Hidden Britain AtlasOpen the map
All places › Mysterious graves
Mysterious grave

Sir Walter Raleigh's Head

West Horsley, Surrey

A widow who kept her husband's head in a red leather bag.

Sir Walter Raleigh was beheaded in 1618. His widow, Elizabeth, had his head embalmed and kept it in a red leather bag for the rest of her life, it is said, showing it to visitors.

Read the full story, see it on the map, get directions and find what else is nearby in the free Hidden Britain Atlas map.

Open Sir Walter Raleigh's Head on the mapReport a sighting here
When
1618
Where
51.2700, -0.4400
Group
Mysterious graves

Visiting

St Mary's church, West Horsley.

Nearby mysteries