Littlecote House: The Dark Legacy of ‘Wild Darrell’ and the Haunting of the Burning Babe
Nestled in Wiltshire, England, the grand estate of Littlecote House carries a chilling tale from 1575, stained by the heinous crime of “Wild Darrell,” its notorious owner. William Darrell, known for his depraved behavior, orchestrated a violent murder within the stately home, giving rise to the legend of the “Burning Babe.”
As the macabre story goes, Darrell summoned a midwife from a distant village, blindfolding her before leading her to a room where a woman was in labor. The midwife was tasked with assisting in the childbirth, but the shocking twist unfolded as Darrell, in a fit of madness, snatched the newborn from her arms and callously threw it into the fire. The horrified midwife was blindfolded once again and sent home with a purse full of money.
In one version, the midwife, despite her fear, snipped a piece of the curtain and counted the steps on the staircase, later reporting the crime to the local magistrate. Littlecote immediately fell under suspicion, and an investigation revealed the midwife’s account matched the staircase and fabric in one of the rooms.
In a more gruesome variation, the midwife, silenced by fear and bribery, confessed on her deathbed. She revealed that Darrell, unsatisfied with her initial refusal, personally threw the baby into the fire and callously held it down with his boot until the body burned. The relationship of the murdered baby’s mother varies in different versions, depicting her as Darrell’s wife, maid, or sister.
Despite the damning evidence and public outcry, Darrell managed to escape conviction, allegedly bribing the judge, Sir John Popham. The scandalous trial marked a dark chapter in Littlecote’s history. Darrell met his end in 1589 when he was thrown from his horse while hunting, breaking his neck. Legend has it that his horse reared up at the apparition of the murdered baby. Sir Popham later acquired the property.
The haunting of Littlecote endures, with the spectral figure of the “Burning Babe” appearing at Darrell’s Stile, the spot where he met his fatal accident. Darrell’s own ghost is said to haunt the area, accompanied by phantom hunting hounds, causing unease among horses. Tales of Darrell as a death harbinger, foretelling doom for the estate’s heirs when seen with his spectral coach and horses, further contribute to the eerie atmosphere surrounding Littlecote House.
