Hellens Manor. Charles became known as the “Member for Cider” during his time as the local MP. Charles pushed the growth of the cider industry and believed that cider had healing properties.
Ursula and Alex Whaley rented the manor for ten years during the early 20th century. Queen Victoria’s great-niece, Lady Helena Gleichen gained possession of the manor. Lady Helena’s cousin, Hilda Pennington Mellor then gained ownership of Hellen’s Manor. Hilda created the charitable trust with her son Malcolm Munthe. The Charitable Trust still runs Hellen’s Manor today.
Reported Paranormal Activity
John Walwyn owned Hellens Manor during the 17th century. Johns youngest daughter named Mehettabel ran away to elope with a man who was considered lower than her social class. When Mehettabel was just 20 years of age her husband died and she returned home to her family at Hellens Manor.
Mehettabel’s family were ashamed of her and locked her in a room in the manor for thirty years. A piece of rope attached to a bell was the only way Mehettabel could communicated to her family if she was in trouble. The rope still hangs in the room today.
Over the years Mehettabel spent her time gazing down into the court yard and using her diamond ring to etch into the window the words “It is a part of virtue to abstain from what we love if it should prove our bane.” The etching is still there today.
Over the years Mehettabel’s ghost has reportedly been seen on numerous occasions by past owners and tenants of the manor.
The ghost of a Monk is said to haunt the Queen Mary room. It is believed that the Monk was being sheltered in Hellens Manor when he was caught by Parliamentarians and murdered. A Naval lieutenant was once sleeping in the Queen Mary room he awoke to what he thought was a crazy old man running around the bedroom in a dressing gown. When the lieutenant spoke of this incident with the owners he learnt that he had witnessed the ghost of the Monk.
