I found a magical quality to these largely untouched ruins in the Ure Valley. We went on a lovely summer's day in August. You can admire its picturesque setting amongst the grazing sheep and the grasses and flowers which still grow high up on the walls. An artist sits and sketches the view of this romantic English ruin. Jervaulx is privately owned, but always open to the public, there is an 'honesty box' in which to pay for entry.
For the paranormal investigator, the remains are not without interest, especially at night, the grounds are so very quiet, you would certainly hear ghostly goings on easily here, not that there are any, there are no reported ghost sightings that I know of, apart from my own ;-) The abbey is slowly disappearing through weathering, but there are some interesting monuments left which are dotted around the main entrance. As I try to photograph the abbey, I see little children play, it’s a perfect place for hide and seek games. Spirit the only manifestation of that name here (our dog hehe) loved it, I could have stayed the whole day , either sketching painting or writing.
You can find Jervaulx Abbey Four miles northwest of Masham in North Yorkshire.
15 years, still on the road! I like wandering around 'allegedly' haunted locations, relying on rational thought and critical thinking, whilst still enjoying a good mystery and a good walk around a spooky old pile with my dog 'Spirit, now Jake the Jack Russell'. I am an artist and armchair skeptic, nature sounds.
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire
This is one of the very first locations I went to on my paranormal journey.
Name: Byland Abbey
Locality: Wass, North Yorkshire YO61 4BD
Built: Late 12th century
Owner: English Heritage
Grade I
Website: EH
Alleged manifestations: 13th century UFO sighting, a ghostly monk.
Alleged ghostly anomalies: Being touched.
History:
In the 13th century a large silver disc was seen in the sky above the abbey. It is chronicled in the William of Newburgh reports that the abbot was about to say grace when one of the monks ran in announcing 'there is a great portent outside'. According to manuscripts it was frightening and the greatest terror.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/byland-abbey/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byland_Abbey
EAST RIDDLESDEN HALL WEST YORKSHIRE
 |
| Jules outside East Riddlesden Hall |
Name: East Riddlesden Hall
Locality: 37 Westlea Avenue, Queensbury, Keighley, Bradford BD20 5EL
Built: 1640
Owner: National Trust
Grade I
Website: NT
History: East Riddlesden Hall is one of West Yorkshire’s many historical sites. East Riddlesden Hall itself was built in the 1640s by the local Murgatroyd family. The family had made their fortune through milling and weaving and the building was designed and built as a symbol of the power of the family. Unfortunately the family's star was short-lived and the house passed into the hands of the Starkie family through intermarriages later that same century. The Hall was extended during the 1690s but has changed very little since that time and still contains many items originating for the century it was built including furniture and embroideries. The Hall has been a gentleman's residence and also a tenanted farm. It came under threat of demolition in 1934 but was purchased by the Keighley brothers who presented the house to the National Trust who now have the care and running of the property.
Ghostly manifestations: The grey lady, the white lady, phantom coach man.
Ghostly anomalies: Ghostly footsteps, wooden cradle rocks by itself.
Report by Matt who is an employee at the hall.
The most well-known spirit is of that of the "Grey Lady". Legend has it that the Lady was the wife to a lord of the manor. One day he returned home to find his wife in bed with another man. Fit with rage, he through her into a small room (believed to be the "Red Bedroom" where she starved to death, whilst he locked her lover in another room and bricked up both the doors and windows. In the Grey Lady's Chamber, apparitions of a lady have been seen both by the window and in the rocking chair. The chair also rocks on its own with no breeze in the room.
Another legend is that of the "White Lady". It is said that she was hunting one day where she fell from her horse into the duck pond and drowned. Her body was never discovered. An apparition believed to be her has been seen both in and out of the pond, presumably looking for her body.
In the "Old Barn", resides the spirit of a female known as "Alice" and the spirit of her cat. She was believed to be a witch and one day, two men dragged her to the pond, and drowned her until the verge of death, dragged her back to the barn, molested her, then burnt her and the cat. A strange feeling occupies this barn.
 |
| Photo by Jules |
*** I have heard something that sounds like a scream twice; once as I walked past the Old Barn and the second time when I was cleaning in the Airedale Barn (used for functions).***
In both the Shop and Tearooms, there is an appresive atmosphere. This is due to the so-called "Assassin-Dishwasher" spirit. Believed to be a man who worked as a Dishwasher at one time in the Hall, who then led a second life as an Assassin by night. Usually he is kept at bay, but if there is a depressing atmosphere (in the mood of a person) then he strikes. If fresh flowers are left on Table 3 one evening, sometimes the next morning they have completely wilted where the rest are fine. *** I can actually vouch for this. I have seen the fresh flowers one evening, then the wilted ones the next...***. Also, chairs have been reported to move.
Staying in the tearooms, There are also the friendlier spirits of a Mother and two young boys. Legend says that one of the boys drowned in the pond. Some mornings, books and toys (usually stuffed toys) have moved from the toy-box to places in the Tearooms where its impossible for them to land if they simply fall out. ***I went up to the Tearooms one morning before the Catering staff got in and a large grey stuffed bear from the toy-box had moved from his usual place (sat proud on top of the toy-box) and he was sat on the table opposite and the catering staff swear that he was on the toy-box when they left the night before.***
There is sometimes a strange feeling in the shop. A few visitors have felt to be being watched from someone or something.
I was in the shop on the morning that the Most Haunted team were in filming, and I was dusting a clock original to the house which has been broken and not working for about 7 years started chiming. Also, at the beginning of this season (March 2006), the same clock one morning started up and continued all the way through until the end of the day when it suddenly stopped.
Also on the property are two spirit dogs. One is said to be the spirit of the Gardeners dog who sadly passed away just before Christmas 2005. The other is rumoured to be a "Devil-Hound", a large balck dog with red eyes. Legend says if you see these dogs, it means that someone will die soon. ***I was getting the hoover out one morning and felt a dog jumping up at me on my right side. I jumped back and surprised to see no dog. I was later told that the Gardener (who now has a puppy who comes on site) hadn't been on the property for about three days.***
Its talked about that there are several ghosts that haunt the seventeenth century manor house, the ghost of the 'Grey Lady'. The Grey lady is allegedly is thought to be the wife of a subsequent Lord of the Manor. She has been seen wandering along the corridors of the hall, going from room to room , searching for something or someone.
The story goes that the lady's husband came home one day to find her cradled in the arms of another man. It was said that he locked his wife in a room and walled up her lover also. They starved to death and it is thought that when the Grey Lady appears she seems to be looking for her lost lover. The unfortunate young man is said to appear as a ghostly apparition at the window of the bricked-up room where he died.
Another ghost, known as the 'White Lady', has been seen walking around the lake in the grounds of the house. She too once lived at the Hall and supposedly was thrown from her horse whilst hunting. Her body was never found and it is believed that she drowned in the lake where she is now frequently seen.
Another ghost is a phantom coachman who was believed to have been dragged into the lake by his horses. He has been seen wandering around the water, presumably looking for his lost coach and horses.
There is a 300 year-old wooden cradle in one of the bedrooms of East Riddleston Hall that is said to rock of its own accord each New Year's Eve. It is rumored that the 'Gray Lady' herself is rocking the cradle.
It was a great privilege to walk through this fantastic building. The place was so old you could eat the atmosphere. As expected, the dark oak floorboards creaked under my light frame; the fine paneled walls were in abundance. I wandered from room to room each had an exciting selection of 17th century furniture. Fine but faded embroideries hung from the high walls. The rooms were interspersed with dark corridors, Richard the II stared at me with his linseed oiled eyes as I wandered through in excitement. In one of the rooms in the first floor is a cupboard, it looks to be leaning, the lady volunteer explained that it was built like this for another house and is famous, it gets an mention in one of the Bronte sisters books.
As the lady volunteer walked away so I could get a better view of this room I noticed a slight cold spot right where she had been stood, so I did my rounds in the room, all the other parts felt quite warm except for that particular spot that felt completely different. I asked the volunteer Is there a cellar or something below this room just here? because it feels completely different here to the rest of the room She said, Oh yes there is, right there’. I really felt there was a cold room beneath, call it psychic, call it me just been sensitive to a slight temperature change, whatever it was I thought it was a good guess, as I have never been here.
I eventually reach the famous Grey Ladys room four poster bed, spinning wheels and cradle which has been seen to move. Anyway, nothing did. As we made our way out to the Tea Room I thought what a wonderful place….wonder if they allow an inquisitive ghost hunter to stay the night.
View Larger Map
HOWARTH VILLAGE, WEST YORKSHIRE
HOWARTH
Location: West Yorkshire, England.
The Black Bull Pub
Ghostly manifestations:
The pub has been both a pub and a b & b. The attic was used as a dormitory. The most well known spirit in the pub is that of Branwell Bronte, brother of the Bronte sisters. He regularly visited the Apothecary where he got his supplies of opium. He drank himself to death here but passed away in the parsonage of chronic bronchitis and consumption on 24th September 1849 behind the church of which his father was the vicar. He is laid in the family vault at Howarth Church. He was known as a freemason and became secretary of the lodge. Many meetings were held at the black bull pub, Branwells chair is at the top of the stairs in the hallway of the pub, his spirit has been sensed sitting in this chair by mediums.
A spirit of a child has also been seen handing sweets out to someone that can’t be seen. In the main bar area two male spirits have been seen sitting at one of the tables, one is known to be Dan Sugden he was the landlord in the Bronte era, a small man who wore a top hat, he was nicknamed Little Nosey. In room 2 someone witnessed a dark figure of a man watching them in bed and in room 3 a maid is supposed to haunt, when it used to be a bed and breakfast the owner used to re-arrange the room only to come back and find everything back in its place. Outside On the cobbled road outside flitting figures and people have seen folks walking past then they just disappear. A spirit girl has been heard crying near the allotments.
Ghostly anomalies
People have noticed been tapped on the head as they walk through the main door, someone brushing past on the main staircase, a bell rings on its own and the light above the Bronte picture moves every night, ashtrays and glasses are thrown to the floor when nobody is about, plates smash in the kitchen area, horrible smells, footsteps, utterances.
In the graveyard:
There is a large graveyard just behind the pub apparently it is supposed to contain 40.000 bodies, but it has been told that due to subsidence over many years that some of the bodies many have eerily slid down the hill and now lie right under the pubs foundations. If you visit Howarth you can go on a lantern light graveyard tour.
Related stories:
Branwell also had a fasination for ghosts especially shucks, a phantom black dog that had chains round its neck.
Parsonage: The parsonage is also known to be haunted.
The ghost of Emily Bronte has been seen walking on the moorland path near the waterfall. On 19 December 1978, the anniversary of her death, she appeared at Weaver’s restaurant, where she climbed a staircase that had been removed years before.
Location: West Yorkshire, England.
The Black Bull Pub
Ghostly manifestations:
The pub has been both a pub and a b & b. The attic was used as a dormitory. The most well known spirit in the pub is that of Branwell Bronte, brother of the Bronte sisters. He regularly visited the Apothecary where he got his supplies of opium. He drank himself to death here but passed away in the parsonage of chronic bronchitis and consumption on 24th September 1849 behind the church of which his father was the vicar. He is laid in the family vault at Howarth Church. He was known as a freemason and became secretary of the lodge. Many meetings were held at the black bull pub, Branwells chair is at the top of the stairs in the hallway of the pub, his spirit has been sensed sitting in this chair by mediums.
A spirit of a child has also been seen handing sweets out to someone that can’t be seen. In the main bar area two male spirits have been seen sitting at one of the tables, one is known to be Dan Sugden he was the landlord in the Bronte era, a small man who wore a top hat, he was nicknamed Little Nosey. In room 2 someone witnessed a dark figure of a man watching them in bed and in room 3 a maid is supposed to haunt, when it used to be a bed and breakfast the owner used to re-arrange the room only to come back and find everything back in its place. Outside On the cobbled road outside flitting figures and people have seen folks walking past then they just disappear. A spirit girl has been heard crying near the allotments.
Ghostly anomalies
People have noticed been tapped on the head as they walk through the main door, someone brushing past on the main staircase, a bell rings on its own and the light above the Bronte picture moves every night, ashtrays and glasses are thrown to the floor when nobody is about, plates smash in the kitchen area, horrible smells, footsteps, utterances.
In the graveyard:
There is a large graveyard just behind the pub apparently it is supposed to contain 40.000 bodies, but it has been told that due to subsidence over many years that some of the bodies many have eerily slid down the hill and now lie right under the pubs foundations. If you visit Howarth you can go on a lantern light graveyard tour.
Related stories:
Branwell also had a fasination for ghosts especially shucks, a phantom black dog that had chains round its neck.
Parsonage: The parsonage is also known to be haunted.
The ghost of Emily Bronte has been seen walking on the moorland path near the waterfall. On 19 December 1978, the anniversary of her death, she appeared at Weaver’s restaurant, where she climbed a staircase that had been removed years before.
PONTEFRACT CASTLE
Location - Pontefract, West Yorkshire
Built - 1070 AD
Ghostly manifestations -
King Richard II was murdered here, no-one has yet spotted his ghost.
Monk figures seen walking around the outskirts near the catholic chapel and 2 figures of children seen playing near the dungeons. Holding a large axe, this figure walks around the ruins of the castle. a black monk walking from the remains of the kitchen towards the steps up to the ruins of the Queen's Tower. Strangely the monk is always seen walking from west to east, never in the opposite direction. The monk has been seen by quite a lot of people over a considerable period of time and they are of all ages and different backgrounds and "when you hear it from so many people you start to believe it." Sightings are usually around 5pm". Ghostly foosteps have been heard in the magazine area.
Ghostly anomalies - No photographic evidence.
History - Pontefract Castle in West Yorkshire near to the town of Pontefract, was constructed in approximately 1070 by a knight, Ilbert de Lacy (whose grandson Henry is responsible for the construction of Kirkstall Abbey), on land which had been granted to him by William the Conqueror as a reward for his support during the Norman conquests. There is, however, evidence of earlier occupation of the site and initially the castle was a wooden structure, but this was replaced with stone over time. The de Lacys lived in the castle until the start of the next century, when Robert de Lacy failed to support Henry I of England during his power struggle with his brother and confiscated the castle from the family. It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.
During 1311 the castle became part of the estates of the House of Lancaster. Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (1278–1322) was beheaded outside the castle walls six days after his defeat at the Battle of Boroughbridge, a sentence placed on him by the King himself. This resulted in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine. Later John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III of England, was so fond of the castle that he made it his own, spending vast amounts of money improving it. Richard II of England (1367–1399) was also reputedly murdered in Pontefract Castle, possibly in the Gascoigne Tower.
The castle has been a ruin since 1644 when it held as a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War and besieged at least three times by Parliamentarian; the last of which was responsible for the castle's present dilapidated state and many of its scars. Apparently this last raid had the full support of the surrounding population, who were grateful to destroy the castle and thus stop the fighting in their area. It is still possible to visit the castle's 11th century cellars which were used to store military equipment during the civil war "the magazine", much paranormal activity happens in this area, including footfalls.
The most remarkable feature of the current site is the remains of the donjon. Very few examples of this multilobed type exist. One is Clifford's Tower in nearby York. An identical example to York can be found at Étampes, France.
Built - 1070 AD
Ghostly manifestations -
King Richard II was murdered here, no-one has yet spotted his ghost.
Monk figures seen walking around the outskirts near the catholic chapel and 2 figures of children seen playing near the dungeons. Holding a large axe, this figure walks around the ruins of the castle. a black monk walking from the remains of the kitchen towards the steps up to the ruins of the Queen's Tower. Strangely the monk is always seen walking from west to east, never in the opposite direction. The monk has been seen by quite a lot of people over a considerable period of time and they are of all ages and different backgrounds and "when you hear it from so many people you start to believe it." Sightings are usually around 5pm". Ghostly foosteps have been heard in the magazine area.
Ghostly anomalies - No photographic evidence.
History - Pontefract Castle in West Yorkshire near to the town of Pontefract, was constructed in approximately 1070 by a knight, Ilbert de Lacy (whose grandson Henry is responsible for the construction of Kirkstall Abbey), on land which had been granted to him by William the Conqueror as a reward for his support during the Norman conquests. There is, however, evidence of earlier occupation of the site and initially the castle was a wooden structure, but this was replaced with stone over time. The de Lacys lived in the castle until the start of the next century, when Robert de Lacy failed to support Henry I of England during his power struggle with his brother and confiscated the castle from the family. It was under the tenure of the de Lacys that the magnificent multilobate donjon was built.
During 1311 the castle became part of the estates of the House of Lancaster. Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (1278–1322) was beheaded outside the castle walls six days after his defeat at the Battle of Boroughbridge, a sentence placed on him by the King himself. This resulted in the earl becoming a martyr with his tomb at Pontefract Priory becoming a shrine. Later John of Gaunt, a son of Edward III of England, was so fond of the castle that he made it his own, spending vast amounts of money improving it. Richard II of England (1367–1399) was also reputedly murdered in Pontefract Castle, possibly in the Gascoigne Tower.
The castle has been a ruin since 1644 when it held as a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War and besieged at least three times by Parliamentarian; the last of which was responsible for the castle's present dilapidated state and many of its scars. Apparently this last raid had the full support of the surrounding population, who were grateful to destroy the castle and thus stop the fighting in their area. It is still possible to visit the castle's 11th century cellars which were used to store military equipment during the civil war "the magazine", much paranormal activity happens in this area, including footfalls.
The most remarkable feature of the current site is the remains of the donjon. Very few examples of this multilobed type exist. One is Clifford's Tower in nearby York. An identical example to York can be found at Étampes, France.
MIDDLEHAM CASTLE
It was not easy to get any sense of spookiness on a baking Sunday afternoon at Middleham Castle, with lots of people milling about the place on their own little adventures. The only place where I might have bumped into a ghost would be in the little dark nooks and cranny’s hidden in the walls of the building, these were the 12th century cellars, pits and chambers and I can image how gloomy these places would be at night, I was rather reluctant to enter during this bright day..
Middleham Castle is a substantial pile, it is very ruinous, we climbed the stone spiral staircase with a rather un-ruly dog in tow making the accent very tricky indeed, the dizzying ramparts begged us up. The view was incredible. It was the favoured haunt of Richard the III, although there aren’t any reports of his shade wandering the building.
A visitor did once hear a ‘new born’ baby crying back in the late 90’s. Middleham Castle also known as the ‘Windsor of the north’ can be found in Wensleydale, in the county of North Yorkshire. It was built by Robert Fitz Ralph "Ralph De Glanville" 3rd Lord Of Middleham & Spennithorne in 1190, near the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle.
It is reputed to be the site of a buried hoard of treasure, to pin-point the treasure you must run a round the castle three times, and where you stop the treasure will be found. Unfortunately there is no indication of where you should start.
CASTLE BOLTON, NORTH YORKSHIRE
 |
 |
Name: Bolton Castle
Locality: Castle End, Castle Bolton, North Yorkshire DL8 4ET
Built: Late 14th century
Owner: Lord Bolton
Grade I
We arrived at Bolton Castle on a very misty October morning, the castle rose from the gloom and looked spectacularly spooky. I turned the big ring door knob and entered into the tearoom which was warm and inviting, with the smell of coffee and cakes, but was slightly concerned about the fumes coming from the free standing gas fire. The castle was humongous inside. As we walked through to the courtyard we heard a man shouting extremely loudly, "When I say stand still I MEAN stand STILL!" He yelled at a dozen medieval peasant children who were wearing tin hats and carrying spears above their heads, the kids were marching up and down on his command.
Just as we walked passed them, all of a sudden they shouted "ARSE ABOUT FACE" turned and stood to attention facing us, we had our backs against the wall and didn't dare move ! Chuckling to myself, I tiptoed out of the way quickly realizing we were in the middle of kids medieval military training hehe.
We walked through the depths of the castle, we found the dungeon with the obligatory oubliette, we couldn't decide if it had been blocked off with dark mesh or it was really that DARK, so we decided to throw sticks and stones down to see if we could hear them hit the bottom, yes they did after a few seconds, I’ve never seen anywhere so dark, it was solid. We walked around the great hall, it had large tapestries on the walls and one lone knight stood in the corner of the room. Mary Queen of Scots apparently used to complain about the cold floor on her feet in the castle of which she took a great disliking. She was imprisoned here by Elizabeth I, but she had 51 servants to look after her ! We went up into the bedrooms, the one with the mannequin of the queen and her servants, I took a photo and there is a light anomaly above the queens dummy. It is well known that her shade walks the corridors and also has been seen outside the castle.
Just as we walked passed them, all of a sudden they shouted "ARSE ABOUT FACE" turned and stood to attention facing us, we had our backs against the wall and didn't dare move ! Chuckling to myself, I tiptoed out of the way quickly realizing we were in the middle of kids medieval military training hehe.
We walked through the depths of the castle, we found the dungeon with the obligatory oubliette, we couldn't decide if it had been blocked off with dark mesh or it was really that DARK, so we decided to throw sticks and stones down to see if we could hear them hit the bottom, yes they did after a few seconds, I’ve never seen anywhere so dark, it was solid. We walked around the great hall, it had large tapestries on the walls and one lone knight stood in the corner of the room. Mary Queen of Scots apparently used to complain about the cold floor on her feet in the castle of which she took a great disliking. She was imprisoned here by Elizabeth I, but she had 51 servants to look after her ! We went up into the bedrooms, the one with the mannequin of the queen and her servants, I took a photo and there is a light anomaly above the queens dummy. It is well known that her shade walks the corridors and also has been seen outside the castle.
Bolton Castle, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire.
The ghost of Mary Queen of Scots has been spotted in the courtyard wearing a black velvet dress.
HERMITAGE CASTLE
 |
| Illustration by Jules |
This was my first visit to Hermitage Castle, this is my second visit (here)
Name: Hermitage Castle
Locality: Saughtree, The Scottish Borders TD9 0LU
Built: 1240 - 14th century
Owner: Historic Scotland
Grade A
Website: Historic Scotland
Location: Newcastleton, roxburghshire, Scotland.
ghosts - Sir Alex Ramsey, William of solis, mary queen of scots, border reivers, an unknown entity.
Hermitage is surrounded in legends and folklore.
We eventually arrived at Hermitage Castle, set on the bleak isolated wind-swept moorland. The weather was inclement but that suited the bleak 13th century fortress, it made it look all the more imposing. We walked over the little bridge over the river Hermitage which runs alongside the castle; these waters where notorious for its drowning pools, which our dog found out to his horror, the rocks were as slippery as ice and he fell in and went under.
A stroke of luck! Admission was free in April. We walked the short distance to the castle; it was a dark and creepy place. The weather beaten stone had a strange reddish orange hue on one side, maybe this is the blood of the Reivers seeping through the walls.
I stood looking up at this mighty pile wondering whether or not the former owner Lord Soulis’s spirit may linger; if not he but his victims, their screams would certainly be heard if you wandered around long enough. If you visit this lonely castle make sure you hold on to the handrails as you ascend the higher parts of the building, you may receive a push by a grim shade.
Maybe Mary Queen of Scots pays a nightly visit here, she was said to have frequented Hermitage Castle.
 |
| Border Reivers |
"Haunted Hermitage,
Where long by spells mysterious bound,
They pace their round with lifeless smile.
And shake with restless foot the guilty pile,
Till sink the moldering towers beneath the burdened ground."
"On a circle of stones they placed the pot,
On a circle of stones but barely nine;
They heated it red and fiery hot,
And the burnished brass did glimmer and shine.
They rolled him up in a sheet of lead
A sheet of lead for a funeral pall;
They plunged him into the cauldron red,
And melted him body, lead, bones, and all."
"And still when seven years are o'er,
Is heard the jarring sound,
When hollow opes the charmed door
Of chamber underground."
TAMWORTH CASTLE
TAMWORTH CASTLE
Location: Tamworth, Birmingham.
Built: 1070 AD
History: Tamworth castle is of Norman motte & bailey design with a shell keep. The present stone structure replaced the first timber tower surrounded by a palisade which was built shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Ghostly manifestations: The black lady, the white lady. The Black Lady is allegedly the ghost of a nun called Editha who founded her order in the 9th century; her nuns were said to have been expelled from a nearby Convent by Robert de Marmion.
Ghostly anomalies: Spirits have been heard and seen wandering through the 'Haunted bedroom' and the staircase.
My visit: As we were walking around the building we both got a strange sensation in our eyes, mine was burning like mad.
GOODRICH CASTLE
Name: Goodrich Castle
Locality: Goodrich, County of Herefordshire HR9 6HU
Built: 12th century
Owner: English Heritage
Grade I
Website: EH
Alleged ghostly manifestations:
On dark, stormy nights ghostly screams can be heard and there have been reports of a ghostly horseman, accompanied by a woman, spotted at the foot of the walls by the river.
Ghostly anomalies:
Strong smells of freshly baked bread.
History:
Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire has a well known haunting relating to the tragic tale of two lovers. During the Civil War, Goodrich saw major action when in 1646 Colonel Birch, leader of the Roundheads, placed the Royalist garrison under siege. His niece, Alice, was engaged to one of the Royalists inside the castle. One night, just before the final assault, Colonel Birch allowed them to escape but in their frantic attempts to clear the enemy lines and cross the River Wye they missed the ford, they were swept away by the river and drowned.
R.A.F East Kirkby - military museum, airfield
Name: Control Tower, RAF Museum (Former RAF East Kirkby)
Locality: East Kirkby, Lincolnshire PE23 4DA
Built: 1942
Owner: Air ministry
Grade: II
Website: Lincolnshire aviation centre
History:
RAF East Kirkby opened on the 20th August 1943 as a Bomber command Station. The station closed in 1958 and is now home to an air museum whose prize exhibit is the Lancaster Bomber "Just Jane". The aircraft was purchased by the Panton brothers from a museum in Blackpool where it had been a static exhibit. Now fully restored, in memory of their brother who was killed on a Bomber Command mission, the Lancaster has been given a taxi license and frequently makes runs for visitors. After the end of hostilities, East Kirby was home to 460 sqd. RAAF, until October, 1945. The number of servicemen and women stationed at East Kirkby was 2000. In April 1945, a Lancaster caught fire while being bombed up, resulting in a huge explosion which set off further bombs. Four people were killed, six Lancaster's totally destroyed, and a further fourteen damaged.
I was really looking forward to going back to RAF East Kirkby near Spilsby in Lincolnshire. We have been there before whilst on holiday a few years ago.
We began with looking around the hanger where the AVRO Just Jane Lancaster bomber is housed. We looked and the old spitfire wreckage and the plethora of old photos that would have taken hours to look at carefully. I then came across the photo of Norman Watt, the pilot who plunged to his death in a spitfire accident , all his things were laid out in glass covered cabinets along with bits of wreckage.
We then continued towards the famous control tower where a green light has been seen in the middle of the night. The windows had been blocked out, and the room was very dim and depressing. We listened to the simulations of 1940s RAF crews mapping flight paths, it was a creepy place during the day, let alone at night!
Many people believe the airfield to be haunted.
Alleged ghostly manifestations: Apparitions of WW2 airmen.
Ghostly anomalies: Spectral green lights in and around the air base.
OWLPEN MANOR
Official site: www.owlpen.com
 |
| Jules on the steps of Owlpen Manor |
Name: Owlpen Manor
Locality: Owlpen, Gloucestershire GL11 5BZ
Built: 15th century, the deeds go back to 1210
Owner: The Mander Family
Grade I
Website: Official
Locality: Owlpen, Gloucestershire GL11 5BZ
Built: 15th century, the deeds go back to 1210
Owner: The Mander Family
Grade I
Website: Official
Ghostly anomalies: Poltergeist activity in the attic presumably caused by the ghost of a wizard or alchemist, hooded figure, footsteps on the staircase, ghostly scents.
My visit: I couldn't wait to go to Owlpen Manor and actually be able to walk around this fantastic tudor house. I had to prize myself away from 'The Cyder House' the manors medieval restaurant that served home-cooked gourmet meals, you could also have a cup of tea out in the grounds. The interior of the manor was quite small, the living room area was 'shall I say, cosy' I could have lived there no problem. It was just like a normal home, books and CD's about the place, family photos etc. At last I reached the haunted bedroom, Margaret of Anjou's room, she is said to appear as a 'lady in beautiful clothes' as she drifts through the rooms in the house. Her bedroom was reminicant of my own, books on haunted houses in Britain surrounded the bed, newspaper cuttings of stories of spooky goings on, everything was left lying around for you to flick through. There was also a plethora of volumes and encyclopaedias about Owlpen Manor that was very impressive indeed.
Anyway, I didn't bump into Margarets spirit that day.
History: Owlpen Manor was the home to refugee children who had been removed from major UK cities during WWII.
Queen Margaret of Anjou first visited Owlpen in 1471 she was the wife of Henry VI, she had stayed at Owlpen in 1471 and spent her last happy night before her defeat, exile and eventual widowhood. Her ghost is said to frequent the building.
Pendle Hill
http://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/product/pendle-hill-witches
Location: Newchurch, Lancashire, England
Ghostly manifestations: The Pendle Witches.
Ghostly anomalies:
History:
The village is named after the "new church" of St Mary's, consecrated in 1544. If you look up at the church's tower, you will find the "Eye of God", painted on its side to ward off evil. There is a "witches grave" inscribed with the name "Nutter" to the right of the porch, but the date is much too late to be Alice Nutter's grave.
On Maundy Thursday 1610 Demdike is said to have sent her grandson James to the church to bring her back some communion bread. On his return journey he is supposed to have met "a thing in the shape of a hare" which threatened to pull him to pieces for failing to deliver the bread. James testified as the trial that Chattox had stolen teeth from skulls dug out of the church's graveyard.
This mysterious brooding landmark will forever be associated with Pendle Witches, but the hill was also the subject of religious inspiration. In 1652 George Fox climbed Pendle Hill and had a vision on the hill which inspired him to found the Quaker movement. Its summit, known as "The Big End", is the site of a Bronze Age burial mound.
CHILLINGHAM CASTLE
CHILLINGHAM CASTLE
Looming out of the eerie mist, the castle seemed to elicit a chocolate atmosphere like the ghostly Marie Celeste. As I walked through the woodland of the Chillingham estate, the sandy coloured gravel crunched beneath my feet. At its entrance two lit torches framed the doorway, casting long shadows on the steps. Inside this grand entrance the stone floor and walls added an uncanny medieval element.
I turned to my right, then a short path led me into the first large room. Around the room there is a collection of large oak furniture which stood there like it had been there forever. Portraits of former ancestors looked on in interest at me below, their eyes slowly following me around the room.
An old brass telescope took centre stage in the main window, a chinsy red and blue sofa waits for a frightened sitter. The old dungeon with its narrow aperture entrance invited me in further to adventure into its depths. Once inside the chamber a strange unnatural claustrophobia came upon me.
A medieval calendar counted down the indefinite years of the sentence within. A cast iron grill beneath my feet enticed me to peer down it; down in the far reaching dark unearthly depths. a lone skeleton lay on its side on the ground. One can only imagine the misery and the abandonment as this person died alone and frightened in this creepy god forsaken castle that people call Chillingham.
Written by Jules.
Location: Chillingham, Northumberland, England.
Built: 12th century.
Ghostly manifestations: 'Radiant' blue boy, ghost of abandoned wife Lady Berkley ~ Lady Grey, the ghost in the portrait painting, the white pantry ghost, ghost in the chamber, ghosts in the courtyard, ghost of a young officer.
Ghostly anomalies: Bright glow by the fireplace, blue flashes, rustling of fabric, icy draughts, soft halo of light around the four poster bed, voices in the library .
History: Chillingham was first a 12th Century stronghold, it became a fully fortified castle in the 14th Century. The family of the Earls Grey and their relations have continuously owned and lived in the castle since the 1200s. The current owners of Chillingham are Sir Humphrey and the Honorable Lady Wakefield.
The castle was often besieged during Northumberland's bloody Border Wars due to its strategic position, and it is steeped in royal history. The most famous resident of Chillingham, however, is a nameless child.
Residents and visitors of the castle's "Pink Room" (which isn't open to the public) have reported that, just as the clock strikes midnight, horrible cries of a child in pain can be heard echoing from a passage cut through a 10-foot thick wall into the adjoining tower. Apparently as the cries fade, a halo of light appears and the figure of a boy dressed in blue begins to approach the four-poster bed. During some refurbishing a few later years, the bones of a young boy and fragments of a blue dress were discovered in the bedroom wall. Some say his clothes were like those seen in paintings dating from the Restoration period of the 1660s, when Charles II was on the throne. The "blue boy" was given a proper burial, though no one ever knew who he was. It is known that there is also a catacombe of many skeletal remains of those who had been tortured there, I wasn't lucky enough to find it on my previous visit to Chillingham.
Looming out of the eerie mist, the castle seemed to elicit a chocolate atmosphere like the ghostly Marie Celeste. As I walked through the woodland of the Chillingham estate, the sandy coloured gravel crunched beneath my feet. At its entrance two lit torches framed the doorway, casting long shadows on the steps. Inside this grand entrance the stone floor and walls added an uncanny medieval element.
I turned to my right, then a short path led me into the first large room. Around the room there is a collection of large oak furniture which stood there like it had been there forever. Portraits of former ancestors looked on in interest at me below, their eyes slowly following me around the room.
An old brass telescope took centre stage in the main window, a chinsy red and blue sofa waits for a frightened sitter. The old dungeon with its narrow aperture entrance invited me in further to adventure into its depths. Once inside the chamber a strange unnatural claustrophobia came upon me.
A medieval calendar counted down the indefinite years of the sentence within. A cast iron grill beneath my feet enticed me to peer down it; down in the far reaching dark unearthly depths. a lone skeleton lay on its side on the ground. One can only imagine the misery and the abandonment as this person died alone and frightened in this creepy god forsaken castle that people call Chillingham.
Written by Jules.
Location: Chillingham, Northumberland, England.
Built: 12th century.
Ghostly manifestations: 'Radiant' blue boy, ghost of abandoned wife Lady Berkley ~ Lady Grey, the ghost in the portrait painting, the white pantry ghost, ghost in the chamber, ghosts in the courtyard, ghost of a young officer.
Ghostly anomalies: Bright glow by the fireplace, blue flashes, rustling of fabric, icy draughts, soft halo of light around the four poster bed, voices in the library .
History: Chillingham was first a 12th Century stronghold, it became a fully fortified castle in the 14th Century. The family of the Earls Grey and their relations have continuously owned and lived in the castle since the 1200s. The current owners of Chillingham are Sir Humphrey and the Honorable Lady Wakefield.
The castle was often besieged during Northumberland's bloody Border Wars due to its strategic position, and it is steeped in royal history. The most famous resident of Chillingham, however, is a nameless child.
Residents and visitors of the castle's "Pink Room" (which isn't open to the public) have reported that, just as the clock strikes midnight, horrible cries of a child in pain can be heard echoing from a passage cut through a 10-foot thick wall into the adjoining tower. Apparently as the cries fade, a halo of light appears and the figure of a boy dressed in blue begins to approach the four-poster bed. During some refurbishing a few later years, the bones of a young boy and fragments of a blue dress were discovered in the bedroom wall. Some say his clothes were like those seen in paintings dating from the Restoration period of the 1660s, when Charles II was on the throne. The "blue boy" was given a proper burial, though no one ever knew who he was. It is known that there is also a catacombe of many skeletal remains of those who had been tortured there, I wasn't lucky enough to find it on my previous visit to Chillingham.
NEWLAND, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
In this quiet historic village of Newland, you fail to miss the very tall skyscraperesque church that looks just like a cathedral that looms out of the trees. Funnily enough it is called the 'Cathedral of the country' the plaque on the walls says 'this church was built in 1200.
Newland village is situated on the east side of the river Wye south-east of Monmouth. Opposite the church there is a road occupied by a row of almshouses where the local paupers lived, to purchase one of these today would be very costly indeed.
Whilst taking these photos, I leant on a gravestone to get the angle, as I did I sensed someone stood right behind me, thinking it was my other half I dismissed it until I turned round to find NO ONE WAS THERE !!
Newland is haunted by spectres from the civil war; Cavaliers have been seen in and around the village. There are claims that they haunt the village pub, but the owners haven't seen any ghosts. A ghostly coach with a beautiful lady peering anxiously out of the window has been seen dashing through the village. On the Newland road lies Swan Pool, created to provide power for the iron smelting funaces in the village. It is said that the cries of a child have been heard here, and the figure of a woman with a baby in her arms emerges from the water, covered with slime and dripping weeds. A large black dog then rushes out of the lime kilns in the wood, circles the pond once, then slinks back to its lair.
Newland village is situated on the east side of the river Wye south-east of Monmouth. Opposite the church there is a road occupied by a row of almshouses where the local paupers lived, to purchase one of these today would be very costly indeed.
Whilst taking these photos, I leant on a gravestone to get the angle, as I did I sensed someone stood right behind me, thinking it was my other half I dismissed it until I turned round to find NO ONE WAS THERE !!
Newland is haunted by spectres from the civil war; Cavaliers have been seen in and around the village. There are claims that they haunt the village pub, but the owners haven't seen any ghosts. A ghostly coach with a beautiful lady peering anxiously out of the window has been seen dashing through the village. On the Newland road lies Swan Pool, created to provide power for the iron smelting funaces in the village. It is said that the cries of a child have been heard here, and the figure of a woman with a baby in her arms emerges from the water, covered with slime and dripping weeds. A large black dog then rushes out of the lime kilns in the wood, circles the pond once, then slinks back to its lair.
LINDISFARNE
LOCATION: HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND
LINDISFARNE PRIORY
NUMBER OF GHOSTS 3
ST CUTHBERT
SPECTRAL PROCESSION OF MONKS
LONE MONK
Jules says: A fantastic and picturesque location, be prepared to walk a short distance from the carpark. Entry into the castle and priory is not free. Dont forget to pay the Lindisfarne mead shop a visit.
LINDISFARNE PRIORY
NUMBER OF GHOSTS 3
ST CUTHBERT
SPECTRAL PROCESSION OF MONKS
LONE MONK
Jules says: A fantastic and picturesque location, be prepared to walk a short distance from the carpark. Entry into the castle and priory is not free. Dont forget to pay the Lindisfarne mead shop a visit.
BAMBURGH CASTLE HAS GHOSTS
Name: Bamburgh Castle
Locality: Bamburgh, Northumberland NE69 7DF
Built: 12th century
Owner:
Grade I
Website: Visit Northumberland
Number of alleged spooks: 4+
Dr. John Sharp
Jane Green
A knight in armour
A baby
It's a massive castle to visit, usually very busy with tourists, walk around the exterior of the building at night including the dunes, take your torch !
Bamburgh Castle has got to be one of the largest castles I have ever visited and I've been to a few in my time. Both close up and from far away the building is spectacular. I was on Holy Island and you could just see the castle in the mist as if it was actually floating on the surface of the sea.
In the picture above you can get an idea how tall the place is, Bamburgh Castle is actually sunk through the volcanic dolerite and stands at a depth of 45 metres. Parts of the building have been rebuilt that is obvious. Originally the citadel was made of wood round about 600AD. It was semi-derelict round about the 1600's.
As you enter one of the first rooms, there is in the centre of the room an impressive wooden model of the castle. Then there is The Crewe Museum room which use to be the medieval castle's kitchen, this room was restored by Dr John Sharp, he is one of the known ghosts that wander through the building. The King's hall is most impressive, with armour borrowed from the Tower of London; I was half expecting a spectral body to appear in them. An array of blunderbusses and swords lay in glass display units.
As I walked through to the passageway my eyes were drawn to rather a large and very old curtain, it was made by Russian prisoners of the Crimean War, it was made out of their uniforms, in recognition of their humane treatment at the hands of their captors. I made a comment to my partner as I walked through the tapestry corridor, 'when you're walking through there is so much to see and you only take brief glances of various objects and you don't really take it all in how historical the pieces are'.
We actually visited the castle on the exact day
Most Haunted was showing the episode on TV. We were staying at the Waren caravan park and could actually see the castle through our window. So looking at the view, settling down with a cup of tea and watching the show on television was so ironical!!!
We had also walked past the bakehouse and scullery where Stu Torevell has some strange experiences. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary whilst I was down there only a Daisy Patent vacuum cleaner from 1908 hehe.
We actually visited the castle on the exact day
Most Haunted was showing the episode on TV. We were staying at the Waren caravan park and could actually see the castle through our window. So looking at the view, settling down with a cup of tea and watching the show on television was so ironical!!!
 |
| View you get from the caravan park courtesy of Google Street View |
We had also walked past the bakehouse and scullery where Stu Torevell has some strange experiences. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary whilst I was down there only a Daisy Patent vacuum cleaner from 1908 hehe.
My favourite room had to be the armoury room, there was a window in there and you could see just exactly how thick the walls were, at least 6 foot. Along the walls of the armoury room are pikes, halberds muskets and crossbows dating around about the Napoleonic invasion. On the wooden table at one end of the room is a drum and drumsticks, on it is a painting of a coast of arms, this is the drum that was seen to move by an unknown force.
Lastly, we entered the dungeon, it looked more like a wine cellar to me, made out to look like a dungeon, unconvincing dummies were shackled to the walls with fake cobwebs and rubbish sound effects. I had to giggle about it though and announced to all who was in earshot that it wasn't a patch on Chillingham Castles dungeons ! It raised a few smiles !
East Ardsley Conservative club investigation - pub, bar
EAST ARDSLEY CONSERVATIVE CLUB
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
Built: Unknown
History: Unknown
Ghostly manifestations: Apparition caught on CCTV
Ghostly anomalies Dark shadows
CCTV Figure
Back in 1993 in the doorway of the East Ardsley conservative club, West Yorkshire, a supposed full apparition was filmed for a few minutes on the security cameras outside. Apparently it could be seen quite clearly on the CCTV network, but not directly by human eyes. The entity vanished after several minutes, though made a very brief reappearance a month later. Strange shadows wander the building, drinkers report seeing dark shapes walking through walls, an odd uneasiness hangs over our team in the blue room. And weird entities writhe about the floor in the snooker room. This sparked previous media interest into the weird goings on at East Ardsley conservative club.
EAST ARDSLEY CONSERVATIVE CLUB REPORT
I arrived at the club around 10:30pm. I was shown the original CCTV footage that captured the so called apparition back in 1993. The tape was very worn from years of rewinding and fast forwarding the alleged spirit to a wide captive audience including the punters, and the media. Another paranormal group had already done an investigation there previously, but nothing was ever witnessed.
I watched the clubs original CCTV footage , but the tape was so worn it was hard to make out what we was supposed to be looking at. I did get a brief glimpse of something stood at the door then it vanished, but I'm not sure if that was what we was meant to see, then the tape got re-wound a bit more and that was the last we saw of it; what I did see however was very interesting. The story goes : Staff that was operating the camera that day noticed on the monitor that there was a person stood at the main entrance, he then left the office (which is only a few paces from the main entrance) and proceeded to let them in, but when he got to the door no one was there. On returning back to his office, the person outside was still stood there ! The apparition stood for quite a while, but it was not to be seen by naked eye. I tried to fathom if there was some logical reason behind it, maybe a reflection from the houses opposite maybe. It was then explained to me by one of the regulars who stayed with us that evening that the inside porch area that I was stood in was in-fact the outside area where this figure was seen and it has recently had an extension built on it, which it had. So Ste proceeded to set up his night vision camera and motion sensors in that area.
I was getting loads of orbs on camera, but as usual we put it down to dust and smoke particles.
The blue room was particularly active, I felt like many eyes were watching me and they were getting nearer and nearer, I didnt like the feeling. Later I still had this overwhelming feeling that I had a crowd of people around me, later I was told by one of the regulars that that room used to be for the men, they used to crowd around a table in that area and chat, loads of them, she said that most were dead now.
In the early hours, whilst settled in the blue room again, one of the regulars noticed a dark shadow moving though the wall at the opposite end of the room which was very weird indeed.
Earlier in the evening I set up some trigger objects in the blue room, 4 coins, but nothing moved.
I did pick up a negative ion charge in the ladies toilet and in the door way, but as always on inside investigations didnt get anything conclusive with the gauss meter.
Nothing was caught on the evp recordings as yet nor the digital camera stills. The motion detectors went off in the main entrance about 5 times, but they were triggered by the numerous punters leaving the building much to my annoyance...
Conclusion: I didn't witness any paranormal activity in this incidence. I am still unsure as to what was seen on CCTV. I am not convinced the club is haunted.
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.
Built: Unknown
History: Unknown
Ghostly manifestations: Apparition caught on CCTV
Ghostly anomalies Dark shadows
CCTV Figure
Back in 1993 in the doorway of the East Ardsley conservative club, West Yorkshire, a supposed full apparition was filmed for a few minutes on the security cameras outside. Apparently it could be seen quite clearly on the CCTV network, but not directly by human eyes. The entity vanished after several minutes, though made a very brief reappearance a month later. Strange shadows wander the building, drinkers report seeing dark shapes walking through walls, an odd uneasiness hangs over our team in the blue room. And weird entities writhe about the floor in the snooker room. This sparked previous media interest into the weird goings on at East Ardsley conservative club.
EAST ARDSLEY CONSERVATIVE CLUB REPORT
I arrived at the club around 10:30pm. I was shown the original CCTV footage that captured the so called apparition back in 1993. The tape was very worn from years of rewinding and fast forwarding the alleged spirit to a wide captive audience including the punters, and the media. Another paranormal group had already done an investigation there previously, but nothing was ever witnessed.
I watched the clubs original CCTV footage , but the tape was so worn it was hard to make out what we was supposed to be looking at. I did get a brief glimpse of something stood at the door then it vanished, but I'm not sure if that was what we was meant to see, then the tape got re-wound a bit more and that was the last we saw of it; what I did see however was very interesting. The story goes : Staff that was operating the camera that day noticed on the monitor that there was a person stood at the main entrance, he then left the office (which is only a few paces from the main entrance) and proceeded to let them in, but when he got to the door no one was there. On returning back to his office, the person outside was still stood there ! The apparition stood for quite a while, but it was not to be seen by naked eye. I tried to fathom if there was some logical reason behind it, maybe a reflection from the houses opposite maybe. It was then explained to me by one of the regulars who stayed with us that evening that the inside porch area that I was stood in was in-fact the outside area where this figure was seen and it has recently had an extension built on it, which it had. So Ste proceeded to set up his night vision camera and motion sensors in that area.
I was getting loads of orbs on camera, but as usual we put it down to dust and smoke particles.
The blue room was particularly active, I felt like many eyes were watching me and they were getting nearer and nearer, I didnt like the feeling. Later I still had this overwhelming feeling that I had a crowd of people around me, later I was told by one of the regulars that that room used to be for the men, they used to crowd around a table in that area and chat, loads of them, she said that most were dead now.
In the early hours, whilst settled in the blue room again, one of the regulars noticed a dark shadow moving though the wall at the opposite end of the room which was very weird indeed.
Earlier in the evening I set up some trigger objects in the blue room, 4 coins, but nothing moved.
I did pick up a negative ion charge in the ladies toilet and in the door way, but as always on inside investigations didnt get anything conclusive with the gauss meter.
Nothing was caught on the evp recordings as yet nor the digital camera stills. The motion detectors went off in the main entrance about 5 times, but they were triggered by the numerous punters leaving the building much to my annoyance...
Conclusion: I didn't witness any paranormal activity in this incidence. I am still unsure as to what was seen on CCTV. I am not convinced the club is haunted.
Other haunted places
RELIGIOUS PLACES
Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire
The spectre of an Augustinian monk was seen wearing a brown hassock covering, accompanied by a strong smell of incence this figure has been seen walking through the walls of the rectory. This same ghost has been witnessed on a number of occasions near the rectory by frequent visitors to the ruins.
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
A ghostly choir of disembodied male voices have been heard on more than one occasion here. 'The blue ghost' resides in nearby Fountains Hall also an Elizabethan gent has been seen coming out from some wood panelling at the hall. Local legend has it that Friar Tuck stayed at the abbey, and his comrade Robin Hood's bow was kept at the abbey too.
Kirstall Abbey
York Minster
HAUNTED HIGHWAYS
Stocksbridge Bypass
HAUNTED BRIDGES
Ivelet Bridge
DOWN UNDERGROUND
Aldwych station, London
The 'fluffers', people who clean the tunnels and stations, claim to have been scared by a figure who appears on the tracks at night. The ghost is that of an actress who believes she has not enjoyed her last curtain call, supposedly haunts the station. Aldywch used to be on the site of the old Royal Strand Theatre.
Clerkenwell House of Detention, London
Hellfire Caves
Mary King's Close, Scotland
Monmouth Ash Tree, Dorset
Monmouth Ash Tree, Horton and Woodlands, Dorset.
In 1685 Lord Monmouth was ill advised by Protestant leaders to invade the West Country from his base in Holland and declare himself the rightful King. His band of ill-equipped followers gave name to the uprising, known as the ‘Pitchfork Rebellion’.
The army he led was persued by Lord Faversham towards Bridgwater. The two forces engaged each other at the battle of Sedgemoor. Although the inexperienced farmers and labourers fought bravely they were no match for Faversham’s trained troops and were routed. Monmouth himself was captured and taken to the Tower of London. After a summary trial he was executed.
Over three hundred years later near the spot where he was captured stands an Ash Tree with a plaque attached recording Monmouth’s last stand, but that may not be the only reminder of what happened there so long ago, because many people have claimed to have seen the bedraggled Lord staggering around carrying his severed head, especially on the night of 16th July, the anniversary of the date on which he was put to death. So prevalent was the belief in this haunting that it was said that the local populace would not pass by without the safety of a charm.
National Coal Mining Museum, West Yorkshire
The Edinburgh Vaults
The Galleries of Justice, Nottingham
GRAVEYARDS
Brompton Cemetery
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Highgate Cemetery
Jay's Grave
Robin Hoods Grave
The Grave Of Excalibur
The Robbers Grave, Powy's, Wales
Holy Trinity Church, York
MILITARY PLACES
North East Aircraft Museum
Coleby Grange RAF watch tower, Lincolnshire
RAF East Kirkby
The Muckleburgh Collection
HAUNTED VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES
Avebury
Carlisle
Conington
Dartmoor
Dunwich
Eyam, Derbyshire
Many buildings are said to be haunted in the village of Eyam, pronounced 'EEM', is famous for its plague cottages. Eyam Hall is haunted by an old man, he wanders the upstair rooms. The Miners Arms pub is also said to have a collection of spooks, an elderly woman in a black bonnet, black cape and black boots, she is thought to be a former landlord's wife, she was murdered in the 17th century. Two young spirits by the names of Sarah and Emily also roam, they footsteps have been heard by some of the regulars, also girlish giggling has been heard in the corridors of the pub.
Isle Of Wight
Longdendale Valley
Portsmouth
Pluckley
Prestbury
Renwick
Warleggan
York
HILLS, MOORS, RIVERS AND STREAMS
Creech Hill
Cuddy's Crag
Glastonbury Tor
Kitty's Steps
Hound Tor, Dartmoor
The Icknield Way
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Trollers Gill, North Yorkshire
HOSPITALS
BATTLEFIELDS
Battle of Hastings
Bosworth Battlefield
Culloden Moor
Edgehill Battlefield. Warwickshire
Marston Moor
Sedgemoor Battlefield
Towton Battlefield, North Yorkshire
GARDENS/LODGES
Levens Hall Topiary Garden
Lyveden New Bield, Northhamptonshire
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES
Carnegie sports college, Leeds
Worcester Royal Grammer School
NIGHTCLUBS
BREWERY'S
MUSEUMS
Ancient High House
The Commandery Civil War Museum
Thackery Medical Museum, Leeds
Peterborough Museum
Tom Leonard Mining Museum
MILLS
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax
Pleasley Vale Mills
GAOLS
Armley Jail, Leeds
The Victorian Jail at Armley in West Yorkshire has an abundance of paranormal activity, both day and night. Reports of apparitons, movement of furniture in cells, windows that open and close by themselves. Knockings on doors when there is no one there. Two staff members saw an apparition in broad daylight whilst eating their lunch, the figure just vanished into thin air. Ghosts are seen walking though walls in certain parts of the jail. The ghost of a modern day guard has recently been seen in broad daylight. Sounds of objects being thrown around empty rooms. Oppression is felt around the old topping shed, where prisoners where once hanged. The Grey Lady - ghost of a female guard haunts the wings and chapel, wearing period uniform, she is thought to have died there back in the 1800's.
Bodmin Gaol
Derby Gaol
Illingworth Gaol, Halifax
Jed Castle Gaol
The Galleries Of Justice, Nottingham
COURTROOMS
The Old Bailey
STUDIOS
MARITIME AND SEA
Frigate Unicorn
AIRCRAFT
RAILWAYS
York Railway Station
THEATRES
ROYAL PLACES
TOWERS
Cliffords Tower, York
Newcastle Keep
Tretower Court
Layer Marney Tower
Chysauster Ancient Tower
Reculver Towers, Kent
On an archaeological dig, eleven babies skeletons were found, oddly cries of babies have been heard. Two hooded figures have been seen wandering between the towers at night. A spectral white figure has been seen, it removes its hood to reveal no face !
STONE CIRCLES
ANICIENT VILLAGES
FARMS
Tynedale Farm, Pendle
DUNGEONS
London dungeon
York dungeons
Is said to be haunted by the ghost of Guy Fawkes.
Bolton Abbey, North Yorkshire
The spectre of an Augustinian monk was seen wearing a brown hassock covering, accompanied by a strong smell of incence this figure has been seen walking through the walls of the rectory. This same ghost has been witnessed on a number of occasions near the rectory by frequent visitors to the ruins.
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire
A ghostly choir of disembodied male voices have been heard on more than one occasion here. 'The blue ghost' resides in nearby Fountains Hall also an Elizabethan gent has been seen coming out from some wood panelling at the hall. Local legend has it that Friar Tuck stayed at the abbey, and his comrade Robin Hood's bow was kept at the abbey too.
Kirstall Abbey
York Minster
HAUNTED HIGHWAYS
Stocksbridge Bypass
HAUNTED BRIDGES
Ivelet Bridge
DOWN UNDERGROUND
Aldwych station, London
The 'fluffers', people who clean the tunnels and stations, claim to have been scared by a figure who appears on the tracks at night. The ghost is that of an actress who believes she has not enjoyed her last curtain call, supposedly haunts the station. Aldywch used to be on the site of the old Royal Strand Theatre.
Clerkenwell House of Detention, London
Hellfire Caves
Mary King's Close, Scotland
Monmouth Ash Tree, Dorset
Monmouth Ash Tree, Horton and Woodlands, Dorset.
In 1685 Lord Monmouth was ill advised by Protestant leaders to invade the West Country from his base in Holland and declare himself the rightful King. His band of ill-equipped followers gave name to the uprising, known as the ‘Pitchfork Rebellion’.
The army he led was persued by Lord Faversham towards Bridgwater. The two forces engaged each other at the battle of Sedgemoor. Although the inexperienced farmers and labourers fought bravely they were no match for Faversham’s trained troops and were routed. Monmouth himself was captured and taken to the Tower of London. After a summary trial he was executed.
Over three hundred years later near the spot where he was captured stands an Ash Tree with a plaque attached recording Monmouth’s last stand, but that may not be the only reminder of what happened there so long ago, because many people have claimed to have seen the bedraggled Lord staggering around carrying his severed head, especially on the night of 16th July, the anniversary of the date on which he was put to death. So prevalent was the belief in this haunting that it was said that the local populace would not pass by without the safety of a charm.
National Coal Mining Museum, West Yorkshire
The Edinburgh Vaults
The Galleries of Justice, Nottingham
GRAVEYARDS
Brompton Cemetery
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Highgate Cemetery
Jay's Grave
Robin Hoods Grave
The Grave Of Excalibur
The Robbers Grave, Powy's, Wales
Holy Trinity Church, York
MILITARY PLACES
North East Aircraft Museum
Coleby Grange RAF watch tower, Lincolnshire
RAF East Kirkby
The Muckleburgh Collection
HAUNTED VILLAGES, TOWNS AND CITIES
Avebury
Carlisle
Conington
Dartmoor
Dunwich
Eyam, Derbyshire
Many buildings are said to be haunted in the village of Eyam, pronounced 'EEM', is famous for its plague cottages. Eyam Hall is haunted by an old man, he wanders the upstair rooms. The Miners Arms pub is also said to have a collection of spooks, an elderly woman in a black bonnet, black cape and black boots, she is thought to be a former landlord's wife, she was murdered in the 17th century. Two young spirits by the names of Sarah and Emily also roam, they footsteps have been heard by some of the regulars, also girlish giggling has been heard in the corridors of the pub.
Isle Of Wight
Longdendale Valley
Portsmouth
Pluckley
Prestbury
Renwick
Warleggan
York
HILLS, MOORS, RIVERS AND STREAMS
Creech Hill
Cuddy's Crag
Glastonbury Tor
Kitty's Steps
Hound Tor, Dartmoor
The Icknield Way
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Trollers Gill, North Yorkshire
HOSPITALS
BATTLEFIELDS
Battle of Hastings
Bosworth Battlefield
Culloden Moor
Edgehill Battlefield. Warwickshire
Marston Moor
Sedgemoor Battlefield
Towton Battlefield, North Yorkshire
GARDENS/LODGES
Levens Hall Topiary Garden
Lyveden New Bield, Northhamptonshire
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES
Carnegie sports college, Leeds
Worcester Royal Grammer School
NIGHTCLUBS
BREWERY'S
MUSEUMS
Ancient High House
The Commandery Civil War Museum
Thackery Medical Museum, Leeds
Peterborough Museum
Tom Leonard Mining Museum
MILLS
Dean Clough Mills, Halifax
Pleasley Vale Mills
GAOLS
Armley Jail, Leeds
The Victorian Jail at Armley in West Yorkshire has an abundance of paranormal activity, both day and night. Reports of apparitons, movement of furniture in cells, windows that open and close by themselves. Knockings on doors when there is no one there. Two staff members saw an apparition in broad daylight whilst eating their lunch, the figure just vanished into thin air. Ghosts are seen walking though walls in certain parts of the jail. The ghost of a modern day guard has recently been seen in broad daylight. Sounds of objects being thrown around empty rooms. Oppression is felt around the old topping shed, where prisoners where once hanged. The Grey Lady - ghost of a female guard haunts the wings and chapel, wearing period uniform, she is thought to have died there back in the 1800's.
Bodmin Gaol
Derby Gaol
Illingworth Gaol, Halifax
Jed Castle Gaol
The Galleries Of Justice, Nottingham
COURTROOMS
The Old Bailey
STUDIOS
MARITIME AND SEA
Frigate Unicorn
AIRCRAFT
RAILWAYS
York Railway Station
THEATRES
ROYAL PLACES
TOWERS
Cliffords Tower, York
Newcastle Keep
Tretower Court
Layer Marney Tower
Chysauster Ancient Tower
Reculver Towers, Kent
On an archaeological dig, eleven babies skeletons were found, oddly cries of babies have been heard. Two hooded figures have been seen wandering between the towers at night. A spectral white figure has been seen, it removes its hood to reveal no face !
STONE CIRCLES
ANICIENT VILLAGES
FARMS
Tynedale Farm, Pendle
DUNGEONS
London dungeon
York dungeons
Is said to be haunted by the ghost of Guy Fawkes.
Haunted religious places
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Battle Abbey, East Sussex
The ghost of a Norman knight has been seen. Anniversery ghost King Harold appears every October 14 complete with an arrow in his eye. A strange figure in Tudor costume has appeared on a visitors photo from Zimbabwe photographed in the cloisters. Another photo had a beam of light with a face staring out.
Bayham Old Abbey, Kent Sussex border
A group of phantom monks have been seen floating through the abbey. Chanting, the smell of burning incense and the sounds of bells have also been observed by many.
Beauchief Abbey, Sheffield
Ghosts: The White lady and a monk.
Binham Priory, Norfolk
The priory is said to be linked by a tunnel to Walshingham Abbey. A travelling fiddler boasted to the locals that he would see where this tunnel went. He was heard playing his violin until it couldn't be heard no more. The locals waited, expecting him to appear at the other side of the hill, he had be accompanied by his dog. Then his terrified dog came running out of the tunnel entrance. The fiddler was never found until one day after much road widening, cutting into the hill, 3 skeletons were found including that of a dog.
Bisham Abbey, Berkshire
Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales
Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland
Buckland Abbey, West Devon
Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Suffolk
The ghosts of monks have been seen near the abbey gates and in the cellars of the buildings in Applegate street. Two grey ladies have also been seen, one is said to be the ghost of Maude Carew who helped with the plot to assassinate the Duke of Gloucester. She was meant to administer poison to him but accidently ended up drinking it herself.
Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire
In the 13th century a large silver disc was seen in the sky above the abbey. It is chronicled in the William of Newburgh reports that the abbot was about to say grace when one of the monks ran in announcing 'there is a great portent outside'. According to manuscripts it was frightening and the greatest terror. A ghost of a monk has been seen here and people report been touched.
Durham Cathedral
Eastby Abbey
Fountains Abbey
Hailes Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Knowlton Church
Lanercost Priory, Cumbria
Lilleshall Abbey
Lindisfarne Priory
Luds Church
Michelham Priory, Sussex
Muchelney Abbey, Somerset
Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire
Ghostly inhabitants include a phantom monk called 'The Black Friar', and a ghostly lady who leaves behind a sweet smell of rose petals.
Nettley Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey
Roche Abbey
Rufford Abbey
Rycote Chapel
Skidbrooke Church
St Albans Abbey
St Alban’s Abbey seems to be well stocked with your traditional English ghosts; processions of spectral monks, ethereal choirs and the Abbey organ which has been seen to play by itself. Even St Alban himself, who was the first Christian martyr in Britain, is said to make an occasional appearance. A lesser known story involved a former resident, a Dr Toms who lived in the nearby Romeland Cottage that, it was said, was built on the site of the abbey charnel house where many of the monks who died of plague would have been laid to rest. In 1904 the family had a maid who slept in the house. She was awoken on two consecutive nights by a monk who spoke excitedly in a language foreign to her. She noticed he had a medal around his neck, which a local clergyman identified as a pilgrims medal, often worn by monks at the abbey.
By all accounts it was soon afterwards that the spirit was exorcized and has never been witnessed again.
St Botolph's Church
St Mary's Church Ruin, Clophill
St Mary the virgin
St Michael's Church
St Peter's Church
St Senara's Church
St Thomas's Church
The priory of the blessed Virgin Mary
Thetford Priory
Thornton Abbey
Tynermouth Priory & Castle
Waverley Abbey
Wenlock Priory
Whitby Abbey
Battle Abbey, East Sussex
The ghost of a Norman knight has been seen. Anniversery ghost King Harold appears every October 14 complete with an arrow in his eye. A strange figure in Tudor costume has appeared on a visitors photo from Zimbabwe photographed in the cloisters. Another photo had a beam of light with a face staring out.
Bayham Old Abbey, Kent Sussex border
A group of phantom monks have been seen floating through the abbey. Chanting, the smell of burning incense and the sounds of bells have also been observed by many.
Beauchief Abbey, Sheffield
Ghosts: The White lady and a monk.
Binham Priory, Norfolk
The priory is said to be linked by a tunnel to Walshingham Abbey. A travelling fiddler boasted to the locals that he would see where this tunnel went. He was heard playing his violin until it couldn't be heard no more. The locals waited, expecting him to appear at the other side of the hill, he had be accompanied by his dog. Then his terrified dog came running out of the tunnel entrance. The fiddler was never found until one day after much road widening, cutting into the hill, 3 skeletons were found including that of a dog.
Bisham Abbey, Berkshire
Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales
Brinkburn Priory, Northumberland
Buckland Abbey, West Devon
Bury St Edmunds Abbey, Suffolk
The ghosts of monks have been seen near the abbey gates and in the cellars of the buildings in Applegate street. Two grey ladies have also been seen, one is said to be the ghost of Maude Carew who helped with the plot to assassinate the Duke of Gloucester. She was meant to administer poison to him but accidently ended up drinking it herself.
Byland Abbey, North Yorkshire
In the 13th century a large silver disc was seen in the sky above the abbey. It is chronicled in the William of Newburgh reports that the abbot was about to say grace when one of the monks ran in announcing 'there is a great portent outside'. According to manuscripts it was frightening and the greatest terror. A ghost of a monk has been seen here and people report been touched.
Durham Cathedral
Eastby Abbey
Fountains Abbey
Hailes Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Knowlton Church
Lanercost Priory, Cumbria
Lilleshall Abbey
Lindisfarne Priory
Luds Church
Michelham Priory, Sussex
Muchelney Abbey, Somerset
Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire
Ghostly inhabitants include a phantom monk called 'The Black Friar', and a ghostly lady who leaves behind a sweet smell of rose petals.
Nettley Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey
Roche Abbey
Rufford Abbey
Rycote Chapel
Skidbrooke Church
St Albans Abbey
St Alban’s Abbey seems to be well stocked with your traditional English ghosts; processions of spectral monks, ethereal choirs and the Abbey organ which has been seen to play by itself. Even St Alban himself, who was the first Christian martyr in Britain, is said to make an occasional appearance. A lesser known story involved a former resident, a Dr Toms who lived in the nearby Romeland Cottage that, it was said, was built on the site of the abbey charnel house where many of the monks who died of plague would have been laid to rest. In 1904 the family had a maid who slept in the house. She was awoken on two consecutive nights by a monk who spoke excitedly in a language foreign to her. She noticed he had a medal around his neck, which a local clergyman identified as a pilgrims medal, often worn by monks at the abbey.
By all accounts it was soon afterwards that the spirit was exorcized and has never been witnessed again.
St Botolph's Church
St Mary's Church Ruin, Clophill
St Mary the virgin
St Michael's Church
St Peter's Church
St Senara's Church
St Thomas's Church
The priory of the blessed Virgin Mary
Thetford Priory
Thornton Abbey
Tynermouth Priory & Castle
Waverley Abbey
Wenlock Priory
Whitby Abbey
Haunted houses
Aberconwy House
Aberglasney House, Carmarthenshire
Famous for its 'corpse candles' legend, they became an omen for impending death. Five maids died here from asphyxiation, it is said that they brought a curse into the house. Former owner and surgeon Thomas Phillip's phantom has been seen by workers around the house. One guide reported footsteps.
Blakeney Guildhall
Claydon House
Heol Fanog, Wales
Wales most haunted house? From evil dark entities to little old ladies, Heol Fanog has wall to wall ghosts.
Ham House, Surrey
The ghost of Oliver Cromwell's mistress resides here, she proved that she had murdered her first husband.
Knebworth House, Herefordshire
Several ghosts reside at this magnificent property, the spirit of a famous victorian politician and author Edward Bulwer Lytton, haunts the study and drawing room where he spent many a day. He is famous for the phrase 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. In the east wing a spinning wheel is heard spinning away on its own, the ghost who does this is said to be the tormented ghost of a young girl known as Jenny Spinner. The ghost that haunts the Beauchamp chamber is of a tragic but beautiful ghost. The radiant boy also appears as a yellow glowing spectre, the ghost predicts violent death to whom he appears to.
Lamb House, Rye, East Sussex
Former tenents plagued by poltergeist activity, everything was blessed by a priest including the refridgerator ! A ghost of an old lady has been seen wearing a mantilla, she has appear on photos taken by an amateur photographer.
Medieval merchants house, Southampton
Mysterious footprints appear in the cellar.
Osborne House
Plas Mawr, North Wales
Haunted by the 'masters ghost' said to wander the house looking for Dr. Dic.
Prideaux Place, Cornwall
There is a highwaymen and murdered monks There are also stories of a dog haunting one of the bedrooms.
Temple Newsome
The Boat House
The Windhouse
The Windhouse on the barren Shetland island of Yell has long courted a reputation of being haunted by diverse ghosts. A servant girl mounts invisible steps, a man in a top hat appears and there is even a ghost dog. More grisly is the spectre of a woman dressed in silk whose earthly remains were discovered by workmen under the floorboards. Built originally in 1707 on a burial ground, the buildings beginnings could hardly be considered auspicious, although it was relocated in the nineteenth century a short distance away. One is bound to wonder why. Locally, The Windhouse continues to be regarded as a troubled dwelling but a couple from England purchased it in 2003 with the intention of renovating it and enjoying the undoubted natural beauty of the area. The repairs were due to take several years and at the time of writing (September 2006) I dont think they have been completed. When interviewed the new owner admitted they had been unaware of the ghost stories before purchase, but he at least, was not too concerned and quipped that he quite understood any ghosts reluctance to leave the peace of such a spot. I hope his sanguine frame of mind persists but one word of warning; it is told that the last owners of The Windhouse fled in terror.
Treasure Holt, Essex
Treasurers House, York
Famous for the ghosts of Roman soldiers seen in the cellar.
Haunted hotels
Dalston Hall Hotel, Lake District, Cumbria
Gosforth Hall Hotel, Lake District, Cumbria
Minerva Hotel
Strange whispers have been caught on tape here. The ghost of Laura Aubrey is said to reside here.
Old Hall Hotel, Buxton
Petty France, Gloucestershire
The Black Swan Hotel, Wiltshire
The Garrick’s Head Hotel, Bath.
In the Georgian period 1740-1830 Bath was the out-of-town social centre for the great and the good of London and few could be said to have more influence on the organisation of this social scene than Richard Beau Nash. He was a legendary gambler and socialite and owned The Garrick’s Head Inn. Next door was the Theatre Royal with which it was connected by secret passages. One can imagine dissolute Rakes escaping through the tunnels when things were not going so well at the gambling tables. Tragedy and bloodshed has also visited the Inn. A woman hanged herself behind a bedroom door when a duel was lost by the man she loved when she was the prize. Perfume has been smelt in the building, one wonders if it could it be hers? Duels over wagers and for the love of a woman would have been commonplace in such a setting. Perhaps we should not be surprised when those mortally wounded linger in the place of their demise.
A heavily built man dressed in Regency clothes has been seen by a landlord’s son entering one of the passages. His squeaky footsteps can also be heard. The theatre is no longer extant but the ghost of a woman who threw herself to her death from an upstairs window of the Inn had often been seen from the stage, sitting in one of the theatre boxes watching the performance. In one of the upstairs rooms it is said there is a window that refuses to stay shut. The sensation of having one’s face stroked has been reported and various auditory anomalies are regularly witnessed. Much of the recent activity has involved the movement of objects; keys, a mallet, even the heavy till. The smaller objects even disappear and turn up again later in places that have already been searched One unfortunate lady staying at the Inn was awoken by various strange phenomena over a period of days. On one occasion she heard a knock on her bedroom door. When she bid them enter, the handle clearly turned but the door never opened. On another night she awoke to find her room filed with an ethereal glow. On turning on the light the uncanny glow disappeared. On yet another occasion she wasn’t the only person to be disturbed. Around three in the morning she and several other guests congregated on the landing after hearing a rumbling ghostly laugh.
A reporter from a Bristol paper spent a night in The Garrick’s Head and was astounded to hear footsteps and other strange noises from empty rooms in the ancient hostelry. One interesting pattern has been noted. Each time a new landlord takes over the Inn, the ghosts become more active. Are they introducing themselves to the newcomers as the real residents of The Garrick’s Head.
The Old White Lion Hotel, Howarth, West Yorkshire
In 1906 Lily Cove, from London the only female skydiver in her time, visited the village, she stayed in room 7. The next day she plunged to her death at a gala in Howarth. Her body was taken through the village and everyone drew their curtains as a mark of respect. She is buried in a moorland cemetery just outside the village. People staying in room 7 have experience something very strange, often describing 'whilst relaxing in bed' when they feel a sensation of suddenly dropping through the air. Some have complained of waking and seeing a white faced young lady in old fashioned clothes gazing down at them from the foot of their bed.
The Schooner Hotel, Northumberland
The Station Hotel, Dudley
Gosforth Hall Hotel, Lake District, Cumbria
Minerva Hotel
Strange whispers have been caught on tape here. The ghost of Laura Aubrey is said to reside here.
Old Hall Hotel, Buxton
Petty France, Gloucestershire
The Black Swan Hotel, Wiltshire
The Garrick’s Head Hotel, Bath.
In the Georgian period 1740-1830 Bath was the out-of-town social centre for the great and the good of London and few could be said to have more influence on the organisation of this social scene than Richard Beau Nash. He was a legendary gambler and socialite and owned The Garrick’s Head Inn. Next door was the Theatre Royal with which it was connected by secret passages. One can imagine dissolute Rakes escaping through the tunnels when things were not going so well at the gambling tables. Tragedy and bloodshed has also visited the Inn. A woman hanged herself behind a bedroom door when a duel was lost by the man she loved when she was the prize. Perfume has been smelt in the building, one wonders if it could it be hers? Duels over wagers and for the love of a woman would have been commonplace in such a setting. Perhaps we should not be surprised when those mortally wounded linger in the place of their demise.
A heavily built man dressed in Regency clothes has been seen by a landlord’s son entering one of the passages. His squeaky footsteps can also be heard. The theatre is no longer extant but the ghost of a woman who threw herself to her death from an upstairs window of the Inn had often been seen from the stage, sitting in one of the theatre boxes watching the performance. In one of the upstairs rooms it is said there is a window that refuses to stay shut. The sensation of having one’s face stroked has been reported and various auditory anomalies are regularly witnessed. Much of the recent activity has involved the movement of objects; keys, a mallet, even the heavy till. The smaller objects even disappear and turn up again later in places that have already been searched One unfortunate lady staying at the Inn was awoken by various strange phenomena over a period of days. On one occasion she heard a knock on her bedroom door. When she bid them enter, the handle clearly turned but the door never opened. On another night she awoke to find her room filed with an ethereal glow. On turning on the light the uncanny glow disappeared. On yet another occasion she wasn’t the only person to be disturbed. Around three in the morning she and several other guests congregated on the landing after hearing a rumbling ghostly laugh.
A reporter from a Bristol paper spent a night in The Garrick’s Head and was astounded to hear footsteps and other strange noises from empty rooms in the ancient hostelry. One interesting pattern has been noted. Each time a new landlord takes over the Inn, the ghosts become more active. Are they introducing themselves to the newcomers as the real residents of The Garrick’s Head.
The Old White Lion Hotel, Howarth, West Yorkshire
In 1906 Lily Cove, from London the only female skydiver in her time, visited the village, she stayed in room 7. The next day she plunged to her death at a gala in Howarth. Her body was taken through the village and everyone drew their curtains as a mark of respect. She is buried in a moorland cemetery just outside the village. People staying in room 7 have experience something very strange, often describing 'whilst relaxing in bed' when they feel a sensation of suddenly dropping through the air. Some have complained of waking and seeing a white faced young lady in old fashioned clothes gazing down at them from the foot of their bed.
The Schooner Hotel, Northumberland
The Station Hotel, Dudley
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)