famous-haunts

'Tragically' Haunted

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:11:26 +0100

Then called the Winecoff Hotel, it was the site of the most tragic hotel fire, not only in Atlanta but in all of U.S. history. Thus, it surely should be haunted—if, that is, ghosts are something more than figments of the romantic imagination. During the popular Dragon*Con festival in September of 2009 and 2010, Joe investigated ghost claims at the refurbished hotel, collecting published tales, taking photographs, interviewing the manager, and more.

An historical marker on the property relates the horrific story. Before dawn on December 7, 1946, the hotel was filled with 280 guests. At that time, the brick structure was believed to be fireproof but—lacking sprinklers, fire escapes, and even fire doors—it was actually a death trap, which claimed 119 lives. Although firemen from Atlanta and surrounding towns fought valiantly for some two and half hours, "their ladders reached only to the eighth floor, and their nets were not strong enough to withstand jumps of more than 70 feet." Consequently the bodies of those who perished by jumping were scattered on the sidewalks and piled in the alley at the rear of the building. Within days, however, reports of the horror prompted enactment of fire-safety ordinances across the country, and today the shell of the building has been transformed into the modern, safety-conscious Ellis Hotel.

Authors of ghost books—typically a superstitious, mystery-mongering lot—are at pains to give the hotel sufficient ghostly tales to befit its tragic history. Reese Christian—whose book Ghosts of Atlanta (2008) bills her as an "elite psychic medium" and member of Ghost Hounds Paranormal Research Society—warms to the task. Although lacking specific sources, she touts such phenomena as workmen's unaccountably moved tools, the sounds of noisy but empty hallways, and the repeated smell of smoke when there was no fire (pp. 51-57).

Such reports may be unexplained, but they are hardly unexplainable. Workmen may mislay tools, or fellow workers may play pranks on them; guests can hear noises from other floors; and smoke may be imagined or simply come from someone's cigarette. Some ghostly experiences in hotels—including vivid apparitions—may stem from a guest's "waking dream," a state that occurs in the interface between wakefulness and sleep.
(See "Haunted Inns," Skeptical Inquirer , September/October 2000.)

At the Ellis, as at many other allegedly haunted buildings, people outside sometimes imagine they can see ghostly faces in the windows (William N. Bender, Haunted Atlanta and Beyond , 2008, 131-134). When these are not actual faces—of guests or housekeepers—they may be nothing more than simulacra: These are the result of one's ability to perceive images in random patterns (such as the play of light and shadow upon a window), like seeing pictures in clouds. Joe did some experimenting with his camera at the hotel and produced the "faces" shown in one window here.

The manager of the Ellis, Peter Minervini, very kindly took a few minutes to sit and talk with CFI Libraries director Timothy Binga and Joe when they lunched at the hotel on September 4, 2010. He said he had worked there about a year and had no ghost experiences. The only thing he mentioned was an odd odor, occasionally perceived in one room, that he did not attribute to anything otherworldly. He said he was himself a skeptic regarding ghosts. The year before, Joe was startled when a young woman with a tour company told him there were so few credible ghost accounts in Atlanta that they were changing the name of their "Ghosts and Legends Tour." Will wonders never cease!

To see a bigger version of this picture to examine the 'faces' yourself, check out our FORUM post on this subject.

The RiPA Theater Project

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:11:54 +0100

Throughout history, The theater has been a place of tragedy and joy, heartbreak and love, sadness and happiness etc, so is it any wonder, with all these powerful emotions going on in one place, that theaters are one of the most allegedly haunted establishments around?

There are theaters in nearly every town, county and city in the UK. Differing in shape and size, but all have a 'story' to tell.

Be it the lust-lorn actress who took her life for she failed to take the lead role or the man who killed his fellow thespian because he thought it was his fault the play didn't go well, the stories may change but the hauntings remain.

So RiPA thought its about time a serious investigation into these alleged haunts took place.
What really makes the theater such a place for spirits to dwell?
Is it their love of the arts? The fact that they are just looking on to make sure future shows bode well or could it be something a lot simpler such as slightly askew stage platforms, structural imperfections or even just simple infra-sound?

Whatever it is RiPA will be travelling the length and breadth of the UK visiting theaters that have reported unseen guests in the hope to collate a selection of case studies to try and finally get to the bottom of why theaters are one of the most haunted type of buildings.

In order to help us with this study, RiPA are interested in
hearing your tales of theater hauntings.
Maybe you work in one, perform in one or just visit a certain one occasionally.

So whether it be a theater for RiPA to visit, a report of an experience you went through or maybe even a photo or some footage that you have captured, drop us a mail at theaters@ripaonline.co.uk

Also, If the theater you suggest warrants a study, then you will be invited to attend the night with RiPA as your input maybe quite valuable.

Our first theater visit takes place on 12th Feb 2010.
Naturally, it would be foolish of me to reveal the place name and location but rest assured, it is steeped in history and allegedly has its fair share of spirits. This particular theater is a good start to this project and RiPA looks forward to visiting many more in order to bring to you an up-to-date listing of haunted theaters and a conclusion, positive or not, in why they are so attractive to paranormal phenomenon.

Hopefully, this project will provide a fasinating and intricate study on these establishments and may also delve deeper into discovering more on 'the stone tape theory'

As most of you probably know, theaters and actors are quite a superstitious bunch.
Even modern day Hollywood A-Lists have certain rituals and mantras before they go on camera.
For more information on superstition and the theater, check out a RiPA article on that subject just by clicking the link below.

Superstition and Theaters

Tomb Raiders Digging WWII Graves Witness Inexplicable Phenomena

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:12:40 +0100

A few years ago the so-called 'black archaeologists,' people conducting independent excavations in the places of World War II battles and looking for precious war trophies, were extremely active. Sometimes during their search they would encounter very strange phenomena.

In 1997, a group of six people headed to Luban in the Leningradsky region, where the ruins of Makaryevsky monastery destroyed during the war rest amidst the swamps. Nearing the ruins, the group noticed bonfire flames. They were shocked to find out that the bonfire was hanging right in the air. As soon as they approached the ruins, the bonfire disappeared.

The "black archaeologists" fixed a camp in the ruins. Throughout the night, they were bothered by wild human screams originating from the woods. None of them rushed to help.

Next morning, one of the archaeologists went to the woods and got lost. He came back three hours later, with his clothes dirty and insane look on his face. He never told his friends what happened to him.

One of the most famous anomalous zones connected to World War II is a marshy valley Myasnoy Bor located 30 kilometers away from Novgorod. Many warriors of the Soviet Second Attack Army, divisions of German Wehrmacht, Spanish “Blue Division” and other troops perished in this area during the Lyuban Offensive Operation of 1942. Many unburied remnants are left here.

Galina Pavlova, head of the group “Search” from Engels city in the Saratov region told about an incident that happened to her in 1997: “The woods of Myasnoy Bor are scary and mystical. As soon as you are left there by yourself, the woods start making sounds. You can clearly hear yells “Hooray,” as if restless souls of the perished warriors still carry out an attack. The day we found the mines, I was behind the guys on a trail. I stopped at a spot that was excavated many times before. Suddenly, I saw that trees were leaning towards the same spot although it was not windy at all. I called the guys, and we found a decomposed wooden box and old mines.”

Alexei, a "black archaeologist" who used to excavate in the woods near Bryansk where Russian front was located in 1942-1943, told an interesting story.

“We excavated the bodies of six Russian and 11 German soldiers, four of which were Wehrmacht soldiers in a swamp trench shelter. We cut the logs and discovered decomposed German boots with bones sticking out. Then we began a more careful excavation, and found pelvic bones, a spine, and ribs. Little by little we dug out remnants of four people. It was getting dark. We left the skeletons at the trench and camped out on a meadow about 200 yards away.

At night something happened. We were woken up by Valera, a guy on duty. He told us that something weird was going on. We got up and started listening carefully. We could hear German speech, songs, laughter and clatter of tracks. It was very scary.

In the morning we went to the trench. It looked the same as when we left it. But when we walked a little further, we saw tank ditches and, most amazingly, fresh tank tracks.”

There is an anomalous zone Zheltoyar, better known as Novokhopersk anomalous zone, in the eastern part of Voronezh region, near the town of Novokhopersk.

Members of an expedition of the Voronezh committee for studying anomalous phenomena led by a famous researcher Genrikh Silanov managed to take pictures of people clad in soldiers’ uniform near tents. A plane phantom appeared on one of the photos. The researchers believe that these were the pictures of World War II. One of the pictures showed a silhouette of a Czech soldier. Later the researchers found that a Czech division that was a part of the Soviet Army used to be located in that area.

Silanov believes that the pictures were typical “chronal mirages” created by the so-called “memory fields” connected to dramatic events that occurred in the past.

The 'New City' Has An Old Past..

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:13:34 +0100

Living in Milton Keynes and hosting several paranormal teams within the area, I think its about time I done a blog on the stranger side of Milton Keynes. From ghosts to spaceships, Beaker people to phantom estate agents. We have more than just roundabouts and concrete cows.

Milton Keynes ( Mill-tun Keenz), often abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about 60 miles north-west of London.

It was built around 40 years ago (1970) give or take a few years. But although it sounds fairly new, it swallowed up a lot of older villages as it grew.

But this aint going to be no history lesson into the history of how MK was built. Instead, we're going to delve into and talk about some of the legends of Milton Keynes.

First off we have an alien abduction on The Teardrop Lakes.

ALIEN ENCOUNTER ON THE TEARDROP LAKES

It was a warm, gentle, evening in June, and a lone cyclist was skimming along the redway on one edge of the Teardrop Lakes.

Brian, a commuter on his way home from Milton Keynes station, had had a very pleasant early evening. An office leaving party had started off in the work bar, then spilled over into the pub next door. As a result he had consumed a reasonable amount of London Pride. He had left London, he had thought, early enough to have daylight when he arrived home. However, in his fuddled state he had miscalculated by an hour. There was still a slight afterglow over towards Towcester, or would have been if it had not been drowned out by the sulphurous light-haze that hung over Milton Keynes, but around the Teardrop Lakes, the only useful light was from the row of lamps that ran alongside the redway. This was enough for Brian at present, but he knew that eventually he would have to enter darker parts of the park on his way home, and he had no lights on his bike.

This particular redway runs alongside the lake on one side, and the railway line on the other. An West Coast Mainline train crashed past at this point, on its way to Birmingham and all parts north-west. He reflected that, if he had spent another twenty minutes in the pub, he could caught that train instead of his slower one, and been home at much the same time.

There are four Teardrop Lakes between Childs Way and Chaffron Way, and where the brook joins each lakewhen to the next, there is a bridge. So there are three bridges in total, and our hero had to choose which one to cross. Over the past six months he had crossed over both of the well-lit ones many times, in comfort and convenience. So it could only have been the London Pride in his system that encouraged him on this occasion to go over the other, less well-lit, bridge. Humming a cheerful tune, he turned a sharp right, leaning into the bend in a polished manner. There was an almighty crash and it all went dark.

What he had not reckoned with, was the different positioning of the bollards. All the bridges had bollards, presumably to stop people in Minis racing around the redway system. Two of the bridges had bollards on either side of the path, so that the inebriated cyclist could cruise straight through the middle without let or hindrance. Once of the bridges, the one he had chosen this evening, had a bollard in the middle of the path, so you have to go round it to the left or right. What Brian had done was to hit it full on, at about fifteen miles an hour. He was thrown a reasonable distance over the handlebars, landing on his back in the middle of the path.

He lay there for a moment with his eyes closed, mentally checking all the bones and connections in his body. Two hands; two feet, all functioning. One head, apparently OK. One back - complaining loudly. He opened his eyes.

Due to the glow of the streetlights, it's never very easy to see the stars in Milton Keynes, but out in the middle of the park by the Teardrop Lakes is probably as good a place as any to see them. They were really very pretty as they hung there above him, placidly looking down at this strange example of humanity. For a moment, he felt quite relaxed. Then he heard voices.

The first fear was that they might be muggers, but then he realised that they were speaking too softly.

"He seems to be unconscious," he heard from one of the voices.

"No, his eyes are open. Are you alright? That seemed like a nasty bump you had there."

He heard someone walking very close up to him. Then a light shone directly into his eyes, and he felt quite stunned. He decided to risk what damage he might do to his body, and clambered to his feet. What he saw was terrifying.

There were about five or six of them in all, about the size of men, ranged around him. He could not see their faces, assuming they had any, as each of them had glowing from his head a bright light, and all of these lights were blazing straight towards him.

"I'm fine! Leave me alone! I'll get my bike," he screamed. He staggered over to where his bike had fallen, and picked it up. He slung his leg over the saddle and peddled off. The front wheel had clearly been warped by the crash, so that the bike wobbled wildly across the path, but other than that it was possible to ride it. He charged off into the darkness, hearing the siren voices behind him:

"Come back!"

"You don't know if you're hurt!"

When he got home his wife did not believe him. She was inclined to the thought that he had suffered concussion when he landed on the ground, and insisted on driving him down to MK General for a checkup. On a Friday night, MK General is not the place to be seen to quickly. There had been a fight in a restaurant somewhere in the city centre, and the people who had taken part in the fracas occupied more than half the waiting room. In particular a large Geordie, with a makeshift bandage round his head, was shouting at the nurses to get a move on, as he was bleeding to death. He had two members of the Thames Valley constabulary holding on to make sure he did nothing too rash. Eventually the Geordie had waited long enough.

"I'm not waiting any longer," he announced to a passing nurse, "these ****** will only beat me up again when they get me to the station, anyway."

Thus saying, he strode out of the door, dragging the policemen behind him, and escorted himself into the police car. Brian, promoted up the queue, was seen more rapidly than he expected. He was given assorted tests, X-rayed, and pronounced to be completely lacking in the symptoms of concussion. His determination that he had seen alien life-forms by the Tear Drop lakes, however, led a doctor to take his wife to one side for a quiet chat.

"Leave it a few days. If he persists with it, ask your GP to arrange a scan."

So she took her husband home. He realised which way the wind was blowing, and kept quiet about aliens from then on. Mind you, he also avoided the Tear Drop lakes after sunset.

A couple of months later, armed with a brand new pair of bike lights and a straightened front wheel, he forced himself to retrace his route across the park going home one night. It was a little earlier in the evening than last time, but the year was more advanced, so it was just as dark. He travelled all the way across the lakes, enjoying the warmth of the late-summer air and the babbling of the brook - I'd describe it as something other than babbling, but somehow it's such an appropriate word for the noise - as it ran from lake to lake. He didn't see any aliens. The only intelligent life-forms he saw were the fishermen, sitting with their lines and little tents along the water's edge. Each one equipped with a torch on his hat, so he could see what he was doing with both hands free. Brian thought of asking them if they'd seen any aliens that June evening, but decided they would probably think he was mad. Reflecting that he was the only person in Milton Keynes to have escaped an attempted alien abduction, and that he had 132 letters from members of the Southern England UFO Society to answer at home, he pushed on a bit harder and raced back home.

Milton Keynes has recently become quite a hotspot for UFO activity

Haunted England: M - Z

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:27:39 +0100

Maidstone - Kent - Old Bluebell Hill:
30 Years ago there was an serious accident down bluebell Hill were a young women of 18 was Killed in a car crash ever since the accident people have seen a figure of a woman standing by the side of the road there has been many reports of this and reports of a woman appearing in the middle of the road.

Maidstone - Nettlestead:
A footpath from the church at Nettlestead leads down to the river Medway. Opposite the end of the path is a small island in the river. It is said that on one night of the year in November (the 11th - uncertain about this), a bridge appears at this point and the ghosts of a monk and a bound and gagged woman appear on the bridge. The woman is thrown into the river by the monk, and everything disappears!

Mexborough - Ragger:
A young girl by the name of the white lady was walking through a tunnel when a train hit her. There is a gap in the tunnel wall, which you can sit in, then you say her name 3 times and she reappears walking through the tunnel. Only a few people have been in contact with the white lady i am one of them.

Mirfield West Yorkshire - Castle hill St. Mary's Church:
People feeling apparitions of horses cantering past sounds of battle and dark hooded figure seen wondering around the graveyard. castle hill is a large hill which once was occupied by a Norman castle and still has a surrounding swamp.

Morpeth - Chantry Middle School:
So-called 'scary Jesus' walks round the girls toilets flushing the chains and turning on all the taps.

Nantwich - Cheshire - The Lamb Hotel:
The ghost of a man who used to own the hotel haunts the (now closed) Lamb Hotel. The man when alive gave the hotel to his wife, Claire who he had recently found out was having an affair. After signing the deeds over to her he took a shotgun and killed himself. There is a dedication plaque for him in the reception. The bells in the kitchen ring late at night when the kitchen is empty.

Newbury - Westfield way platform 4:
Black figure walking up and down the stairs. The train track out side not been used for 76 years but trains go past and you can hear screaming and laughing footsteps in the loft. The bones found of a baby under floorboards.

Newcastle - Howden:
A woman who worked in a mill years ago was murdered by her employer, he pushed her head into the mill, and her hair got caught and pulled off her head, now it is said that she walks along the archers bridge with her head in her hands looking for the man who killed her

Newcastle - Tynemouth Priory:
A castle from the 1500's (I think) with a lot of ghostly activity, 1 story of which is of the Monk Ghosts, there is a so-called "monk stone" in the graveyard of the priory where many people have witnessed monks preying to the stone, (me being one of them) they wear long brown gowns, with gold/yellow rope belts, and hoods with gold/yellow markings on them. There is also the story of "The 3 Kings' Grave" where if you dare to visit at 12:00pm, (midnight) take a coin and place it on the grave, a white hand will rise and pick the coin up and "dances" it around on the grave.

Newstead - Newstead Abbey:
There are several ghosts that haunt the old mansion, one called the white lady and one called the black widow. Many people have seen the white lady and have tried to communicate with her but when they do she disappears. The black widow if seen can cause a curse that can ruin that person's life.

Newstead - Nottingham - Newstead Abbey:
Was once home to the famous poet Lord Byron, A number of times a lady in white has been spotted collecting water from the waterfall near the main lake. Also several other ghosts have been spotted in the Abbey, the abbey and grounds are open to the public all year round. There is a very cold feeling in several places in the abbey when you are walking around.

Newton - le Willows - Newton Park (Newton Lake):
The White Lady has been haunting this lake for many years. No one knows the true story as there are many. The White Lady is believed to have been drowned by her husband (who is thought to haunt Willow Park) and now comes back every night. She is often seen floating on the lake before she disappears.

Northampton - The Royal Theatre:
There are two boxes in the Royal, the one on the Right is haunted by the 'grey lady'. She has been seen frequently by backstage staff.

Norfolk - The Maids Head Hotel:
The maids head hotel is haunted by the lady in grey and a monk. The lady in grey haunts the Elizabeth sweet and you can tell when she he is around you can smell a strong scent of lavender.

Norfolk - Norwich - Clifton Close:
In one of the flats it is a very weird atmosphere, you can feel the presence of someone all the time even if you are alone at home. A boy and a girl were sleeping in the same room once, they slept in separate beds, the boy could feel the presence of someone but couldn't see anyone, after a while he could feel that someone sat down on his bed, when he looked up no one was there and then something laid down next to him and started hugging him. There was also a picture taken of the house from the outside and in one of the windows you could see an old man looking out of the window with an old lady next to him.

Norfolk - Norwich - Maddemarket Theatre:
During a performance of a Christian medieval play, the ghost of a monk walked across the stage and moved all the crosses. The producers were later congratulated on their use of special effects - although they knew nothing about it and there have been many other sightings... part of the theatre has a very nasty atmosphere and no one dares to go there alone...

North Yorkshire - Stape - Ken Ather Centre:
The "Green Lady" as she has been named by school student who have visited stape, appears in the girls dormitory on the "haunted bunk" - a lone bunk that stands against the wall. Some students have seen her, a few have been pushed off her bunk - the top one - and others have felt things. The few students, who have managed a night on the bottom bunk, were found to have scratch marks the next morning.

North Yorkshire - Swainby - Cleveland - Whorlton Castle:
This is a old ruin castle and moat with only the gatehouse and underground vaults left standing. Whorlton castle is haunted by many ghosts including a grey lady and several dark shapes that seem stand guard inside the gatehouse. This castle is very active!

Norwich - The Bell Hotel - across the road:
Across the road from the Inn there is a cemetery. This is said to be the last resting place of 'Betty'. Two investigators went into the cemetery to find Betty's grave. They discovered it right opposite the window to room 12. Using E.M.F's (Electro-magnetic Field detectors) they gaussed the area. The alarm sounded and the needle disappeared off the screen. Next to Betty's grave is one of Sir Charles Sword. Photographs were taken and show, behind the grave of sir Charles the Hilt of a sword. There was nothing to be seen by the investigators but the photo had picked up the hilt. Conclusion. Whilst the evidence indicates room 12 of the Bell Hotel IS haunted, it is not by the spirit of Betty Radcliffe.

Narthwich - Marbury Country Park:
Believed to be haunted by the gray lady and numerous others.

Northumberland - Chillingham Castle:
Supposed to be the most haunted place in England, Chillingham Castle as over 600+ years of violent history. Chillingham became a fortress in the 14th century and as more than a fair share of ghosts and spirits some are known like the Blue boy and Lady Mary Berkley. But Chillingham also as plenty of other spirits that are not known by many. Chillingham castle was built to stop the Scottish from over running the north of England. Though the Chillingham castle may look beautiful on the outside, the castle holds an immense dungeon from witch dreadful dead were done to the criminal and innocent alike. The surrounding area is haunted as well.

Nottingham - Galleries of Justice:
Ghost tours are held and several sightings of criminals hung and buried there walk the courtrooms and offices in the building. Feelings of being watched

Nottingham - Wellston Hall:
A woman in periodic clothing has been seen many times, wandering the premises and then disappearing into mist.

Nottinghamshire - Newstead Abbey:
The Abbey was built in the 12th century and has a lot of history. The purpose of the Abbey was for a priory for black Augustine Monks. This was the Monks home for about 400 years. But King Henry decided to change everything for them. He sold the home to the Byron family. They slowly destroyed the Home using the bricks to build their adjoining home. The Abbey now had no roof and was not a home anymore. The story goes as the Monks make sure things don?€™t go well for that family they don't have many children and money is now short. And when a family member dies they turn up and laugh.

Nottingham - Victoria Leisure Centre:
The story goes that an old Duty Officer called George had chosen a room in the subways beneath the centre as his personal 'hidey-hole'. He apparently died of a heart attack in there and wasn't found for several days. The small pool was used as a morgue in the second world war, and there have been reported sightings around that area. One lifeguard reportedly saw a man with his head on backwards running along the pool side.

Old Bury - Tividale high school:
In the great hall at this school a 15 year old boy threw his self to his death from the balcony, due to the pressures of his exams. he was found by his class mates as they entered for there exams. he is now known to stand on the balcony and look down at other pupils as they do there exams.

Oxford - Priestleys Woods:
Lady on a Horse riding sidesaddle, looking for her family who drowned in the lake,

Oxford - Sandford:
It Has been seen many times as a man George Napier-Who had himself hung-drawn and quartered and his family went to look for the limbs of their father, they recovered all the limbs, apart from the head, it is said for on christmas eve, every year, you will see George riding on a coach and four horses down the river, searching for his lost head with his arms while riding the coach, it is said that if you see him, you die within the year.

Oxford - Sandford - Sandford Village Hall:
It has been seen and herd by a number of people, that there is a man, who at some point you will hear an ear-deafening scream, and a face and hands of a man with a streached face will emerge and push from from the wall, making the wall strech and puts people into a trance, this is a very rare sighting, - Beware though, it is not safe.

Paulton - public park:
Old women sat on bench at night about 11:00 o'clock and onwards. She wears a red scarf but the rest of her seems blurred - witnesses ponder whether if its a red scarf or blood. she sits there frozen all night. (Some people have seen her with a ghost dog) about every 5 minutes she wanders round the public park calling out "have you seen my daughter she was here last night" & others have heard her whisper, "help me find her with me"

Pluckley - The road from Pluckley to Maltman's Hill:
Haunted by phantom coach and 4 horses. On dark nights it is supposed to be possible to hear the drumming of horses' hooves and the carriage wheels rumbling on the lonely road. I read this book which says there are 12 ghosts in Pluckley! (one of the ghosts has already been mentioned - the suicidal school master)

Pontefract - Pontefract Town Hall:
Ghostly women seen walking the stairs who was apparently killed on her wedding day in the hall.

Pontefract - Pontefract Castle:
Monk figures seen walking around the outskirts near the catholic chapel and 2 figures of children seen playing near the dungeons.

Portsmouth - The White Swan Pub:
The White Swan Pub in commercial road, Portsmouth is haunted by the ghost of Victorian barmaid who had been murdered by her husband

Praa Sands - Pengersick Castle:
Strong female presence detected in bedchamber. Movement of control objects and radical drops in temperature. Countless late night vigils carried out by members of the ghost club, televised display of automatic writing resulting in a scribbled depiction of a female face. Alleged candidate for the most haunted house in Britain.

Ramsgate - Ellington Park:
The story goes that in a house that used to be over Ellington park a lady war stabbed by her husband that was drunk, it is said that on the rockery, which is the remains of the house you can see the ghost of the woman running from her husband.

Ravenglass - Muncaster Castle - Tom Fool:
He rattles the doors and roams the grounds. There is a painting within the Castle for all to see.

Redditch - Abbey High School:
The head teacher of this school seems to haunt the students on the day of 17th may every year as they walk along the top corridor under the bell house there has been 42 sights of this head teacher in the last 7 years some say he helps you but others will not say incase of what might happen.

Redditch - Barley Mow Pub:
Ghosts have been reported here by people who live near by this pub, which apparently is built on top of a massive graveyard.

Retford - Nottinghamshire - White Hart Hotel:
This local pub is said to be haunted by a young girl killed by a horse drawn coach in the cobbled court yard at the rear of the building. A bust of the girl located in the building in her memory has been said to mysteriously reappear when new tenants of the pub have tried to discard of it during the years. The hotel part of the building has had many visitors reporting strange footsteps on the landing leading to passageways since disused by guests!.

Rickmansworth - St. Joan of Arc:
St Joan's is haunted by a nun who wanders up and down the old English corridor. The old building was originally a nuns convent, and it is believed that the ghost nun is the spirit of a former nun who was pushed down the stairs and broke her neck.

Rochdale:
About 8 years ago, 2 brothers went to a nightclub and took ecstasy tablets. Both then climbed onto the roof of the building and started dancing, but both lost their balances and fell to their death. Every night from 12pm-3pm, their ghosts are seen dancing on the roof of the now abandoned nightclub. There have been 5 sightings to date.

Rochester - Kent - Rochester Castle:
On Good Friday 1264 Ralph de Capo defended the castle against Simon de Montfort. In the ensuing battle the betrothed of Ralph, Lady Blanch de Warenne was killed, by manner unknown, and it is her pathetic ghost that is seen haunting the Castle on the anniversary of her death. She is most frequently seen with an arrow in her breast. There is also the form of an old man to be seen in and around the moat, and local legend that the man is none other than Charles Dickens who expressed a wish to be buried there. It is interesting to note that the same specter has been seen under the Corn Exchange clock! The Castle is under the watchful eye of English Heritage and is open daily at any reasonable time, and well worth a visit.

Rotherham Maltby - Roche Abbey:
Many apparitions of monks and ghostly shapes have been seen, as well as ghostly voices and chanting heard by many visitors to this old ruin.

Rugby - Bishop Wulstan R.C High School:
They call the ghost George, who haunts the top part of the school. He died at the school whilst training to become a monk.

Rugby - Rugby Theatre:
It is haunted by 2 ghosts, 1st in the stalls from where someone that fell of the balcony and died and the 2nd backstage from an old actor that died at home of old age.

Ryde - Nettlestone School Campsite:
Bloody mary, haunts girls toilets and has a twisted arm and leg.

Scarborough - Yorkshire - The Clifton Hotel:
On the first floor in one of the bedrooms voices of people are heard arguing but there is no one inside the room when you go in. On the second floor occasionally all the (20) bedroom doors are found open and all the tv sets are on playing loudly. This usually happens after all the rooms have been cleaned and closed up ready for new guests.

Sheffield - Stockbridge bypass:
It is one of the most haunted places in Britain. It is the most dangerous road. People say that ghosts of little girls will appear in front of a car causing it to crash. A secruity van parked there one night to investigate strange noises. they could hear someone banging on the roof. one of the security guards got out of the car to check. the security guard in the car looked trough the back window to see a monk looking through the window and punching the car. they reported it to the police who had the same thing happen to them. one police man left and the other took sick leave and never returned.

Shropshire - Ironbridge - Tontine Hotel:
Room 5 is haunted by a man who was hung in that room as it used to be and old execution chamber. Many people have woken in the middle of the night with a man sat at the end of the bed. Also sometimes a boat can be seen drifting down the river carrying bodies from the plague, being taken the plague pits where they put all the plague victims.

Shropshire - Ford:
A man on a horse is said to be seen riding through the churchyard. Supposedly in the 18th century he was drunk and fell off his horse and was killed. he now haunts the churchyard with his horse. Only a few select people have seen this ghost mostly on full moons.

Shropshire - Village Church:
A young girl is sometimes seen in the church, wearing old-fashioned clothing. A long time ago, there was a fire in the church, and she appears on the anniversary of this event. A Popular version of the story says that she accidentally started the fire, and perhaps did not get out of the building in time.

Skelton - Health Centre:
Roman Legionaries are said to be heard marching down to York from Bamburgh Castle, also lights flickering, footsteps whilst alone, cold drafts.

Sleaford - The Priory:
It has been reported sightings of monks, inside and outside the area, there feet cannot be seen, neither there faces. Also loud screams and yells have been reported coming from inside the building, which has been empty for years..

South-East Coast - Reculver Towers:
Reculver dates back before the Romans, it is a VERY dark and Gloomy place, LOTS of activity there of the paranormal kind, 2 words " VERY HAUNTED ", this place has to be one of the most FRIGHTING places to investigate in Kent.

Southampton - Netley Abbey Castle:
Only the walls of the castle and a few rooms are left, at night you hear footsteps and rattles of chains, many people have spotted a lady in a white flowing dress looking out of one of the top back windows, at the end of the garden there is a torture chamber where people used to be drown, cries have been heard from beneith, and knight like figures on and off horses have been known to rush through the centre of the castle as if in battle.

Southampton - New Forest - Halfmoon Common:
Just across the road from the car park a ghost has been seen it walks across and looks to see what you are doing it has long white hair and maybe connected to a hanging.

Luton - Clop Hill:
Supposedly the church here is built the opposite direction to Jerusalem in which there has been many suspected hauntings going on as there were devil worshippers that would do sacrifices of innocent people they would chant and leave symbols of sacrifice after they would taunt innocent people they would hang them on the haunted tree also the graves situated around the church are in a semi-circle and placed on top of one another there are also eerie noise's that can be heard inside the church ruins.

Suffolk - Ipswich - The 7 Sisters:
As every one who comes from or lives near Ipswich will know there is a place called the 7 sisters. near the Orwell bridge. This is were 7 sisters committed suicide and were buried in a near by graveyard, this place has since been very weird as lots of scary things happen and no one will ever go there alone.

Suffolk - RAF Woodbridge:
"East-End Charlie" was a German pilot who, during WWII was flying his badly damaged plane back to what he thought was Germany. He instead crash-landed at the east end of the runway at RAF Woodbridge. A witness reports, "When I was stationed there in the late 70's, it was a US Air Force Base. The area in which Charlie would be seen was a weapons storage area which was bordered on the east side by what we referred to as 'The Queen's Woods'. Often British 'Ghost' societies would go out at night in the woods on 'Ghost Hunts' and we were advised of this. However, there was an old metal guard tower in the Northeast corner of the weapons area where a guard would always be posted. Anyone coming up the stairs to the tower would be heard as the stairs creaked". A guard looked up at a tower window and saw Charlie looking in on him. He jumped up, grabbed his M-16 and kicked open the heavy iron door. Charlie was already on the ground (15 feet below) running to the Southeast corner. He called a response team. When they got there, Charlie was running into the woods (which was on the other side of two alarmed fences, covered with concertina wire). This is the same RAF Woodbridge where a UFO was widely reported to have landed in a farmer's field right outside the base in the late 70's/early 80's.

Sunderland - Hylton Castle:
The 'Cauld Lad' was a 12 year old boy who was killed by Baron Robert Hylton when he was caught napping in hay. He was stabbed with a pitchfork and then be-headed. He then buried him in the pond. Therefore, when you spot the Cauld Lad, he is either all there, or he carries his head in is hands. It is said that blood can be seen where the Cauld Lad has wandered recently. He would terrify any owners when they had parties. His best trick was removing his head in front of them! He is said to wander up and down the old Hylton Castle Road. He sings of the time he was killed, keeping people awake. He was said to tidy the kitchen after all other servants had gone to bed, so they started to leave the kitchen spotless, to which he would just rearrange it. He would also torture the cats by tieing their tails together. There is also a curse to Hylton Castle:
"Woe woe to Hylton line, Woe be yours forever more, Ne'er in warfare shall you shine, But oft in murderspill your gore. Fallen strangers take your lands, You'll be strangers o'er the sea, For with blood you've stained your hands, Now with peace and wealth shall flee. Hylton's line dishonored falls, Your course of crime the should appalls, Your strong walls shall broken lie, From their deep holes the owlets cry, Ghosts and harpies walk your grounds, Making dismal cries and sounds. Now the house inglorious falls; Strike to earth her ancient walls; Brave the heart that now shall dare, Make his habitation there. Ghosts and goblins dance around, peace no more shall there abound."
It used to be open to the public, but due to safety hazards, closed down about 6 or 7 years ago. There is a steep spiral staircase with a room off to the left half way up. This is the room that the servants were said to be locked in. There is an old, cold, stone room that has an awful feeling of sadness. Also, on top of the castle there are various figurines. All stonecarved and of various devils, goblins etc. It is said that the Cauld Lad often sits up there with the figurines, watching the world go by.

Thetford - The Bell Hotel:
The bell is a 5 star hotel which dates back to the 1500s. It is built of wattle and dawb and (in room 12) the wall is exposed but protected by a glass frame. In 1997 a paranormal group investigated the alleged activity in room 12. It is alleged that the spirit of ''Betty Radcliffe haunts the room and when she is about to appear people can see fingerprints on the inside of the glass frame. Betty Radcliffe was the owner of the coaching inn in 1564. She is alleged to have thrown herself from the window to the cobbles below after being jilted by her lover. However, another story tells Betty was murdered by her lover then thrown from the window. Two psychics in the group actually made contact with a lady but this was not Betty. She was a lady named Mary. Mary told the psychics she had been murdered in the room by HER lover but that she had been strangled and left on the bed. Several photos were taken and, in one pic show a light source emanating from the ceiling while the light, which can be seen in the photo, was out. Below the light source is an enormous orb or energy ball. Ectoplasm travels down past a psychic and disappears. In another photo two psychics are 'talking' to the lady and there is a orb on the wall behind them.

Warwick - Guy's Cliff:
The story goes that a young boy who lived in the house was caught giving bread from the kitchens of the house to a passing wanderer (tramp) and his father, (guy) was said to of cut one of his fingers of each hand so as he would not do it again. you are supposed to see the young boy wandering the ground's of the house in pain.

Warwick - Warwick Castle:
Situated in what is now known as The Ghost Tower are the chambers of previous owner Sir Fulke Greville, who was given the castle in 1604 by King James the First Greville was murdered at the hands of his servant Ralph Hayward, and his ghost is said to hang the tower ever since. He is buried in the tomb he prepared in St. Mary's Church nearby, which is also said to be haunted. And when the castle is quiet the ghost of Sir Fulke Greville can be seen roaming the tower he used to call home. Some reports have seen what they think is his servant as well, but those are few and far between, and largely unsubstantiated.

West Yorkshire - East Ardsley:
East Ardsley grew around coal mining. The old tracks down which coal carts were dragged up to 100 years ago are still visible today, and are reportedly haunted by the souls of dead miners, on a dark night.

West Yorkshire - Wakefield - Cineworld Cinemas:
A ghostly image wonders around the large 12 screen Cinema. Seen on several occasions by many staff members and angry customers.

Westwood - The Dumbles:
A monk has been seen walking through the fields on several occasions there has also been sightings of a nun on the same path but never at same time.

Wirral - Hoylake - The Royal Hotel:
It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a man in a tweed Norfolk jacket, knickerbockers and a cap

Wirral - Leasowe - Leasowe Castle:
This has been a private house, a hostel for sailors, a convalescent home for railway men and is now a hotel it is haunted by a man and a young boy

Woking - Surrey - Horsell Woods:
Young male backpacker glides through the woods. Has been seen by visitors and locals. No explanation has ever been offered.

Woodchester Mansion:
Many dark magic has been practiced at the mansion and the tortured souls still remain there. Thousands of innocent people (including children) were tortured and murdered here. Evidently knocking sounds can be heard as well as, screaming, swinging chandeliers, voices, and children crying.

York - Horseracing Hotel;
In this hotel right next to a horse racing field. Apparently a frequent racer back when it was first built died by getting trampled by his horse. People who own the Hotel claim that they see him walking around the racing grounds with his horse late at night and if you see him you get a cold chill down your spine then disappears.

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Added Extra's

Fakenham - R.A.F. West Raynham Officers Mess:
Ghost of downed WW2 Polish pilot crashed on flight line on R.A.F. West Raynham. Seen walking through walls, sitting in main dining room, and walking down the back stairway towards the kitchen. Appears to haunt Room 7 of the Officer's Mess. Room is icy cold year round. Was experienced by an American Officer's wife staying at the Mess while doing laundry. Ghost passed through her, through the wall to Room 7.

Gloucester - Snows Hill Manor:
Snows Hill Manor was once a monastery and the legend goes that a monk was murdered there and his ghost is sometimes seen walking on the 2nd and 3rd floors up to where the clock is. The manor house is open for touring and quite an interesting place to see.

Hull - Cottingham - Ferens Hall:
Students find it difficult to sleep some nights because of ghostly howling, also some days dark shadows can be seen in bathrooms. Some believe this could be the ghost of Alfie Turner who was the owner of the ps ychiatric hospital before it became Feren's hall student accommodation. Apparently he was found hanging in one of the bathrooms, with his heart missing.

Hull - St. Mary's College:
A catholic school that used to be run by nuns. There has been a lot of spooky goings on in the English corridor for years. Often you will see a shadow of a nun like figure coming down the stairs and you will feel all cold and paralyzed. People say she was pushed down the stairs when the school first opened in the 1960's and she was a very strict English teacher who still haunts the school now to make sure everything is running ship shape.

Kirkby - Malham - Kirkby Malham Graveyard:
The Gray Lady is said to haunt this graveyard. Many sightings have been seen here. Some tourists were visiting the church and saw a woman emerging from the grave the side of the grave was smashed. Nearly all the people in the village have spotted the ghost. The grave was only fixed early last year.

Leeds - Thomas Danby College:
Once an old convent built by sir Thomas Danby and later converted into a boys school and then college as it is today. Sister Mary McEvoy who lived in the convent, once a Scottish woman of noble blood who was sent to the nunnery by her mother when she found out her daughter was pregnant. Sister Mary gave birth in secret, never seeing her child as it was reported later to have been taken from her and buried beneath the East Wing. There have been many reports that while in room 321 which is situated near to where the east wing once stood crying can be heard and there have been 15 documented sightings of a figure of a woman. On two occasions a student named Sarah Breen who attended the college in 1975 reported that the same figure spoke to her asking if shed seen Gordon? But who is Gordon? Sarah Breen is now a professor studying the paranormal, devoting her life to find out the identity of Gordon. All though a very well established college there are still many students from Leeds too scared to attend.

Long Lawford - Lawford Arms:
A man staying at the pub, was woken up in the early hours of the morning by the sounds of late night revelers in the bar below, he decided to get up and join the party, but upon arriving at the bar found the premises in darkness and deserted! This is one of many strange incidents to have occurred at the Lawford Arms.

Margate - Kent - Theatre Royal:
The Theatre Royal, Addington Street, Margate, Kent, is perhaps southern England's most haunted theatre. Reports of an orange-colored ball of light; footsteps, "a scream which starts backstage and seems to travel across the stage and finally exits through the stage door" ; and "the appearance of a ghost in one of the boxes who draws back the curtains if they are closed." Also, the wraith of a man was seen sitting in the box so often that the management was obliged to withdraw the box from sale, leaving it permanently curtained, until finally it was bricked up.

Nantwich - Cheshire - Church's Mansion:
Reports of the apparition of a 12 year old boy has been seen.

Pocklington - Bond International:
Place of hanging over 100 years ago. Ghosts reported to roam the site of their death late at night.

Portishead - Battery Point:
Ghosts wander shore lines frequently they are supposed to be the past lighthouse keepers

Shefford - Chicksands Priory:
Used to be the home of monks and nuns. One of the nuns was pregnant (They are not allowed to have babies or get married).They locked her in a room with just enough room for her food. She stayed in there until she died. Now her ghost haunts the priory!

Sheffield - The Queens Head Pub:
Oldest pub in Sheffield, known for various appearances over hundreds of years.

Sheffield - Stockbridge Bypass:
Monk and children seen on land next to road

Stevenage - St. Nicks Church:
In the late 18th century, a grave diggers dog died of a painful unknown disease, some say that the bell ringer poisoned the dog because of its constant yapping, so today the dog can be seen running in mid-air around the church.

Warrington - Cheshire - Winwick Hall:
There are three known ghost that have been sighted in Winwick Hall. The first a nun is often seen walking into a room on the ground floor and sitting down, she then slow vanishes. The sound of children running and shout is often heard. Dragging is heard along the first floor. Rumored sightings include a lady in white. The building was originally a boys school in the late 1800's early 1900's they became part of a hospital for people with Mental illnesses are Ward 9 was housed in Winwick Hall. Winwick Hall was recently renamed Hollins Park House.

Winchcombe - Gloucestershire:
In the town is a small road called Cowl Lane, used to be called Monks Retreat, hence the name cowl for the Monks clothing. Sightings of monks have been spotted by people leaving the pubs late at night. They are only seen from the knees upwards as years ago the roads were so much lower then.

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Phew, this list is not exhaustive but should be enough to keep you going for a while.

Haunted England: A - L

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:46:28 +0100

This listing is by no means exhaustive but here is a listing of some of the more well known haunted places in England:

RiPA have investigated many places across the UK.
But still we await that holy grail of evidence.
Listed below are some places that RiPA have done throughout the years and some that it would like to do.

A lot of alleged haunted places in the UK now tend to charge quite a hefty fee for letting you in. This is due to such programs as 'Most Haunted' and the like.
It is a pity for serious research groups too for not every organization and a backing fund to help this science.

So just bare that in mind when arranging an investigation.
Prices could range from £20 per head to £700 flat payment for 8 hrs. And as always, no ghost is guaranteed!

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Berkshire - Prospect Park:
There have been sightings of the headless horseman and also a young woman pushing a pram. She walks behind/through a tree and disappears.

Birkenhead Wirral - Rocky's Nightclub:
Many sightings over the last 17 years, many staff have left their jobs because of the ghost in this place. From the day it was renovated when first bought, till now. The sightings are of a man in his late 20's. The man is a shadow of a boxer and the story is that he died on the premises celebrating his debut fight when it used to be a private boxers club. He is now known as knocker, the reason for this is because he tends to knock the staff and object such as doors, glasses and bar tools about. Former owners even had an exorcist in the premises to try to make the entity leave.

Chesterfield - Chesterfield Pommegranite Theater:
Objects moving with no-one responsible for them. Possibly an old lady responsible for objects moving. Sightings of the old lady. Grey hair, styled like Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a grey dress and morning for her husband. Also a sighting of George Stevenson. Walking proudly over the stage and sighted sitting on a workers chair.

Cleveland - Middlesbrough - The Tree Bridge Hotel:
Reports of feelings of being watched and sightings of the gray lady wandering through the halls.

Devon - Powderham Castle:
At around 12 midnight if you stand outside the church yard gates there is a blue grey mist that appears and if you look closely you will see a 4-5ft high figure that walks from the tree outside the gate, across the road and into another tree. if you listen very closely just before this happens you can hear chimes come across from the water. Just before midnight that is but you must be very quite and very still.

Alderminster - Ettington Park:
The gray lady is one of the few ghosts to be photographed. Many people have also reported to the reception, the screams of young children down by the river, the same location where a child drowned in the 18th century.

Aldenham - Hertfordshire:
Edge Grove Preparatory School - This boys boarding school is haunted by a mysterious gray lady, who has been sighted in various rooms and corridors of the old part of the building. The old part of the building was originally a country home, and it is believed that the gray lady is the spirit of a former resident who fell down the main stairs and broke her neck.

Almondsbury near Bristol - Over Court:
The White Lady of Over Court has been witnessed in the grounds and adjacent lane of Over Court for many years. She is the apparent victim of a sword or gunshot wound delivered by her husband upon discovery of a love affair with another man in the house. She is said to have dragged herself to the pond on the estate where she collapsed and died of her wounds.

Alton - St. Lawrence's Church:
Where phantom's still fight a civil war battle.

Arlesey - Fairfield Hospital:
The ghosts of the dead patients that haunt this old abandoned hospital, they are said to smash windows and make extremely loud shrieking noises, there is also a number of ghosts that had mental illnesses, they also are mischiefs among the others.

Avebury - The Red Lion Pub:
The pub is said to be haunted by a young woman called Florrie. Legend has it that, her husband found out that she was guilty of adultery. She was thrown down the well that used to be inside the pub. Florrie now haunts the pub in search of revenge. People have said that they have felt fingers going through their hair and they have heard noises.

Barnsley - Barnsley District General Hospital - Delaney Hall:
On the site where the hospital stands now, the old St. Helens maternity hospital used to stand, and previous to that it was the workhouse/poorhouse. There have been reports of many ghostly experiences around the hospital. On the infectious diseases ward - which used to be the children's ward, staff claim that when they have worked nights they can hear children crying, the current children's ward is no where near that ward, so it can't be those children that they hear. One of the gynecology wards which is now offices, is haunted by a young girl called Sally, she could not be resuscitated and staff say that she presses the stomach of anyone who enters the side room where she died. The ward itself has a very eerie feel to it, and shadows have been seen moving around at night, as well as unexplained noises. Another ward that is now offices is haunted by an old lady with gray hair who rocks in a rocking chair, she is said to be friendly though.

Bedford - Abbey Middle School:
In The girls restroom doors will close u will hear music and voices.

Bedfordshire - Luton town centre - Cork and Bull pub:
A white vision has been seen in this pub. She has been known to move things around, shake tables and even throw bar stools across the room. It has been said that she moves along the road from pub to shop and has been seen on the same street each day in a different location. People have actually sat and spoken to her and she has responded by either touching them or throwing things across the room, there is a story told of an old woman who lived there years before going by the name of Ann she was murdered somewhere in the pub and her soul never rested, she is now trapped there.

Bexley - Kent - Hall Place:
700 years ago Hall Place was the residence of one Sir Thomas Atte-Hall. He was killed by a stag in the courtyard, which naturally, upset his beloved wife, Lady Constance, that she flung herself off the tower. It is her ghost that still walks, and has indeed has been seen within the past six months by a schoolteacher on a school outing. There are also good reports of the specter of the Black Prince being seen around the place from time to time, believed to be connected with the pathetic wraith f a maidservant glimpsed running through the building from time to time. The buildings are currently in the hands of Bexley Council and are open to the public at any reasonable time.

Bedfordshire - RAF Chicksands/The Priory:
The Priory used to house both monks and nuns. Legend states that a forbidden love affair between a monk and a nun was discovered by the powers that be. People have reported seeing a ghostly female figure wandering the halls of the Priory and its grounds. There is also a tunnel that leads from the Priory to the local town that has also been sealed. It has been confidentially stated that the tunnel was sealed due to violent attacks by an unknown entity on visitors.

Bedfordshire - Woburn Abbey:
Various ghosts have been attributed to Woburn. The most frequently described is a man in a top hat who has been seen walking through a wall in the antique market. Also spotted has been a monk in a brown habit and the ghost of a manservant in the Masquerade room. Various doors open and close of their own accord and people have reported being touched by unseen hands.

Berkshire - Littlecote House:
William Darrell, one time lord of the house, haunts this grandiose manor. Legend has it that he murdered a new born child - his own by a mistress - and this room is also haunted. A pathetic looking woman carrying a baby in her arms has been seen and there have been many reports of a baby crying. Other female ghosts have been seen wandering the Long Gallery, as well as in the Chinese Bedroom and the gardens

Billinge - The Stork Hotel:
There is a crypt of an older building beneath the Hotel, a Cavalier was said to have been tortured to death and his ghost haunts the whole building. Also the Hotel is haunted by a highwayman who was a regular visitor to the Hotel his name was John Lyon. And his ghost has been seen galloping on his horse through the Village, as well as being heard.

Birmingham - Boggy Woods:
More then once a tall black figure has been seen standing on a bridge of a small lake then suddenly it will disappear and when it does leaves blow without any wind.

Birmingham - Brightstone Road:
Screaming noises can be heard around 3:00 a.m. Some people have believed they have seen a pale white boy crying they thought the boy was around 15 to 18. It is thought to be a ghosts of a young Boy called peter who on the 19-06-1989 mysteriously went missing and was never found.

Birmingham - Dudley Castle:
Dudley Catsle is home to many ghosts although these are the ones that are sighted the most. 1 - The Grey Lady. Thought to be the ghost of Dorothy Beaumont who died of natural causes, maybe in childbirth. She is said to walk the castle steps because her husband was not at her funeral. 2 - The Medieval Lady. During a medieval evening in 1983 at the castle there was a fancy dress competition.In the crowd the judges spotted an elderly lady wearing a sackcloth shift, grey shawl, and sackcloth wrapped around her feet. She looked so authentic that she was awarded first prize. But she had disappeared. 3 - The Black Monk. From time to time a monk in black habit appears. He has been sighted three times by staff and is seen frequently by visitors. 4 - Lady Jane. She was a resident of the castle but was beheaded. She now walks the castle grounds and frequently makes herself known to staff and visitors. On holloween 2002, a live paranormal investigation took place at the castle. This was done by the Most Haunted team from Living TV. It was the first experiment of its kind and was broadcast live all over the UK. During the experiment the shows resident medium, Derek Acorah, made contact with all of the spirits mentioned above and many more. The Medieval lady proved to be quite a character, and said she was very proud that she won that competition. She made herself known by tapping and moving things. Many mysteries were finally uncovered during this very interesting investigation. The team have done 2 more live investigations since then, one at Dover castle on Christmas eve 2002, and the other at the midland grand hotel in London on April 1st 2003. They have also done investigations at many of the places on this list.

Birmingham - Fountain Close:
People have seen a large family consisting of 2 boys ages: 9 and 12, a young girl about 7, a woman in her early 30's and a man in his late 30's. A mother died in childbirth and the other people died mysteriously after.

Birmingham - Kangs discount store:
Many people have believed to see a lollypop walking out of the shop on it's own.

Birmingham - Sherburne Road;
An old man with a top hat and old fashioned clothes picking up papers at around 3 am in the morning.

Bognor Regis West Sussex - North Bersted:
Some houses in Gravits lane have been said to be haunted by a little girl. She was apparently murdered and hidden in the walls in one of the houses, by her step dad. In some of the houses the windows have been nailed shut, and are still like this to this day. People have reported seeing a small white girl running from room to room away from her step dad. Also strange scrapings can be heard coming from the walls and ceilings.

Bracknell - South Hill Park:
There are many ghosts here. There are children screaming from when they died in a fire. There is a landing which has been raised a foot, and a lady ghosts feet now goes into the floor because she walks on the original landing.

Brighton - The Volks Tavern:
Reports of an apparition of a dancing blonde woman.

Bristol - graveyard in Arnos Court:]
A young lady in all black walks around crying over dead husband she lost in 1st world war. She sits and speaks to people she says need guidance. Another woman walks around screaming. She will not let anyone near her. Believed to be the daughter of a family had buried her. She never woke-up from a coma. Upon exhuming the body, she had woken from the coma to find herself buried and died of shock.

Bristol - The Odeon Cinema:
A seat in the third row from the front of screen 3, is frequently occupied by a dark apparition. Staff and customers have heard footsteps and felt a cold chill in that screen and in the adjacent corridors. Two workmen were crushed at the site on which it is now built in the 1920s, when demolition works on the previous buildings were in progress. In the 1940s the cinema manager was shot dead in a gang dispute, in the haunted room.

Bristol - University of Bristol:
There is a headless horseman patrolling along the Tyndall Avenue at night on his black horse. Many students reported sightings when they were leaving the Art and Social Science Library at night.

Cadishead Manchester - Great Woolden Hall:
A 600 Year old hall that is haunted by the ghost of captain blood a cavalier from the English civil war.

Cambridgeshire - Ferryboat Inn:
A unique feature of this tavern is a grave actually in the floor of the bar. It belongs to a girl called Julie, the daughter of the innkeeper. Jilted by her secret lover, she drowned herself and her ghost is reported to appear in the bar on her birthday every March 17th.

Chester - Chester Walls:
A Roman soldier is seen wandering with a general along Northgate Street walls. has been seen by many people.

Chester - Thorntons Chocolate Shop:
It is believed that someone died in the flat above this shop many years ago. A presence can be now felt and people have been reportedly 'pushed' down the stairs like their not welcome. Lights go on and off of their own accord and the shops alarm system has often been set off for no apparent reason.

Chesterfield - Bolsover Castle:
A lady in a white dress roams the grounds and the castle many locals know of ghost.

Chesterfield - North Wingfield Church:
Apparitions carrying young children are seen during the winter months.

Chislehurst - Kent - Chislehurst Caves:
Chislehurst Caves are a labyrinth of dark, eerie mysterious passageways which have been hewn by hand from the chalk, deep beneath Chislehurst. There are over 20 miles of caverns and passageways, dug over a period of 8000 years. The vast complex of caves are a maze of ancient mines originally carved out in the search for flint and chalk. They are divided into three main sections, Saxon, Druid and Roman. Each section was later connected by digging joining passages. There is a haunted pond deep within the caves, the legend goes that a white lady appears and floats across the water. For many years there was a reward for anyone who could spend the night alone down in the caves, to date there have been some unsuccessful attempts, but so far nobody has been able to do it.. There is also an ancient Druid altar where sacrifices were carried out in the Druid section of the caverns.

Colchester - The Lion:
There are a few ghosts there that wander around, people have recorded banging and footsteps.

Collingbourne - Ducis Hall:
There is a ghost who plays a piano its favorite song is Mary had a little lamb. We were in the hall and we heard music we went to the piano and the lid was down we went back to the main area and then heard it again we went back and the lid was open one of us ran and shut the door the others followed

Coventry - Coundon Court School:
Old house, belonging to George singer who died in 1900 and his maid who died after falling from the top floor of the old house. Still live there whilst children work. Blood stain of where the maid died still lays there on the ground floor.

Derby - Assembly Rooms:
The assembly rooms used to be a big house where a big family lived once some years ago. The house burnt down it was then rebuilt and opened by the queen as now called the assembly rooms. There was a huge fireplace which must of been solid cause it was the only thing in the house that didn't burn and is still there now. Cold spots felt. A few people say that they have seen the lady in a long red dress which we think could of been a member of the family some years ago when the assembly rooms was once a house.

Derby - City Centre:
Reports of apparitions of children in ragged clothes

Derby - The Ostrich Pub:
When the pub was first opened in the middle ages the Innkeeper Jarmen was not a nice man. He had designed a machine that would tilt the rich nobles when they were in their beds and they would fall through a trapdoor into a pot of boiling oil. The spirits of the rich nobles are still present and the most haunted room is the pantry, which is supposedly full of spirits and not just the alcholic kind. This was where Jarmen dumped the bodies before stealing their money. Strange presences are felt in the master bedroom and the pantry.

Derby - Seymour`s Wine Bar:
Seymour`s Wine Bar is situated next to St Werburgh's Church. It is known to have a old Lady Dressed in Grey who is said to frequently visit the upper regions of the property. There are many stories of the figure of the Grey Lady who has said to have a strong smell of lavender when present. The Lady`s Toilets are upstairs but the Men's are downstairs so a lot of the stories from the public are those of Ladies. Stories include Cutlery been moved or disappearing then reappearing. Though all the stories are strange Staff say they never feel threatened by the presence felt. Also the Church is also said to have ghostly figures.

Derby - Winnats Pass:
The story is that a couple wanted to marry the parents were against this happening. The young couple decided to elope and marry. This was in the 18th century so they had to go along Winnats Pass a dark steep road on foot it was the only route. It was dangerous as it was just the 2 of them well 3 lead-miners jumped on them they robbed them both and killed them. The bodies werent found until years later. The miners were never caught for it but the story has it you can hear their cries and sometimes see them along that route.

Devizes - The main road to Devizes:
A highwayman on horseback wearing a tricorne hat. A truck driver I know drove straight through the apparition. He said it just it seemed to go up and over the windscreen.

Doncaster - Conisborough Castle:
This 12th Century castle is home to two ghosts. Both a 'grey monk' and a lady dressed in white flowing robes have been seen. Residents of this quaint village have suggested that local fine ales may be partly responsible for witnesses seeing these apparitions. A great number of people however believe this castle is haunted.

Devon - Berry Pomeroy Castle:
Many people have reported several different Ghosts in the ruined castle, but the most atmospheric area is the dungeons where people are believed to have been tortured, there is a definite air of evil around the whole place.

Dorset - Beaminster - St. Mary's Church:
The figure of a young boy who was axed to death by a murderer who was never caught has been seen sitting outside the church crying.

Dorset - Bettiscombe Manor:
A human skull is kept in a back room of the manor. On the few occasions that it has been removed from the residence, the whole house has been said to be filled with a terrible screaming that will not cease until it is returned. The skull has also been said to perspire blood when an outbreak of war is near.

Dorset - Blandford - Badbury Rings:
Badbury Rings is an ancient hill fort surrounded by earthen ditches and ramparts. It is arranged in concentric circles, and from the air looks as if a stone has been dropped into a pond. Surrounding the Rings are barrows (old burial mounds), some dating back to 700BC. When the Romans invaded the UK, they attacked the Rings in 44AD, and made their camp on the summit. Four of their most important roads crossed here. There are several ghosts here:

1} An ancient scar-faced warrior on horse back who chases people. - Last reported in late 80's
2} A disfigured dwarf-like creature that leers into cars parked in the field at the entrance to the Rings. (well known 'make-out' spot) - Seen in 1999
3} A woman in a black dress. - Reported in late 70's
4} A large black hound that dashes in front of cars. - Last reported in 1998
5} Ghostly soldiers fighting. - Last known sighting of battle was 1994

Dover - The Roman Lighthouse:
This lighthouse is the oldest one in England. According to the locals, from time to time they see the ghost of a Roman soldier. There is also a monk wearing a black robe.

Dover - Dover Castle:
Chilly under tunnels of the old torture chambers.... A world war 2 hospitals, which has senses of hands and sounds of screams.

Durham - Raby Castle:
Raby castle houses three ghosts. Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, has been seen floating upstairs to the Barons Hall where he sat at the head of a huge table and planned the rising of the Northern Earls in 1569. The library is haunted by Henry Vane, who was executed by the Stuarts, his torso often appearing at a desk. The third ghost is a fearsome old lady who stalks the castle each night with wild glowing eyes and knitting with white hot needles.

Eaglescliffe - Preston Park & Museum:
A small dog has been seen and heard in the grounds of Preston Park, near to the bandstand. This creature clearly emerged through a solid stone wall and could not have come from any other direction. This same dog has also been seen inside the 'dungeons' of the museum itself. On a higher floor of the museum a Victorian styled lady has been seen wearing a wedding dress and walking up the corridors, long after the museum was locked up. Also, guards have heard the clacking of high heals during the night and members of the public have telephoned the museum to report sightings of a woman at the museum window, suggesting that somebody had been locked in after closing. When, however, members of staff hurried to investigate further, there was no trace of anybody around the entire museum.

Essex - Borley - Borley Rectory:
Described as 'Most Haunted House in Britain' old rectory built up on destroyed monastery. Very creepy small village rectory now burned down, but many hauntings still recorded. Story about a nun and a monk eloping and getting caught by the monastery and attempted to escape on a horse and carriage along what is now known as nuns walk. They were both captured and the monk was beheaded and nun was built into the wall of the rectory. When the rectory burned down in 1939 her remains were found and buried. Many people have reported seeing and hearing the nun and the monk on the carriage on nuns walk. There has been several pictures and sound recording taken in the village of very strange appearances and noises. Very eerie place to visit a must for ghost hunters everywhere!

Essex - Borley - Borley Rectory - Blue room:
A mysterious room in Borley Rectory where many murders were said to have taken place, one of those mysteries is of a girl. She ran screaming through the rectory, then she came to the window a push from behind and she went down, smashing the glass veranda on her way, instant death. Years later a sÃ©ance was held in the rectory, the sprits were aggravated and threatened to burn the rectory. Days later the rectory burst in to flames. A girl was seen at the window by the fire fighters, they went in to try and save her, no bodies were found. only one thing was heard; the screaming girl.

Essex - Canewdon:
The village of Canewdon is reputed to be haunted by witches and their familiars (the reputation of Canewdon's witches is worldwide and draws so many occultists to the village every Halloween that the police frequently erect roadblocks, preventing all but the villagers from entering). The grounds of the 12th century Church of St. Nicholas, which stands upon a hill overlooking the village, are said to be haunted by a 'gray lady', who wanders the graveyard on moonless nights. The apparition of a young girl (possibly the same 'lady') has been seen waiting at the end of the vicarage driveway, beside the graveyard entrance.

Essex - Upminster Golf Club:
Golfers and employees have reported seeing a young girl, about 12 years of age, dressed in white on the first floor hallway. Golfers and employees of the club house have also reported on many occasions the feeling of someone brushing past them but nothing there. It is well known in Upminster that the club house has an extra "Guest"! It is thought that the ghost is of a girl from Upminster or thereabouts in Havering who was kidnapped and taken to the house years before and it is in the house that she was eventually murdered.

Fair Oak:
There have been numerous sightings of a shadowed figure without an explanation as to what it is. Ornaments and flower arrangements have also been moved.

Falkirk - White Cross - Haining Castle:
Reports of seeing ghost and have felt psychic energies trying to connect with them and one visitors dog stopped at the stairs and growled frightened of a supernatural being and 2 schoolchildren imagined a newspaper headline say "Schoolchildren found dead in Castle" while they were in the castle.

Felixstowe - Previously American Military Housing
Doors open when they have been bolted shut. Cabinet doors and drawers open soon after closing them. Items facing the wrong way or moved. Cars have started with no one inside. Flexistowe Experience

Fleetwood - Fleetwood High School:
The ghost of a legendary head teacher and is said to haunt the grounds of the school.

Greater Manchester - Great Woolden Hall:
A Shadowy cavalier, thought to be the ghost of Hamlet De Holcroft murdered there in a dispute other ownership, many history books say by the infamous Colonel Blood, (his real name), who married one of the daughters of a powerful local family the De Culcheths. The house's cellars give out bilious gases and strange senses of both heat and cold. The ghosts of a group of wild bulls are often seen on the riverbanks or heard to be lowing noisily. Objects have been seen to move and the sent of lavender fill rooms. Many other unspecific sights have also been seen or felt by many.

Grimsby - Yarborough Hotel:
This is a pub in Grimsby which used to be a hotel the staff have heard and seen small children a numerous amount of times in the actual hotel and cellar.

Guisborough - The Priory:
The Priory was a church before it was burnt down by accident by a plumber and his two assistants on the 16th of May 1289. The Priory is said to be haunted by a black monk that wonders the Priory grounds at night.

Hampshire - Beaulie Abbey:
The church in the abbey is said to be haunted by a priest and 2 monks. There is also a lady who is said to be seen in the kitchen with 2 dogs.

Hampshire - Liphook - Bohunt School:
Every thursday in c-10 (name of room) there is a ghostly presence and a scream at about 3:40pm the legend goes that a teacher murdered his pupil and buried her in the floorboards.

Hampshire - Portchester Castle:
A White Lady, thought to be Charlotte White, is said to prowl the Battlements before throwing herself from The Keep. A Roman Centurion has been witnessed guarding the outer castle gates. To this day the St. Mary's graveyard, within the castle grounds, attracts occult activity including animal sacrifice.

Hampshire - Southampton/Hamle - Hamble School:
Some see a ghost of a teacher that taught in HAMBLE COMUNITY SPORTS COLLEGE about 200 years ago when it was just a few class rooms, He walks around mostly in the boy's toilet in the "Humanities block" where he has been said to have died.

Hampton Court:
The ghost of one of Henry the VIII's wives haunts the haunted gallery. The ghost gets mad when any one comes in to her spot. Reports of screaming, the lights turning off and an apparition.

Hansacre - Lichfield Road:
Reports of children's toys going off by themselves, and the children reporting the ghost of a soldier walking through halls.

Harrogate - Ashville College:
This school is inhabited by many very old teachers. Some of these are classed as ghosts! One of these is a Mr. Horsley who is classed as ghost who is known for mass murder.

Hastings - East Sussex - Hastings Castle:
Within the walls of this vunerable pile have been heard the sound of music, and in particular the vibrant fanfare of horns, when there is no-one around. The most recent account of this is from November 2000 when a large crowd congregated on the seafront for a firework display heard the echoing sound of trumpets coming from the ruinous castle. The wraith of Thomas A'Becket has been seen in the castle precincts, accompanied by the sounds of groaning and rattling chains, particularly during autumn evenings. A long established legend holds that on certain days, the reflection of the castle, in all its original splendor, can be seen out to sea, complete with flags fluttering from the turrets!

Hereford - Aylestone High School:
Reports of hearing the piano being played and claims of seeing the keys move with no one there.

Hereford - Hargess Court:
A black dog has been seen by numerous people and usually foresees the death of a loved one.

Heworth - Heworth Graveyard:
Three children where burnt alive in there beds while they slept and the legend says if at the stroke of midnight you run around the grave which you can't miss it, it's the grave with the three people sleeping in their beds, 12 times and say come play children play while running the kids that got killed tragically in there sleep will come out and play with you.

Ilkeston - Derbyshire - Hermits Wood:
Strange banging noises, feelings of being watched and/or not alone, believed to be haunted by a monk that committed suicide many centuries ago, his apparition is said to be seen standing under the arch late at night.

Kettering - London Road Cemetery:
You will see orbs and anomalies in you photos and will hear strange noises

Kielder - Bloodybush Road:
In the remote area of kielder lies the lonely Willowbog Cottage, so old it is, in fact, mentioned in the Doomsday Book. From then on to the present day, every bridge ever built there, be it stone, metal or wood has never stood for over a decade. They have all at one point been found completely demolished over night or had to be destroyed due to unexplained bloodstains that cover every inch of it. On certain nights the galloping of hooves has been heard from the nearby Willowbog Cottage (which itself is 20 miles from anywhere). Willowbog still stands and is now the setting of a weekend and summer holiday activity center for the 74th Scout Troop of Newcastle upon Tyne but not even they have ever ventured to Bloodybush after midnight and god help anyone who ever does.

Lancashire - Goosnargh - Chingle Hall:
Far to much to tell briefly, chingle hall is said to be the most haunted house in britain with over 16 ghosts, and should be here with the best of them. there are many websites on Chingle Hall with everything you need to know. hope to see it here soon

Langport - Langport arms bed and breakfast:
On many of occasions during the nights many people have come across seeing a man holding a candle in the mornings on occasion staff have had to tidy up kitchen due to plates and saucepans on floor and clearing some water which has seen to have come in, in the early 1900 Langport became under water after flash floods came in the restaurant got hit badly 2 people died there was no signs of who they were

Leeds - Dimbelby nursing home:
Ghostly figures seen and bangings of windows and doors and footsteps in the night spookey place!

Leeds - Rodley:
Many apparitions seems to haunt the area.

Leicester - Belgrave Hall:
In 1998 a brief image was recorded on a security camera in the dead of the night. this lead to worldwide media interest in the several-hundred year old hall which stands in the heart of old Belgrave next to the parish church. Also reports of shrieking being heard from the garden of the hall in the small hours of the morning.

Leicester - Hungarton - Quemby Hall:
Reports of an apparition of a blue lady, beds that have looked like they where slept in, and cold spots.

Leicester - Mary De Castro Church:
Various monk-like chanting sounds heard near to the rear entrance of the thousand year old church which was originally the chapel for Leicester Castle. Also numerous reports of ghostly friars seen in the immediate vicinity.

Leicestershire - Bradgate Park:
On Christmas eve a carridge being pulled by headless horses caring mary queen of scots witn her head on her lap as it goes into the ruined mansion and then disapeared.

Leicestershire - Grace Due Ruins:
Witnesses report cold spots feelings of nervousness, apparitions of a large angelic being.

Leicestershire - Loseby Lane:
There have been sightings of a gentleman (often only as a reflection in a window pane) wearing a long black coat and a wide brimmed hat. It is not known who this gentleman is, but when there have been sightings the person in question has often turned around to find no one there.

Leicestershire - Tugby:
The old vicarage in tugby next to the grave yard has had many descriptions of the ghost at the window. There is a man in the village who actually has a old original photo of this ghost.

Litchfield - Oakenfields:
A boy has been seen who apparently was murder in the early 18 century.

Litchfield - Windmill Close:
"A dark disturbing man" has been seen wondering the streets late at night but only children have been reported to see this. also for some reason unknown local papers which do know about this seem scared to say anything.

Liverpool - Croxteth Hall:
Numerous hauntings.
1. Children playing, laughing and running.
2. Dark figures has been seen sitting in non existing chairs.
3. A maid has been seen in the kitchen doing here duties.
4. A male has been seen in the principal corridor.
5. Footsteps, noises and ghost of servants walking from room to room in the attic.
No wonder there are ghosts there because it was built in c1575 by 'ghost hunter' Phillip Flynn!

Liverpool - Fountains Abbey public house:
Witnesses have seen a lady dressed in a full length black cape with a hood. in the rear yard of the shop. Feelings of not being alone, even being tucked in at night.

Liverpool - Les Enfants Day Nursery:
Used to be the old huyton morgue has verry strange goings on such as when opening up nursery in mornings you can hear foot steps which seem to shuffel in the room were post mortems were carred out. childrens toys turning the self on we have opend up in morning to find a toy walking cat walking around. children talk to some one who they call mr and claim that he dissapears into a door children during quiet time have all sat and laughed and pointed to ceiling saying, "Mr., Mr., I can see you" A member of staff have claimed to see a tall dark figure of a mann holding hands with what she belived to look like a child standing in a door way which children recently said mr disapears in to. when going home at night workers always dobble cheack every were is locked but come in in morning to find windows open or doors unlocked. there are cold spots and you feel like you are beeing watched. Since starting building work recently this has become worse.

Liverpool - Lydiate - Lydiate Abbey:
Sounds of babies crying and screaming. In Henry VIII reign it was destroyed but earlier than that it was used for sacrifices. The sacrifices being the babies.

Liverpool - Philharmonic Hall:
A ghostly humming comes from one of its lowest rooms also footsteps can be heard in empty rooms.

Liverpool - Speke Hall:
People have heard the sound of children crying during the night.

Liverpool - Walton - Walton Hall:
Where a locked and bolted door is reported to open, and after thirty seconds suddenly bangs shut. This phenomenon is said usually to take place in June, and one story attributes the occurrence to the ghost of an elderly lady who, in the eighteenth century, to have died in her bath and still tries desperately to get back into her bedroom

London - Old Club UK:
A white misty cloaked form of a man, was photographed standing between two unsuspecting clubbers. Its rumored that the building was used as a sweat shop in the early 1900's where workers often died of exhaustion...

London - East Acton:
An old church building that is now a school meant to be haunted by monks in the I.T room seen by a teacher and in the hall an old lady called the blue lady who died on the titanic when it sank has been seen dancing on the stage.

London - Greenwich - Queens House:
The Queens house in Greenwich, southeast London is now a part of the national maritime museum but was originally part of the old royal palace. It is said to have numerous ghosts including that of a small mischievous child who pinches visitors and a lady in grey who glides across the balconies. The main museum has also been said to be a place where unexplained footsteps and bangs/crashes can be heard.

London - Hampton Court Palace:
Catherine Howard (One of Henry V111's wives)was imprisoned in the Palace in 1541 but escaped from her guards, and ran to the chapel to beg for mercy from the king. But the king pretended to be at prayer and ignored her. Catherine was dragged away shrieking and was executed soon afterward. In recent times her terrible ghostly screams have echoed around the palace.

London - Heathrow Airport:
The ghost of Dick Turpin has been haunting the area of Heathrow since the 1700's, when he was hanged. He is usually found near the runways, riding a brown horse and wearing British-Colonial style clothes.

London - Plumstead Manor School:
Reports of hearing a strange banging or slamming sound, whispers in your ears.

London - Royal University of Hathaway:
On the 4th floor of the Dormitory, in a private room, there is a spirit of a young man. He's very sad, and there are a few different ways that his hauntings take place. One person stayed there for a week and was awakened a few times in the middle of the night by the ghost. The first encounter was at the sink in the room. The water was running, and it was splashing around with no one visibly at the sink. The second night there was someone sitting on the edge of the bed crying. The third night was the last for this room as the ghost was sitting on the edge of the bed, making a visible imprint in the bed. The ghost then got up and stepped over the person staying in the room to the window out to the courtyard. With a great audible sigh, the ghost, quite visible at this point stooped through window opening and leaped out.

London - St. James's Park:
There is a headless monk that apparently walks in front of people and then disappears. This takes place near the bridge that crosses the river.

London - St. Pancras Chambers (Formerly The Midland Grand Hotel:
Many people have witnessed seeing the figure of a lady on the grand staircase and roman soldiers have also been seen in the basements. It is believed a woman found out she was pregnant in the early 1900 and so threw herself down the staircase because she couldn't cope with being pregnant out of wedlock. The ghost of a man is said to haunt room 10.

London - Terror Tower:
The tower where people were tortured then killed. sightings of ghosts have been seen.

London - Tower of London:
When you walk through the chambers you can feel a strange cold feeling and many ghosts sightings have been reported and two children where found under the staircase.

London - Theater Royal:
The Man In Gray who is only seen during rehearsals for hit shows. There is also the ghost of a famous clog dancer his presence is detected by a whiff of lavender.

London - White Chapel:
The ghost of Jack The Ripper's first victim, Polly Nichols haunts the spot where her body was found.

Long Melford - Melford Hall:
There have been unexplained fires started in the bell-tower when the church has been locked and no-one there...

Long Melford / Suffolk - The Bull Inn:
Reports of a ghost walking there.

Lowton - Travellers Rest Inn:
A strange occurance of missing objects and movement of objects also occurances of someone calling their name by some of the staff it is said that the site used to be a morturary

Lyme Regis - The Angel Pub:
Objects appear and disappear, and sudden and intense cold has been experienced. Doors open and close of their own accord. The ghost is of a young woman, the daughter of a former publican. No other information is known, but the phenomenon has been experienced by the present incumbents, and by local people. Only haunts the upper parts of the pub, which are private. Very creepy atmosphere.

Is Derby Really The Most Haunted City In England? Pt.3

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:48:02 +0100

St Werburgh's Church is always worth a visit, even if it is just for the food!

In 1989–1990 the lease on the main building was sold and the building converted into a shopping mall called the Cloisters. This enterprise failed due to high rent and council tax. The building has stood empty and subjected to vandalism for a number of years but has now opened as a Chinese Restaurant called Wok Mania.
The building is now owned by Derek Latham, a local architect with an excellent record of restoring old buildings, in particular Churches. His office is based at the fully refurbished St. Michael's Church on Queen Street. The conversion of St. Werburgh's has been very sympathetic to the building's historical importance as a Church building.

Nearby St Werburgh's Churchyard, there stands Seymour's Wine Bar and Restaurant, which is known to have the ghostly figure of an old woman haunting the premises. Dressed in gray, the woman tends to wander about the upper regions of the building. In this article, you will encounter more information regarding Seymour's, as well as a site called Noah's Ark.

Seymour's Wine Bar

A handful of stories have emerged regarding the ghost, including that the scent of lavender hits the air when the ghost is planning an appearance. The odor is so strong, that one witness claimed that it stung the insides of their nostrils.

Many strange happenings that take place about the wine bar have been attributed to the ghost. For instance, cutlery has a habit of winding up in different places, and is moved around in a different order. Some items have a knack of disappearing altogether and reemerge weeks later. Upon entering the 'Bake House,' people have reported an eerie feeling as if they are being watched. Some staff members claim to have been touched by hands they cannot see. At any rate, the employees do not fear the ghosts they believe reside on the property.

There is a belief that the graveyard located adjacent to the church may contribute to some of the spirits that find their way to the bar and restaurants. Many locals believe that it is haunted by an assortment of spirits.

The Noah's Ark

The River Derwent was used for many different things during the 17th century, but for Noah Bullock, it served as his place of business and residence. Along with his wife, four sons, and five daughters, he built and lived in an ark and moored it on the Derwent, close to Morledge. Inside of his floating home however, he was in the business of coining of counterfeit money.

During the 1600's, creating counterfeit money was a capital offence at this time and when Bullock was found out for his crimes, he was ordered to appear in front of the Recorder of Derby, Sir Simon Degge – a man that Noah actually knew quite well. He was allowed to promise to end his forging activities, and as a result, broke up the ark and let it sink in the River Derwent. All of this helped him to escape the noose of the hangman.

If you visit Morledge, you may happen upon a public house that bears the name of Noah's Ark. However, today, his presence is still felt. He is known to haunt the pub. Located near the site where Bullock built, moored, and later sank his ark – it is believed a handful of river ghosts have chosen to haunt the site. Unexplainable lights are also commonplace in the region. A medium was brought to the site to investigate the ghosts and they claimed that the ghosts were "lost souls of the dead seeking a pathway to the next life."

Derby Cathedral

No listing on Derby would be complete without a mention of the Derby Cathedral.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, the population of England increased in such a way that new religious institutions were created. A trend emerged where regular churches were being transformed into cathedrals. Time and money grew short as the years lingered. People started to see less and less of the grand cathedrals that were commonplace during Norman times. This article focuses on the All Saints' Church in Derby, which later became Derby Cathedral in 1927.

The All Saint's Church was thought founded by King Edmund in 943 AD, but the original church underwent many different changes over the centuries. By the time the 18th century rolled around, one of the only features that set the church apart from other buildings was the tower. Standing 212 feet tall, it was known as the second highest parish church tower in England. This feature has a history that is traced back to the times of Henry VIII.

In 1723, the church was considered unsafe. At the time, no one wanted to claim responsibility for the church and it seemed as if the need for repairs would go unnoticed until a churchman named Revd Dr Michael Hutchinson put in an order for the entire structure to be demolished with the exception of the tower. The local people were not pleased with this decision. However, plans for the rebuilding of the church were already in the works. The new design was the work of James Gibbs, who had become quite famous for his many churches, which included St Mary-le-Strand and St Martin-in-the Fields, in London.

Designs for the new church were given the seal of approval and work on rebuilding the structure started with one of the most striking churches of today – the Derby Cathedral. Some of the features that have caught the eyes of onlookers include the memorial carvings, and attractive wrought iron screens.

You're probably wondering what is so scary about a church that was given new life, but the premises have been reported to serve many wandering ghosts that have chosen to haunt the vicinity of the cathedral. One such ghost is that of Charles Edward Stuart, who was spotted by a woman who once lived in a building (now a shop) that was situated across the road. She reported to have seen a man dressed in Jacobite clothing who would stroll into the Cathedral.

Another ghostly tale associated with the cathedral was that of Bonnie Prince Charlie, who is believed to haunt the premises – appearing to be recounting his footsteps. A ghostly figure has also been seen wandering about the Silk Mill public house. Other restless soul connected to the church is a 'white lady' that has been sighted walking down the steps located at the back of the church. A young woman that appears to be crying along with a small boy is also some of the ghostly residents of the Cathedral.

The George (D.Lafferty & Son)

Recently renamed D Lafferty & Son, the George Inn in Derby, England has a reputation for being haunted by a handful of ghosts. In this article, you will learn a bit about the property, as well as a mystery that is connected to the inn.

In Derby, the George Inn earned a name for itself for being one of the most recognizable of coaching inns in the city. Constructed around 1693, the inn not only served as a coaching house, but also provided a location for gentlemen to stay if they did not own a townhouse in Derby. During this time, a trend was growing in the separation of inns and taverns.

The George Inn was an upscale site where gentlemen had a place to gather. This was the sort of place that you would bump into people like the Duke of Devonshire, who stayed at the inn on more than one occasion. The Inn also served as his headquarters when a Jacobite uprising took place in 1745.

When it comes to the ghost stories and mysteries surrounding the Inn, one of the first tales to come to mind is that of the 'George Skull.' Workers, who were digging a 4-foot pit underneath the floor of the cellar, discovered the human skull of a female that looked to have suffered damage to the cranium. Beside the skull, animal skulls and bones were also found, alongside old shoes and pieces of leather. The work on the cellar ceased and the skull was transported to Nottingham for forensic testing. When the tests came back, it confirmed that the skull was quite old.

No other human remains were located other than the skull. Theories regarding the female skull were that she was killed and then thrown into a pit dated back to the early days. The reasoning behind the animal bones was that creatures that were killed on the premises and used for food for travelers were often thrown into a pit. Others believe that the woman was simply murdered as a way to hide her murder.

Others believe that she was not murdered and the human skull is a complete mystery. While they cannot explain where it came from, they theorize that the workmen found a former workplace of a blacksmith or leather worker, which explains why pieces of leather and old shoes were found. As for the animal remains, their bones would have been discarded after their skins were stripped to make leather.

During the days of the 1600's, it was customary for human skulls to be buried beneath the foundations of new buildings. A spade could have caused the damage to the skull, as it was placed underground. A pair of shoes and a dead cat was also used to ward off evil spirits and witches in regards to laying down a new building.

The Inn has been the site of many different odd happenings. Stainless steel buckets have moved on their own across a room. Beer barrels rolled unexplainably across the cellar floor with force. Odd groans have also been heard on the premises.

Is Derby Really The Most Haunted City In England? Pt.2

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:49:59 +0100

In the past, people accused of crimes were sent to a witness box in court, where they were given three chances to plead guilt or innocence. After the third time of asking, the accused was given a bit of time to reconsider their decision, which at the time a 'judgment of penance' was passed. The sentence of penance placed upon criminal offenders consisted of:

"That you be taken back to the prison whence you came to a low dungeon, into which no light can enter; that you be laid on your back on the bare floor with a cloth around your loins but elsewhere naked; that there be set upon your body a weight of iron as great as you can bear and greater; that you have no sustenance except on the first day a morsel of coarse bread and on the second day three draughts of stagnant water from the pool nearest the prison door and on the third another morsel of coarse bread as before. If after three days you are still alive the weight will be taken from your body and a large sharp stone placed beneath your back and the weight replaced."

RiPA thinks that maybe modern day sentencing could do with a rewrite??

Shire Hall
In 1665, a deaf mute woman was sentenced in the Shire Hall, St Mary's Gate and was pressed to death, marking the last time England followed through on this method of execution. It is believed that her ghost still roams the cells that once held the accused – a location that remains preserved underneath Derby's Shire Hall. Built in 1659, this building served as the location for a handful of infamous murder trials that took place in Derbyshire. In 1817, the site saw the punishment of the Pentrich Martyrs, who were sentenced to being hung, drawn, and quartered. This sentence was the last time this method of execution was used in England.

Headless Cross

The history of Derby was hit pretty hard by the plague, where the worst effects were felt in 1592 when nearly 500 people died. During this time, local farmers refused to trade with the townspeople. Grass started to grow in the middle of Market Place since the number of people started dwindling, thus putting a strain on local business. The plague showed no mercy and continued to kill off the townspeople in more ways than one. The threat of famine set in until the farmers finally agreed to trade with the people of the town. They had one condition: leave the money for payment in bowls filled with vinegar at the Headless Cross on Nun's Green. The farmers would later return for their money when they believed the coast was clear.

It is believed that the Headless Cross dates back to the
14th century. Records show that by the 15th century, the monument had already lost its top. At one time, the cross was transported to the Derby Arboretum park, where it resided for many years. The reputation of being haunted still existed. Later on, the Headless Cross was brought back to the top of Friar Gate. Ghosts associated with the cross include a lady dressed in gray and a woman that enjoys visiting the Arboretum.

Ye Olde Dolphin Inn

Dating back to about 1530, the Dolphin serves as the oldest public house in Derby. Since the building is so old, it is often seen as a gathering place for ghosts. One of the most known ghosts of the premises is that of a 'blue lady' that has a habit of walking through the plastered walls. Customers in the pub and guests sitting in the tearooms located upstairs have claimed to see the old ghost.

An interesting aspect of the Dolphin is probably best seen in the 18th-century extension located on the left-hand side of the building in Full Street. It was not always an original part of the Dolphin, but instead, was the house of a doctor. During the 18th century, it was not unheard of to have the bodies of the deceased delivered to the homes of doctors so that additional medical study could take place. In fact, as part of the sentencing of execution for criminals, it was stated that their bodies would be taken to doctors so that they could use them for dissection. This created a fear amongst condemned prisoners that the dissection was far worse than the death sentence itself.

However, in the cellar of the doctor's house, which is now a part of the Dolphin – one chilling incident took place. One morning, it is said that the doctor traveled down into his cellar after a body had been delivered. He transferred it to a table and removed the shroud. To his surprise, the man was still alive. The details of what happened next are a mystery and the facts have become jumbled with time. The doctor could have died from shock or the victim died shortly after. Some say the doctor may have killed the man by inserting his scalpel into the body.

At any rate, a great deal of bodies was dissected in the cellar located underneath the Dolphin. Many people believe that the property is haunted by a poltergeist that takes pleasure in turning the taps of the beer kegs off in that part of the cellar. Since the setting is one with a rather creepy history, staff members often choose not to venture into the cellar alone.

Ye Old Spa Inn

Around 1673, a man known as a Dr Chauncey, lucked upon a mineral spring located just off of Abbey Street, Derby. As an entrepreneur, Chauncey jumped at the chance to become a competitor of Buxton and Bath. Historical records of Derby state that Chauncey "…put down a basin into the spring of it, to come out fresh: he built a cover over the spring which discharges itself by a grate and keeps the place always dry. About 20 yards below the spa he made a handsome cold bath and some rooms to it at considerable expense!" When Dr Chauncey died, his spa seemed to fade away.

However, the spirit of the doctor lingered on, as it is said that his ghost may pay visits to the buildings he once owned. Some people claim that they feel as if they are not alone when they are in the cellar. Strange voices are also heard on the premises.

Is Derby Really The Most Haunted City In England? Pt.1

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:39:55 +0100

If you are interested in paying a visit to what is thought as the most haunted city in England, consider Derby, which has been dubbed the "Ghost Capital of England." There's a lot of landmarks, buildings, and locations that the locals are well aware of when it comes to things that send chills up and down your spine. For this reason, a lot of tourists come to take tours and glance at some off-the-beaten path sites filled with both historical and paranormal intrigue.
So to get you started here's some places that may be of interest

Silk Mill

Built in 1717, the Silk Mill served as the first factory constructed in England. Standing on the banks of the River Derwent, the mill is the setting for a tale of industrial spies centered in the world of silk making. It is said that the first industrial spy in the world traveled to Livorno, Italy to steal patterns for creating silk- throwing machines. Lombe infiltrated the business and spent his days working on the machines. However, when the sun set, he would copy down their plans, hiding them in bales of silk marked for England. Agents working for his father later retrieved the plans and transported them to Derby.

The old Guildhall in Derby was the site where the silk-throwing machines were constructed until they later found their own home in the first purpose-built factory in England. Lombe was able to return home, but sadly, as legend has it – met his match with death, when he was poisoned by an Italian assassin only three years after his escape. Apparently, the Italians exacted their revenge.

In 1910, the Silk Mill caught fire leaving only the Bell Tower in tact. The tower is believed haunted by a young boy who was kicked down the stairs when an overseer deemed him not working hard enough. Sadly, children as young as the age of seven worked at the silk mill in the past, keeping hours that started at 5am and ended at 7pm. Some locals believe they have heard the cries of the little boy whose sounds have been heard at the foot of the stairs, as he bled to death.

Georgian House Hotel

The building that houses the Georgian House Hotel is believed to have been the work of a naval officer who served under Admiral Nelson. At one point, it also served as the home of a governor associated with the old Derbyshire County Gaol in Vernon Street. Locals have reported to seeing the ghostly image of a man that is wearing a blue suit and likes to stand on the stairs and in the area surrounding the hallway.

RiPA will hopefully be paying this place a visit real soon.

The Bell Hotel

To look at the Bell Hotel of today is to enjoy a peek into the past, as it appears pretty much the same as the original building. The hotel is one of the oldest coaching inns in Derby – built around 1680 for the Meynell family. To this day, it has been a site known to house a variety of ghosts.

For starters, there is a Victorian lady dressed in blue that is said to stand in one of the downstairs bars, appearing in front of staff and guests. Another downstairs room seems to be the stomping grounds for a poltergeist that likes to toss items about the room. One time, a barmaid suffered a blow to the back of her head when a wooden coat hanger was thrown about the room. As she looked around to see who tossed the hanger, no one else was in the room with her.

Travel upstairs in the hotel and there is a room believed to be haunted by the ghost of a serving girl who has appeared on more than one occasion. Fitted in a white mob cap and 18th century clothing, she is thought to have lost her life by the hands of the Jacobites in 1745. This murdered lost soul may appear by herself or sometimes, in the presence of children. There is a tale that during the 1930's, the landlord of the premises ran into the bedroom of his asthmatic son, who was having a coughing and choking fit. To his surprise, he caught sight of this mysterious vision of a woman dressed in 18th century costume. He claims that she was bending his son over and patting him on the back. As the father ran to his son, the image disappeared.

During the 1950s, the same room was converted into a nursery. Another story involves the ghostly woman, as she appeared during the changing of a baby's diaper. The landlady and mother of the child saw the 18th century costumed lady appear to stand over the baby. When the mother rushed over to her child to pick her up, the figure faded away.

A theory concerning the ghost is that she may have died trying to protect her child or lost her life during childbirth. Others believe that she was a nursery maid whose soul is unsettled and chooses to watch over the children that come in contact with her former home.

St Helens House

Built in 1767, it is believed that St Helens House is one of the finest examples of Georgian town houses in the area.

Needless to say, the building is said to be haunted by many ghosts. One is said to be that of a young lady, who comes sweeping down the stairs as if hurrying away from something, or someone, that is chasing her.
nother ghost is said to be that of a monk who has been seen on several occasions in different parts of the building. One previous lady worker at St Helen's House, who was employed there when it still functioned as a school, informed me that on several occasions whilst she was working late in the evening she had heard an eerie and chilling voice whisper her name. On further investigation this lady found no other person present. When questioning colleagues about her experience she was told that this type of strange occurrence had happened frequently to several people, and some members of staff were so used to this that they had nicknamed the ghost 'The Whisperer'.
Certain parts of the building are also said to have cold spots, and one gentleman, a student at the building in 1992, witnessed a grey smoky figure, seemingly almost of human shape, descend as if from the ceiling and pass through a wall. RiPA will be going here real soon so keep an eye out for that one.

Jacobean House

This was Derby's first brick building, built in 1611. It was once much larger, having five gables until in 1855 when the Victorians drove Becket Street right through the house.
Mrs Gisbourne, the wife of Derby's mayor, was the first lady within the town to have her own coach. When she left her home her servants and retainers accompanied her to the borders of Derbyshire, either to help her negotiate the foul, deep-rutted roads of the time, or perhaps to make sure that she was really gone!

To this day, a mysterious phantom coach and horses are sometimes seen parked outside the house and a headless coachman has been seen coming through the coach archway which may still be seen on the left-hand side of the building. Also, the dark, mysterious figure of a man is seen standing in the Wardwick entrance to the house. A solicitor who once had offices in the building, moved his premises elsewhere as he could no longer stand working in the building late at night, due to the strange things that happened there when he was alone.

A lady by the name of Mrs Hall, who was a former worker at the building, experienced the following:

"I was in the upstairs rooms of Jacobean House, looking for something or other, when I felt someone brush past me and immediately turning, I caught sight of a lady in a blue dress, who turned her head to look at me, smiled and walked down the stairs. I immediately followed her, and on reaching the bottom floor I asked colleagues if they had seen anyone pass them, to which they replied that no one had, as far as they were aware.
left it at that and did not tell them why I had asked such a strange question. Later on that week, I saw the lady again, this time going up the stairs, and still wearing the same blue dress, the only difference being that she had added a white shawl which hung loosely around her shoulders. "Again I followed her.
On reaching the upper floors of the building, I could find no trace of the woman. Shortly after this event had taken place, work colleagues came rushing into the room where I was working and stated that they had just seen the ghost of a lady in blue walking up the stairs, who had vanished before their eyes.
It was at this point that others working in the room stated they too had experienced similar visitations. I saw her many times during my employment within the building, always in blue and always in the vicinity of the stairs, I was never frightened of meeting her and in many ways I looked forward to seeing her, for she always looked so gentle and kind and I don't think that she would ever hurt anyone. Whenever anything went missing - and things very often did - we always put it down to the 'Blue Lady' moving them. Some things were never found and some things would turn up days or weeks later, but never when they were needed."

There are a reported 14 ghosts in Jacobean House, making the building one of the most haunted within the city of Derby and one which RiPA would like to research.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:05:58 +0100

If I could investigate any where in the world there's only one place that I would jump at the chance to investigate. The place, Waverley Hills sanatorium in Kentucky. Why here ? Well I'm fascinated by the place, its colourful history, its array of paranormal activity and the sheer elegance of one of Americas most haunted places. When a place like this has reports of paranormal activity I cant help but understand why, with disease, mental instability, death and suffering soaked into the walls of this magnificent structure over decades of time I guess hauntings are inevitable.Let me take you on a little adventure around Waverley Hills.

The history
Waverley hills opened its doors in 1926, for the purpose of treating tuberculosis suffers, This building replaced the original two storey, wooden hospital that had stood there, the wooden structure held only 40 beds and as tuberculosis was rife in Kentucky it was decided that a new facility with a bigger capacity was needed. When Waverley opened it was considered to be the most advanced tuberculosis hospital in the country, and if anyone suffering from this awful disease had any chance of making it then this was the place to get treatment. The many treatments available for TB were often barbaric and quiet experimental. It was thought that the best treatment was to be exposed to plenty of sunlight and fresh air, patients where wheeled often still in their beds out onto the sun terraces to take in the air, in all weathers, there are photos in existence of patients, on the terraces, their bed clothes covered in snow.

Other treatments included Thoracoplasty, this was an operation that removed several ribs to allow the lungs to have room to expand however only 5% of people survived this procedure. Many people and family's died at Waverley and the body toll is thought to be 63,000. Bodies were removed from the hospital via a “death tunnel”or “body chute”. This tunnel ran from the hospital to the bottom of the hill it stood on. The tunnel was constructed this way so that the patients did not see the dead being removed from the hospital as not to damage their morale and hinder their recovery. This tunnel is 500 ft long and was also used as a way for maintenance men and hospital staff to enter and exit the building. In 1961 Waverley hills was closed as a sanatorium due to the decrease in TB and re-opened as Woodhaven Geriatrics sanitarium in 1962. This was short lived as reports of patient neglect and abuse saw the closure of the building in 1982. Now this magnificent building stands derelict and revenged by time a Mecca for paranormal investigators from all over the world.

The ghosts of Waverley.
Many ghosts are said to roam the vast corridors and rooms of this building, mostly shadow people, however there are some regular apparitions that like to appear to unsuspecting people.

Mary

Said to haunt the third floor of the building, Mary has been seen peering out of windows and playing with a ball. The strange thing about Mary is that when she has been seen, she has no eyes. A photo of a young girl found within one of the walls of Waverley and signed love Mary Lee was identified as the apparition that has been sighted on numerous occasions.

A variation of Mary is the apparition of a small boy affectionately given the name Timmy. He also likes to play with a ball and has often been seen playing hide and seek. The distinction between a young boy and a young girl would be hard to make due to the fact that they often would have been dressed in similar clothes and would often have short hair, So it is perfectly plausible that Mary and Timmy are one and the same.

Room 502
Room 502 is situated on the roof. This is said to be where the patients that had lost mental stability due to TB were housed. Room 502 is reportedly the nurses station although some believe that it was in actual fact a bathroom. Two female apparitions have been sighted here on numerous occasions.

The first apparition is that of a nurse found hanging from a light fitting, Mary Hillenberg committed suicide in 1928. It was documented that she was a young nurse who had fallen pregnant out of wedlock and that this had brought on depression causing this poor desperate girl to hang herself. Some accounts of this haunting say that the patients were forced to walk around the hanging body until another nurse came on shift. The second apparition is of a nurse that is said to have thrown herself from one of the windows, Although people have seen her falling from the window and also standing gazing out of it there is no historical record of a nurse plummeting to her death.

Main entrance

An apparition of an older woman has been seen running out of the main entrance covered in blood, her hands and feet shackled in chains.

Body chute

This Erie 500ft tunnel is reported to be haunted by the lost souls of Waverley. Disembodied voices and unexplained lights have been sighted on a regular basis in this dank and dark chute.

Elevator ghost

In the early 1990's police were called out to Waverley hills to a report of a dead body. They discovered that a homeless man and his dog had fallen down the disused elevator shaft and had died down there. Both his and his dogs apparitions have been sighted but funnily enough not together. Maybe their searching for each other ?
Well their just some of the characters that you could run into in the corridors and rooms of the rambling estate of Waverley hills sanatorium. However it doesn't stop their, emf meters, cameras, torches and any other electrical equipment used, seems to play up as well as the numerous sightings of shadow people and the disembodied voices seemingly warning visitors to “GET OUT”. All these elements make Waverley hills my personal ultimate place to investigate.