The castle is reputedly haunted by at least one apparition of human form believed to have been Lady Mary Howard, who was seen sat on a stone combing her hair by a deputy custodian, as well as that of a Black Hound. A figure has been sighted in a window, although that remains unidentified.

 

However, the castle is most renowned for the legend of its ghostly carriage and it’s infamous passenger, Lady Howard. There are numerous accounts of Lady Howard and her spectral cortege. Her ghostly form is said to be carried in a 17th century coach made of the bones of the four husbands she murdered, pulled by skeletal horses and led by a phantom hound - who is also in skeleton form.

According to sources, the ghost of a small boy named Peter haunts the hotel.

 

Apparently he is responsible for doors opening and closing, the movement of toys and playing hide and seek with the child of a former landlord.

 

Pictured left is the White Hart Hotel courtesy of Humphrey Bolton.

Cranmere Pool is a small depression within a peat bog within the Okehampton Artillery range, one of the Ministry of Defence ranges. It is only reachable on foot.

 

It is supposedly haunted by "Benjie Gear", who was a four-times Mayor of Okehampton between 1673-1684, but was convicted of stealing sheep. His spirit was condemned to spin all the sand at the bottom of the now-empty pool into ropes. He has been unable to complete this, and can be heard on dark nights moaning and wailing about his never-ending task.

 

Pictured left is Cranmere Pool courtesy of Richard Knights.