This week, many in the UK will celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year, Halloween. With such a long history, it comes as no surprise that there are hundreds of reports of hauntings around the country each year. Here we’ll take a look at just a few of the most haunted spots in the UK and see some of the incredible properties that are available in those areas.
It’s important to note, none of the properties listed in this article have been the subject of supernatural reports themselves as we take a tongue in cheek trip around ‘haunted Britain’.
London
Its probably no surprise that London is considered the most haunted place in the country. The city’s history includes beheaded royalty, plague, fire and arguably the world’s most famous unidentified serial killer. Here are just a couple of sites where unexplained activity has taken place.
Long associated with the infamous Jack the Ripper, Whitechapel couldn’t be more vibrant and lively today. With the bustling Spitalfields Market at the centre, Londoners and tourists alike visit the area to enjoy a wide range of shops, restaurants and activities. However, one place that seems linked to the past is the Ten Bells pub opposite the market. Rumoured to have been frequented by each of the Ripper victims, the pub is now the subject of many spooky stories. Some believe the ghost of Annie Chapman, Jack’s second victim, now resides there, having seen a woman in Victorian dress walking through the pub as well as feeling gusts of wind and seeing objects move by themselves.
Meanwhile in Soho, the many theatres provide drama beyond the stage. Flying props and floating heads have been reported while many believe the sign of a good show at London’s oldest theatre still in use, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, is the arrival of the “Man in Grey”. While no one is sure of the ghosts true identity, the figure struts around the upper circle with a sword, riding cloak and tricorne hat before disappearing into a wall near the Royal Box. Renovations in the 1870s led to the discovery of skeletal remains, dressed in grey with a knife protruding from the ribcage, prompting theories that this was the man in grey.
Walking through the streets of Hampstead is like walking back through time, with cobbled streets and old-fashioned streetlights. Many of the pubs in the area, including the Spaniards Inn, the King William IV and the Old Bull and Bush, have reported spooky activities. Murder victims, horses, dogs, highwaymen and even a chicken are said to haunt the local watering holes and public parks in Hampstead.
This flat, available to rent, seems to honour the spooky surroundings with its gothic interior, perfect for hosting Halloween parties!
Cornwall
Smugglers, miners, gaols and more, Cornwall provides the perfect landscape for ghosts and ghouls and bumps in the night. Many reports have come from Bodmin where the infamous prison is said to be home to the ghosts of people executed there. One such figure is that of Selina Wadge, arrested in 1878 for the murder of her youngest son. The jury found her guilty but suggested leniency in her sentencing, the judge disagreed and sentenced her to death. These days, her ghost is said to wander the prison. Reports mainly come from small children who ask about the crying lady in the long dress.
Just outside of Bodmin sits this gorgeous Georgian house, flooded with light and surrounded by beautiful green gardens.
Dorset
While many may think of Dorset as a quiet place on the South Coast, it has enjoyed a rich and dramatic history. A Saxon prince was murdered by his stepmother, the flagship of the Spanish Armada is rumoured to be shipwrecked in Studland Bay and some of the key battles of the Civil War took place in this county.
As a result, it comes as no surprise to hear there are regular reports of hauntings across the county , from the headless White Lady at Corfe Castle to the spirit of Napoleon at Lulworth Cove, there is plenty of folklore to explore here!
We love this cottage near both Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door. In need of an update, it is a perfect opportunity for those looking for a project!
Meanwhile, this three-bedroom house in the same village is ready to move into having been recently refurbished.
West Midlands
Widely recognised as the heart of the Industrial Revolution, the West Midlands is also home to a wide range of strange goings-on. You can find several of the UK’s most impressive castles in the area, each one boasting its own eventful history. At Dudley Castle, the Grey Lady is said to visit the Castle Keep and the pub within the grounds named after her. Many believe the ghost to be the spirit of Dorothy Beaumont who died after giving birth to a daughter, who also sadly passed away. In her final moments she made two requests, to be buried with her newborn and for her husband to attend their funeral. Neither were fulfilled, leading locals to believe this is the reason she hasn’t moved on.
Up in the mountains there are reports of wizards and mermaids and UFO sightings have been reported in this area more than any other in the UK.
Looking past the ghost stories, the area is filled with bustling cities and glorious countryside, reaching up to the Peak District. These properties highlight the wide range of properties on offer, from the inner-city terraced houses to the grand mansions in more rural areas.
This townhouse site in the heart of Warwick and dates back to 1788. It has been recently renovated to a high standard while maintaining an abundance of character. Planning permission is currently going through submission to create a fabulous kitchen dining space opening up to the rear garden.
North Yorkshire
From windswept Dales to cobbled city streets, North Yorkshire has a vast amount of history. With cities founded by the Romans, invasions by the Vikings and the execution place of the country’s most famous highwayman, it would be a surprise if there were no reports of hauntings.
In York, Treasurer’s House has been the subject of several reports, in which witnesses claim to have seen a legion of dishevelled Roman soldiers emerging from brick walls and walking along an old Roman road.
Meanwhile, the Golden Fleece is supposed to be the most haunted pub in the city. Dating back to 1503, the pub is rumoured to be home to 15 different spectres. The most famous of which is Lady Alice Peckett, the wife of John Peckett who owned the pub and used to be the Mayor of York. Unlike many, Lady Alice did not meet a terrible end but seems to have stuck around only because she loves the place so much. Elsewhere, a ghost named One Eyed Jack sits in the back bar, wearing a 16th century red coat and carrying a pistol, along with grumpy old man and a young boy. Roman soldiers can be seen in the cellar and a Canadian airman can be spotted in the upstairs halls, after falling to his death from one of the windows during WWII.
This beautiful townhouse sits on the outskirts of the city and encompasses a lot of the history York has to offer. The original timber-framed Medieval house was developed in 2004 with the help of Conservation specialists to incorporate its history into the current design.
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