THE ghost of Amy Robsart may no longer roam the streets of Cumnor, but her mysterious death still haunts its villagers.

Rumours were rife in 1560 when Amy was found dead with a broken neck and bruises to the head at the foot of a staircase in old Cumnor Place.

She was, after all, the neglected wife of Robert Dudley, who later became the Earl of Leicester and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Queen was reputed to be in love with her scheming courtier and her rival's death meant Dudley was at last free to marry.

After exhaustive inquiries, a verdict of 'mischance' was returned at the inquest. But did Amy really fall down the stairs - or was she pushed?

No-one knows for sure. But whatever the truth, her ghost is said to have haunted old Cumnor Place and disturbed the peace of the village.

The mansion, made famous in Sir Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth, was soon left deserted. Decay followed fast and within a century it was almost a ruin. In the 18th century, nine parsons rode out from Oxford and laid Amy's unquiet spirit to rest in the village pond. It never froze over again.

But while the poor woman was at peace at last, her tragic death has remained one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries.

Amy Robsart, the daughter of a well-to-do Norfolk squire, was just 18 when she married the dashing, but ruthlessly ambitious Robert Dudley.

It was reputed to be a love match, but Amy soon discovered that a rival for her husband's affections was none other than Queen Elizabeth I.

Not surprisingly, Dudley's young wife was never invited to join the royal court, but packed off to live with various relatives in the country.

Her husband visited her from time to time, but it was common gossip at court that he wanted to murder his wife and marry the Queen.

No wonder then, that Amy's death gave rise to a flood of controversy and speculation as the whole of England buzzed with the scandal.

The final drama began early in 1560 when Amy went to live at old Cumnor Place, a mansion owned by Anthony Forster, treasurer of Dudley's household accounts. On August 24, she wrote a letter to her tailor, ordering a velvet gown to be delivered at speed - perhaps because she was expecting a rare visit from her husband.

But on September 8, her servants were given the day off to visit Abingdon fair. They returned to find their mistress dead at the foot of the stairs.

On hearing the news, Dudley urged a diligent inquiry into his wife's untimely death, but neglected to attend her lavish funeral.

The inquest was unable to find any evidence of foul play and the grieving husband continued to press for the Queen's hand, but without success.

Old Cumnor Place was eventually demolished and today the only relics of the village's most infamous drama gather dust in nearby St Michael's Church.

Hanging on the vestry wall is a portrait of the Earl of Leicester, next to a tiny picture of his wife and two faded letters written by her.

Overshadowing them both is an almost life-size statue of Queen Elizabeth I, which is reputed to have been sculpted on the orders of Dudley.

Together they form a chilling reminder of the death of a woman who was an obstacle to a marriage between a Queen and her courtier.

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