Princess Ghost of Castle Fraser Aberdeen
Turreted Castle Fraser has many paranormal activities haunting its halls. The most chilling story is that of the murdered princess. The princess ghost had her life taken in ‘The Green Room’, the ghastly deed committed with her blood staining the hearth and staircase. The stains are repeatedly washed away only to mysteriously reappear, forever a reminder of the princess’ untimely end.
The princess ghost is not alone, Castle Fraser is also haunted by another spectre who appears in a long black gown, said to be Lady Blanche Drummond.
Curious piano music also haunts the castle and those who enter the building often hear voices from nowhere…
Child Ghost of Kingcausie
Aberdeen
A tragic accident haunts the Kingcausie Tower house of Aberdeenshire. Two year old James Turner Christie was dropped down a flight of stairs by his nanny. The accident was fatal. Today, the child ghost haunts Kingcausie and visitors often hear children’s footsteps ringing throughout the house. The ‘Chinese Room’ is also reported to have the bedclothes mysteriously thrown off by a mischievous ghost.
Mary King’s Close
Edinburgh
This infamous close lies under Edinburgh’s city centre and is riddled with paranormal activity and ghosts. Part of an area that was essentially quarantined during the 16th and 17th centuries, there are many stories of ghostly inhabitants said to have died during that time. The area today is considered one of the most haunted areas of Edinburgh, attracting many visitors each year.
Mary King’s Close’s most famous ghost is a young girl named Annie. A psychic visiting the small rooms in 1992 was overcome with a feeling of sickness, hunger, and cold. When she moved to leave the room, she felt a tug by a ghostly hand. It is said that when she looked back, she saw the young girl crying in the corner of the room. Annie revealed that she had died during ‘the sickness’ of 1645, and according to the psychic, was distraught over a doll she had lost, saying she felt lonely without it. The psychic then left a doll behind for her and since this time, visitors leave dolls and gifts for Annie in the corner where she was seen.
Other ghosts have been known to roam the close. Visitors often hear phantom footsteps, and on occasion, see a lady (thought to be Alexander King’s daughter Mary) wearing grey or black. Male apparitions have also been reported to
disappear when approached.
Aside from reports and stories, a photograph surfaced in 2008 that is often considered proof that the close is haunted. A translucent figure was snapped on camera when the area was closed and the photographer was alone. Is this compelling
evidence, or just a hoax? Is the close truly haunted? Only a visit to this spectral site will help you decide….
The Blue Lady
Leeds
The Blue Lady of Temple Newsam is thought to be the ghost of Mary Ingram, whose portrait has hung in the Green Damask Room since around 1862. Her story is one of
madness. One sinister night Ingram was returning home when her carriage was looted by highwaymen. She was attacked and robbed, traumatising her so much that she slipped into a deranged madness for the remainder of her days. It is said that after this robbery, Ingram became forever obsessed with hiding her possessions. Her ghost is often seen today searching for her lost treasures and is commonly
felt brushing past people on the staircase.
The Blue Lady is not the only resident ghost of Temple Newsam. Sightings of a monk in brown robes, a Knight Templar, a young boy climbing out of a cupboard, as well as
a non-descript misty form have also been reported.
The Sobbing Lady of Bolling Hall Bradford
The Sobbing Lady of Bolling Hall dates back to 1642, with her haunting saving the lives of many innocents. During the war between Royalists and Puritans, the Earl
of Newcastle (Royalist) came to Bradford with his army to invade the city that was not yet overthrown. Angry that this town, despite having no army, was undefeated,
the Earl vowed to kill every man, woman and child! His vow was unfulfilled, however, after a visit from the Sobbing Lady.
The Earl awoke that very night feeling his bedclothes being pulled from him. An apparition of a woman stood by his bed, wringing her hands and crying for him to
‘pity poor Bradford’. Unnerved by his night-time visit from the Sobbing Lady, when the Earl attacked Bradford the following morning, only 10 lives were taken.
Since this first haunting, there have been a range of ghost sightings and paranormal activity reported at Bolling Hall. Visitors have heard ladies’ voices as well as a mysterious baby’s cry. The Blue Room has seen activity of a gentleman wearing long coat tails standing by the fireplace. This sociable spectre is often willing to
communicate with ghost hunters….
Newsham Park Hospital Liverpool
Newsham Park Hospital has had a range of sightings over the years, the source of hauntings have been attributed to various possible ghosts. Visitors are often immediately struck by the haunted nature of this building, its oppressive atmosphere surrounding you with a sense of foreboding and eeriness.
The site is said to have 16,000 cremated remains of orphans who once lived in the hospital. Reportedly thrown into a pit in the mortuary, these cremated remains may have anchored the spirits of the orphans to the hospital, with a number of ‘child’ sightings over the years. More specifically, on the upper floors sits a row of cupboards which were reportedly used as ‘the naughty’ cupboards. Misbehaving orphans would be locked in here for hours as punishment. The area is believed to be haunted by a little boy who died in the cupboard during his punishment. The mischievous ghost has haunted the area by opening and closing the cupboard doors, scaring those who dare to walk by.
There have been many reports from patients who would talk of children wandering the halls. An overwhelming number of psychiatric patients were seen talking to themselves, as though conversing with another. Patients were not alone in their ghostly experiences, a nurse repeatedly asserted that she was seeing apparitions from beyond the grave. Startlingly, the nurse was later found dead at the top of the staircase on the main corridor….
There have also been reports that tools have gone missing, only to appear in a different location of the hospital – such mischievous behaviour could be attributed to the playful nature of the child ghosts. Shadowy and ghostly apparitions have been seen dashing from room to room, as well as disembodied voices being heard across the hospital.
The Skull House
Manchester
Built in the 15th Century, Wardley Hall is known as the ‘Skull House’. This spooky house gained its name from the ghoulish skull that is ‘contained in a recess at the head of the main staircase’ said to have resided there since the reign of Charles II.
The skull is said to have belonged to a Roman Catholic priest, Father Ambrose, who was hung and quartered because of his faith. The skull is supposedly haunted and if it is moved from its home, terrible and spooky events occur. One specific incident details that a servant, scared of the gruesome skull and its supernatural power, threw it in the moat surrounding the hall. That night, a terrible storm struck the house, causing a fear and hysteria that the storm was a result of the skull releasing its wrath upon the house. The moat was subsequently drained and the skull returned to the house, where it remains today, bound to the house forever….
The Sheffield Tram Ghost
Sheffield
A calm spectre, the gentleman ghost of the Sheffield Tram offers less of a haunting, but instead a ghostly lonely traveller. Not long after the trams first started running in Sheffield, an elderly man died of a heart attack in his seat. The conductor did not notice until the tram returned to the depot, and by that time it was too late.
Sometime after, a conductor asked an old man for his fare late one night when the passenger disappeared before his eyes! Staff have often seen the old man get on the tram, sometimes even opening the door for him and watching him take his seat, when he suddenly fades and disappears into nothing. Passengers have also seen the gentleman ghost, his spectre disappearing before the tram reaches Hillsborough.
Legend of Loxley Common
Sheffield
In a lonely cottage on a bitter New Year’s Eve in 1812, Mary Revill was rocking her baby to sleep when she herself drifted off. The next morning, an acquaintance came to visit. When she received no answer to her knocks, she entered the cottage, only to find Mary lying murdered on the floor by her baby’s cradle. With snow on the ground, there were large footprints in the snow leading to a cave and disappearing inside. However, there were no footprints exiting the cave and no one inside…
Her husband showed little emotion on hearing of his wife’s death, and although he had spent the night drinking, no one could swear that he had not returned home that night. Locals gave a wide berth of the cave after night had fallen but the mystery was never solved. The husband became estranged and appeared to prematurely age. One year, again on New Year’s Eve, Revill could not be found, and so townspeople went in search of him. They found him hanging from the rafters of his outbuilding. Many had said Revill acted strangely at New Year’s Eve and often heard him mutter that he could not stand life any longer, indicating suicide When they searched the cabin they found a hunter’s knife rusted in blood, whether it was used to murder his wife it is unknown. The area remained haunted with the murder of Mary Revill, with many cottages remaining empty until 1900 when they were finally demolished.
The ghost of Mary Revill is said to roam Loxley Common, many describing her spectre as the woman in white gliding across the common with her hands in the air.
Highwaymen and Phantom Coaches
Nottingham
The Great North Road has many ghost and ghouls. As one of the main highways, this road has seen many carriage robberies, murders, and more.
One story details a monster that is truly terrifying. A married couple were traveling in a carriage when it lost one of its wheels. The driver went on foot to find help. Time passed, the couple began to worry, and the temperatures started to drop. Fearing for his wife’s health, the husband went out in search of help. More time passed. The wife then heard voices, at first feeling relief, she quickly realised the voices were not of a rescue.
Someone jumped on the roof of the carriage and the vessel began swaying violently with loud thumps, the roof threatening to collapse at any moment. Scrambling to the door, bright lights dazed her. A voice commanded her to exit the carriage, it said “Miss! You must open the door slowly and walk towards the light. On no account look behind you!”
Shaking and terrified, the lady walked towards the lights, however just as she was approaching them, she turned to look at the carriage. On the roof crouched a man with rage
twisted features and wild red eyes, empty and ravaged with lunacy. His wrists were encased by snapped manacles and at his feet lay her husband’s dead body.
The Great North Road has also had many reports of encounters with the “Owd Lad”. This is said to be the devil himself reported to be seen with his black carriage and four horses.Reports vary in descriptions, one witness described a carriage that was "all on fire like brimstone, pulled by four skeleton horses".
Another tale describes a coach with six horses driven by a headless coachman and carrying a headless nobleman. It has been seen speeding down the road disappearing into nothing…
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Haunting
Nottingham
Presumed to be the oldest pub in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is said to have a few curses and hauntings to make anyone’s hairs stand up on end!
A model galleon has been a notable paranormal point of interest over the years. Hanging on the wall of the pub and covered in a heavy amount of dust and cobwebs, this model ship is believed to be cursed. The ship hasn’t been cleaned in many, many years, because (according to the pub’s landlord) "The last three people who have cleaned it are said to have died mysterious and unexpected deaths within 12 months of doing so."
The cellars of the pub have also been a hub of paranormal activity. Cave like caverns provide an oppressive and spooky atmosphere that cannot be avoided. In one of the cellars is a doorway, cut into the rock that make up the cellar walls, and completed with an iron gate. This chamber is said to be the condemned cell of the castle prison, where many men starved to
death. It is said to be haunted by their ghostly spirits. Objects are often moved around in the cellars, shadows and a dark mass have been seen, and even icy touches felt on the back of the neck and through the body.
The Hangman of Hangleton Brighton
Hangleton Road was once the sight of many hangings in the 17th Century. The ghost that haunts this sinister site is said to be the hangman, Thomas Kypper. Kypper was reported to be a particularly sadistic hangman, showing no mercy to his victims, and instead, made the hangings more horrific. A ferocious man in other aspects of his life, Kypper was accused of two murders and was finally sentenced to death at Hangleton after killing his neighbour.
The sightings of the ‘Hangman of Hangleton’ are detailed and numerous. The site is still today home to a large population of magpies and crows, adding to the eeriness and ghostly atmosphere of this area. The spectre has been described as tall and broad, clothed in tattered attire with a black cloth tied around his head, resembling a hood. Mixed reports have stated that he carries a staff or has a wooden leg, while others include ‘a dead eye’, yellow teeth, greasy and pitted skin, as well as dirty, matted hair!
Aside from the detailed reports of the hangman ghost’s appearance, the sequence of events reported since the 1930s have been eerily similar. Witnesses, often inside their homes, have heard a loud thud, followed by a persistent tapping from outside. When each witness has ventured out to investigate, they see the apparition standing outside. The hangman spectre at first appears unaware of his observer. However, suddenly turning, he catches their gaze and seconds later he vanishes….
Lydiard House
Swindon
There are a few ghosts that frequent Lydiard house. The most established ghost is that of Sir John St John, a previous owner of the house. Both staff and visitors have witnessed his ghost in the Morning Room where he is said to lean up against the fireplace, and is described as a morose and melancholy spirit. His spectre appears solid, only his 17th century attire indicating his otherworldly appearance. The appearance of Sir John’s apparition has been reported to be preceded by a drop in temperature and the strong scent of sweet tobacco fills the room.
Sir John is not the only spirit to haunt the halls of Lydiard House. The staircase is said to be home to a lady in white, whose identity is speculated as Lady Blunt. Her ghost, in addition to other appearances, is said to periodically return on the 30th October, the anniversary of the murder of Lady Blunt’s fiancé, indicating the lady in white’s possible identity.
The grounds are supposedly haunted by a little drummer boy, who has been seen silently tapping a drum slung across his shoulder. The grounds are also said to be haunted by a phantom coach and its horses.
The Cathedral Close Lovers Exeter
A tragic story of forbidden love dating back to 1520, the Cathedral Close lovers still haunt the area. The story told is that a monk living in the college for monks met a nun from a nearby convent and they quickly fell in love. The couple met several times and the nun became pregnant. When discovered, the lovers were threatened with execution. To avoid this fate, they made a suicide pact and jumped down the well together to a fateful end.
Visitors of the courtyard have since sighted the monk’s cloaked figure wearing his sandals. Those visiting have also reported smelling essence of rose-water, which nuns would wear… the lover ghosts of this grievous tale haunting the spot where they met their end.
The Blue Lady Belfast
Tollymore Forest Park is said to be the dwellingof a wistful spectre, lost without her home.
The Blue Lady’s ghost resided in the Tollymore House before its destructionin the post-war years. Today, her spectre continues to remain on the grounds, homeless. While her fateful end is unknown, she is said to haunt the park, restlessly wandering through the forest looking for her lost love whose life was taken in battle.
The Elizabethan House Cradle
Plymouth
Dating back to 1584, this historic and atmospheric house has witnessed many paranormal incidents from unexplained cold spots to ghostly apparitions. Furniture has been heard dragged across the floor of the upstairs, only when the noise is investigated, the furniture has remained untouched in its original position. A ghostly apparition of a young girl below the age of ten has been seen sitting in the corner of a room on the first floor. She is often seen looking out of the window - witnesses have seen the spectre both inside the house and from passers-by on the street below.
The most notable ghostly encounter to have been experienced in this house was by an archaeologist from the Plymouth Museum in 1983. Arriving early to set up for a lecture, he made his way up the Elizabethan winding staircase. He heard an odd sound from the upper floors and hurried up to investigate the source of the noise. As he entered one of the bedrooms, he discovered a wooden cradle rocking side to side unaided by any visible force. The cradle moved with such a steady pace, no breeze could be the cause. Spooked by
what he was seeing, the archaeologist hurried back down the stairs, finding that his guests had started arriving. So alarmed by what he had just witnessed, he described his experience and convinced some of his guests to join him upstairs to see if the cradle would move again. The cradle remained stationary and many of the guests were joking about the situation when the cradle began to rock as it had before, shocking and terrifying the witnesses.
Local legend states that a figure of an infant child has been seen within this small wooden cradle. This has been witnessed only for a brief moment and then the apparition suddenly vanishes.
Woodlawn House Galway
This derelict haunted mansion is considered to be the scariest in Ireland. When filming a documentary on Ireland’s most haunted houses, even the creators of the hit movie ‘The Blair Witch Project’ found Woodlawn House to be the most terrifying.
The house is empty and abandoned, but heavily guarded by CCTV and police to prevent trespassers, mostly those keen to catch a glimpse of paranormal activity, from entering. This prohibition has made the mansion all the more mysterious and exciting, and those who have managed to enter (this is not recommended) have reported a range of spooky paranormal activity within the house.
Over the years there have been rumours of a tragic suicide, which led to stories of ghosts. There have also been reports of tormented wails of a girl, phantom footsteps, and a presence of a phantasm or entity found in the ‘hook room’. Many believe that this house may perform as a gateway to the ‘other side’…
The Long Walk Galway
The long walk of Galway city has long been considereda site of paranormal activity with tales of a mysteriouslady in white being reported for decades. However, in 2012, a mysterious event occurred potentially proving the Long Walk’s haunted past. A local photographer was taking pictures of the area, when a female figure appeared in one of the photographs. Dressed in a dark cloak, the figure appears to be walking towards the camera, however she does not appear in the shot before or after in the set, apparently disappearing into thin air. The woman is thought to be an apparition of a 19th Century nun from Claddagh. The validity of the image is of course contested, but how could a figure just appear and disappear from the photographer’s frame without his noticing?
Howth Harbour Lighthouse
Dublin
A tragic story of the sea haunts this lighthouse. A father and his 3 year old daughter were washed out to sea, drowning in the 1800s. It is said that the father’s ghost haunts the lighthouse, he is often seen on the shore calling out to his lost daughter. The cries of the daughter have also been heard adding to the
spookiness of this unfortunate tale.
