The Ghost of Barnsley Gardens

Today, Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville, Georgia is a hotspot for weddings, galas, and several peculiar paranormal occurrences. The estate was built in the 1840’s, after a cotton tradesman named Godfrey Barnsley bought 4,000 acres of land on which to build his beloved wife, Julia, a beautiful mansion and estate. Unfortunately, just before the house and surrounding gardens were built, Julia Barnsley died of a severe lung ailment. Riddled with tremendous grief at the loss of his true love, Mr. Barnsley ceased all construction on his ode of love to Julia.

Mr. Barnsley took to walking through the gardens each night, as his wife often liked to do when she was alive.  One evening, as he was walking through the lush foliage and winding paths, a gentle breeze picked up. It lulled the leaves in the trees, and appeared to push him to the center of the main garden. As he approached the formal garden, he saw a woman standing amongst the carefully curated flowers. Slowly, the woman turned and smiled at him. It was his darling wife Julia. His heart nearly stopped in his chest as he ran to her, her image wavering slightly with the gentle breeze that had guided him there. She told him to continue construction of the estate despite his grief. She told him not to let his broken heart deprive their future generations of the beautiful property.

By 1848, just as the construction was finally completed to reveal a stunning homage to the beautiful Julia Barnsley, Godfrey came across a mysterious letter in his study. It read; “Mortal Barnsley, Julia is with me and all doing fine.” The letter was signed by Mr. Barnsley’s father in law, although peculiarly, his father in law had been deceased for longer than even his wife.

Since Mr. Barnsley’s death in 1873, visitors and staff of the gardens have reported seeing him shuffling around in the mansion’s study, as he was often known to do in life. Perhaps the most heartwarming ghost sighting in Barnsley Gardens, however, are from those who report seeing Mr. and Mrs. Barnsley strolling through the gardens in the evenings, together at last.