Nestled in the rolling hills of north Georgia, the ruins of a once-grand estate lie hidden among towering boxwoods and overgrown brick paths—what remains of Barnsley Gardens. But this crumbling mansion isn't just a relic of the antebellum South… it’s the site of a legend. A place some say was cursed from the moment the first tree was felled.

In this episode, we uncover the tragic story of Godfrey Barnsley, a wealthy cotton merchant who sought to build a dream home for his beloved wife Julia. But from the moment he set foot on the land—land taken from the Cherokee following their forced removal—misfortune took root.

From ghostly visions in the gardens to generations of untimely deaths, the tale of Barnsley Gardens is one of devotion, loss, and the weight of a legacy that refused to let go. Was it truly cursed? Or was it simply haunted by grief?

Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free?

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History: History Without Interruption⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Southern Gothic Media:

• Website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SouthernGothicMedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Merch Store:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Pinterest:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @SouthernGothicMedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @SoGoPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Advertise on this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠press@southerngothicmedia.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices