If there was ever a place in Alderwick that would be haunted, it would be St. Cedd’s Abbey, and I’m not just saying that because there are the ruins of an old church on the grounds. Actually, that is exactly why I’m saying that. There are tales of footsteps in empty corridors, whispered prayers from deserted chambers, and figures glimpsed among the cloisters after sunset. The clergy have generally maintained that these accounts are the products of an unfortunate tendency among visitors to mistake every unfamiliar sound for evidence of the supernatural. Unless the clergy intends to spend the night in my room, I will not be finding out for myself, but you’re welcome to give it a go.

Of course, St. Cedd’s Abbey is not a tourist destination in the normal sense, so there are no inns and shops to speak of.  While it is a fully functioning religious establishment, it was mostly built around the remains of a much older abbey. Visitors are housed in a comfortable, if a bit old-fashioned, guesthouse situated a little distance away from the main church grounds. Meals can be accessed from the kitchen, but they are very strict about serving times. For the unlucky wanderer who misses their lunch, you may be fortunate enough to find some fresh fruit in the orchard, but touch Mrs. Pritchard’s garden and not even the rector himself will be able to save you.

For company, you’re likely to have pilgrims, scholars, and antiquarians who regularly visit to admire the Abbey’s architecture and examine its surviving records. Not the most exciting bunch but, if you have even a passing interest in history, you’re sure to learn something. St. Cedd’s Abbey has stood as a sentinel through the passage of time and remains vastly undisturbed by the changing fortunes of the world beyond its walls. There may be other things that one would hope stay undisturbed as well. Just don’t go wandering after dark.