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Derbyshire,
Midlands
HARDWICK HALL
Nr Chesterfield
Derbyshire
Famed for its association with the Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess
of Hardwick), its builder in 1591, this magnificent house contains
huge chimney pieces and a rambling staircase, both of which may
well house genuine priests' holes or secret rooms. Remembering the
traumatic period in which she lived, her fourth husband was custodian
of Mary Queen of Scots during her imprisonment, it is surely not
unlikely that an occasional visit from a member of Holy Orders was
carried out. Although there have been no reports of the house itself
being haunted, there have been several genuine claims of seeing
a phantom in the extensive gardens of the property.
One such case involved Mark Gresswell, at the time an 18 year old
trainee manager of Clipstone, Mansfield. He is now with the RAF.
On 4 January 1976 he and his fiancee, Carol Rawlings, `set off from
home at about 8 p.m.` intending to visit Hardwick Park they noticed
that a number of trees had been blown down by the strong gales suffered
the previous day. `As we neared the Hall, we realised that one of
the fallen trees had partially blocked the road, but another car
coming towards us near ran us off the road. `Later it was established
that the driver of this vehicle had been suffering from what the
young couple were to see a few yards further on.
`We continued through the grounds and started to drive down the
hill but just as we reached the sharp right-hand turn, Carol caught
hold of my arm and started to stammer. `She had been alarmed at
seeing the figure of someone, `With a black habit -type attire and
a brilliant white face`.
Mark, unconvinced, turned the car round and returned to the spot,
thinking that the girl had mistaken a tree stump, lit by the headlights,
for the ghost. However, just as they reached a sign reading 'No
Parking on the Grass' both saw the figure. 'He was a big, tall and
broad chappy', says Mark, 'that's if it was a 'he'or a 'What', I
don't know. Anyway it was dressed in a monk's habit for want of
a better description, but we didn't see either his hands or feet.
At the centre of it all was an almost illuminous brilliant white
face` The phantom walked towards them, lit by the headlights of
their by now stationary car, but as it drew closer, `It veered off
to its right and disappeared`.
Mark swung the car round hoping to see where it had vanished and
illuminated a disused stone quarry. Realising that there was nothing
they could do they drove off and on reaching their destination,
the Hardwick Inn, told the landlady of their experiences. They learnt
with considerable interest that between 31 December and that day,
4 January, the ghostly monk had been seen twice. Whilst in the pub,
the driver of the other vehicle that they had nearly crashed into
arrived with his wife and both confirmed that they too had seen
the apparition. Some time later, Mark learnt that two young ladies
in the area had also seen the figure of the monk near their home
on the outskirts of Sutton in Ashfield, about three miles away.
This is a fascinating case for no less that four witnesses saw the
same phantom at different times, thought within a few minutes of
each other, on the same day. An others, including two policemen,
had also observed the ghost days earlier.
Top
Hereford
& Worcester, Midlands
BLUE BELL INN
Dudley Road East
Oldbury
Near Hartshill
Hereford and Worcester
It was discovered by Miss Harrison, daughter of Mrs. Foster the
current licensee, that the original inn was some 200 years old and
obviously a coaching house. Although none of the original buildings
remains it is a pleasant pub and houses a lot of memories of the
past and non-paying guest. Miss Harrison, a science student at Keele
University, says that when her parents and herself moved in during
May 1966, they learnt that the pub had a reputation of being haunted
and one of the old regulars claimed he saw one man down the remains
of his pint and walk through the wall. Little notice was taken of
this report until she saw the face of a very old man peering through
a `square glass window set in at eye-level in the old door`.
The time was 10.30 p.m. and all the customers had gone and the door
locked so when the young girl went to `tell the old gent that he
was too late` but found him gone, she was puzzled. She returned
to wash up some more glasses and on turning back to the door saw
the face of the old chap still peering at her. Mrs. Foster, the
licensee's wife also saw the elderly gentleman and was as mystified
as her daughter. Thinking it was, perhaps, a trick of the light,
she moved the surrounding bottles, turned off and on all the lights
and tried desperately to find a logical answer. A couple of customers
who had remained in another bar were called upon in an attempt to
explain the phenomena, but the face remained. One man ran outside,
but finding no-one returned only to see the elderly features still
peering at him through the glass. He fled into the night. For four
nights this peculiar phenomena occurred and was noted by some nine
witnesses. Concerning some of their signed statements, which I have
seen, all seem to agree that the face that they saw was to quote
Winifred Marshall 'that of an old man with a beard'and Ernie Groves
of Theodore Close confirms this.
Most of the customers are convinced the mysterious figure is the
ghost of ` one of the old customers who died some years ago` but
he was - and remains friendly'. The only other phenomena experience
was that of the inexplicable sound of footsteps heard by Mr. and
Mrs. Foster one Sunday afternoon in 1975.
Another unusual incident occurred in 1970. On undressing for bed
one night, the daughter noticed that her pet whippet was staring
at something on the other side of the room and when she turned round
the girl ` encountered a fairly large blue shape` confronting her.
She dived under the bed clothes until hearing her mother ask why
she was walking around the landing. She assured Mrs. Foster that
far from walking outside her room, she had been shivering with fright
under the bedclothes. Later she wondered if the object she had seen
was a ball of lightening but realise that the weather 'had not been
conductive to the build up of static electricity'. The incident
remains unexplained, though Mrs. Gladys Edwards, a former licensee
feels that the 'face at the window'is definitely that of William
Parker. This gentleman 'a servant man who used the Inn years ago`
was in the service of the Turton Family of Brades Hall. One night
returning home from `supping a couple of pints` he was killed when
a chimney fell on him. Top
LITTLE MALVERN
Near Great Malvern
Hereford and Worcester
Known locally as 'Mrs. Dee's Rock', a small spur of the Malvern
Hills, is fully accepted by many residents as 'a haunted spot'.
Animals, especially dogs, are loathed to remain in the area and
the occasional evening walker is puzzled to see the 'vague shape
of a woman'sitting on a large rock with her head resting on her
hands. A soon as they approach the misty figure disappears. The
stone is some distance from a farm cottage which at one time was
associated with the original Mrs. Dee. Legend has it that her husband
mistreated her, and when on her death bed, she threatened to return
and haunt him if he was cruel to their 13 year old daughter. Within
a few months of the death Mrs. Dee, however, the man was unable
to control his violent moods and made the girl's life misery. Intending
to drown herself she ran to a nearby pond but the ghost of her mother
rose from the centre of the water and `with outstretched arms` scared
the youngster so much that she ran home, only to find the wrath
of Mrs. Dee had been haunting the cottage at the same time. The
mother continued to make her appearances for some months, frightening
farm workers and the family so much that a priest was called for
from Malvern Court to exorcise the disturbed soul. However, Mrs.
Dee seems to have returned. Top
YE OLDE SEVEN STARS
Coventry Street
Kidderminster
Hereford and Worcester
There are at least six witnesses to the ghost of a middle aged woman
seen here since 1974. Mrs. Fred Holloway glanced towards the end
of the bar whilst serving one evening and saw the figure of a middle-aged
female clothed in a white dress, the design of which suggested the
late nineteenth century. 'As I looked at her', Freda said, 'the
lady vanished', Mrs. Holloway saw the phantom again on two separate
occasions. A customer whose mother was born in the pub stated that
the ghost had been seen then, some 60 years earlier, but the apparition
was clearly wearing a white apron, not a dress, though the description
was similar to that seen in the 1970`s. During 1974 two other customers
also saw the ghost sitting at the bar, but `only for about half
a minute. She simply faded away`. Top
The
Blackcountry, West Midlands
DUDLEY CASTLE
Castle Road
Dudley
It would be disappointing if a castle such as this, which was included
in the Doomsday Book and has had a long chequered history, was not
haunted. In 1934 Mr. T. Bloomer of Dudley reported seeing. ` two
elderly people come round from the keep dressed in either seventeenth
or eighteenth century clothes. They were walking arm-in-arm and
the man held a crooked walking stick. and wore a very tall hat.
They went straight past and up into the keep. I followed them, but
there was know-one there.`
On a number of occasions the inexplicable sound of the clash of
steel has been heard, and human-like mummurings` have been reported,
but officials of the Dudley Zoological Society, which is house within
the walls of the castle, claim that such incidents can be attributed
to the animals. They also state that the most recent occurrence
in 1977 actually was the sighting of one of their white peacocks,
but, surely the witness, a 19 year old working in the restaurant,
would know the difference between an albino bird and `the shape
of a woman in a white gown`, which is what he reported to the police.
And a peacock would not, I'm sure, produce the fright from which
the youngster suffered, and it could hardly be responsible for the
`weird noises` which accompanied the human-shape figure. The police
were impressed enough to visit the zoo and the castle to `check`
out the report` and they don't normally waste their time. Top
Gloucestershire,
Midlands
BERKELEY ARMS
Church Street
Tewsbury
Gloucestershire
In 1974 hopes of finding the cause for mysterious footsteps walking
along an upstairs corridor were raised when it was decided to remove
an old wall at the top of the building. The wall faced a stairway
the site of the inexplicable noise of someone unseen walking slowly,
but boldly, until reaching the brick work. On demolishing the wall,
a small room was revealed, full only of musty cobwebs and two history
books of England dated 1820. This discovery has in no way affected
the invisible walker who continues his evening stroll towards the
rear of the building. Weird tapping noises also continue to be heard
above the ceiling of the bathroom, suggesting that there is even
more to be revealed. Top
BLACKFRIARS PRIORY
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
'A massive Dominican priory complex built in 1239 with a church,
and east and south cloister range and a study dormer'is how the
Department of the Environment describe this ruin open to the public
only in August, 1979. In 1530 the partially destroyed buildings
were purchased by a Mr. Bell who turned then into a cloth and cap
factory. This resulted in the construction of individual houses
being actually incorporated into the structure of the priory and
some of these house are still private residences.
Whilst restoration work has been carried out during the last ten
years, a previous unknown 'dungeon'or immurement cell was discovered
which contained the ancient skeleton of a young child, It is this
fact that witnesses seem somehow to associate with the sightings
of the figure of a monk in a black habit, a survivor perhaps of
the Blackfriars. Although the Department of the Environment cannot
obviously substantiate stories of the hunting, certain workers commented
on hut doors `mysteriously locking themselves` and one or two of
the work force reported seeing the monk near the site of the underground
room. Top
GATECOMBE PARK
Nailsworth
Gloucestershire
In M June, 1976 came the announcement that this 730 acre estate
had been purchased as a new home for Princess Anne and Captain Mark
Phillips. There was no announcement, except in the Daily Express,
however, that the road in which the main gates to the estate lie
is genuinely haunted by a headless dog nearly the size of a labrador.
Joe Hattersall, a local expert in folklore, who lives near the entrance
to the mansion is quoted as saying `I've seen it four times. It
moves fast and silently, then brushes up against you, and one doesn't
hand about when it happens`. Another witness to the unusually frightening
incident was Fred Webb who saw it when driving down the road. It
sounds like the sort of story perpetuated by estate managers or
game wardens to scare away poachers but, in this instance, both
witnesses are sound and reliable local residents. The case is even
more peculiar due to the fact that the dog has been seen on four
occasions by one of the witnesses. Top
KING ARMS HOTEL
Market Square
Stow-on-the-Wold
Gloucestershire
During by brief but enjoyable visit to the town a few years ago
I learnt that the ` Kings Arms` Hotel, a 500 year old Posting House
which has so perfectly preserved its character and tradition, contained
a ghost. Unfortunately, not that of King Charles I who stayed there
on 8 May 1645, but an old lady who sits in the lounge. It was, therefore
with considerable interest that I received a letter from Mr. S.
Hemmingway of Chester-le-Street, via a fellow researcher for it
described his experience in the hotel in July, 1962. He, his wife
and two friends had decided to break their journey to Torquay by
staying a night in the hotel and departing early the following morning.
Shortly after they arrived they went for a short walk and returned
for dinner some ten minutes before it was served at 7. p.m. As they
were about to enter the lounge, 'A small boy of about seven year
old darted in front of me', said Mr. Hemmingway, 'and I followed
to see what the room was like. The lounge was fitted with old fashioned
furniture and fittings in keeping with the rest of the hotel, except
of course for a television set against the wall. It was this that
had attracted the youngster`.
`The only other person in the room was an old lady sitting on a
large armchair near the window opposite the doorway in which I was
standing. She was dressed in black and had lovely grey hair, made
up on top of her head, and a chain with a pendant was round her
neck. she seemed to be looking at me, but the lad was, understandably,
too interested in the film to take any notice of us.` Mr. Hemmingway
withdrew, closing the door behind him with the intention of asking
his wife to come into the lounge. `Where we could keep the old lady
company`. My wife agreed and she went through the doorway first
and as I followed I noticed with astonishment that the only other
occupant of the room was the boy. The old woman could not have come
out of the room without me seeing her, for I was standing in the
hallway, in front of the door. He made no comment about the incident
until halfway through dinner when the experience was related amidst
much laughter and scorn. About 9.30 p.m., with no-one having bothered
to switch out the lights, a waitress was summoned for a round of
drinks. As she entered the room she asked, `what's the matter with
the lights, Has the old lady switched then off again?` This comment,
naturally provoked enquiry.
The information given was that there had been a legend about the
haunting for some time, but as far as was known the only witness
had been the proprietess of the hotel herself. The guests learnt
that there had been one or two incidents of poltergeist activity
in which electric fires had been switched on and off and doors opened
of there own accord. In the letter, Mr. Hemmingway confirmed that,
at the time he saw the figure of the old woman, he, `Did not think
for one moment that he was looking at anything other than a human.
The experience was in know way frightening. She was the sort of
lady anyone would wish one's mother to look like. Top
PUESDOWN INN
High Street
Compton Abdale
Gloucestershire
One more than one occasion the figure of a man `in dark clothes`
seated on a horse has been silently riding away from the driveway
of this old coaching inn, claimed to date from the thirteenth century.
More often are heard inexplicable footsteps and weird scuffling
noises in one of the rooms over the main doorway. Both phenomena
are thought to be connected with the story of a highwayman who,
having been shot, returned here for sanctuary, but his wounds proved
fatal and he died during the night. Top
SHAW GREEN LANE
Prestbury
Gloucestershire
Although the village of Prestbury once challenged Pluckley as being
the ` most haunted village in England`, the only modern ` available`
ghost is that which frequents this road. The phantom is that of
the faint outline of a rider ` looking like a Cavalier` on a white
stallion, though usually the haunting is merely the sound of a horses`
hooves. These are heard during spring mornings and are thought to
be those made by a messenger to the Royalist during the Battle of
Tewkesbury seven miles away. Top
SUDELEY CASTLE
Winchcombe
Gloucestershire
Despite its history of royal attachments dating from the twelfth
century, Katherine Parr being a resident here at one time, the only
known ghost who remains is that of a former housekeeper known as
`Janet`. A former secretary to the owner saw the woman in a mop
cap, a white blouse, a long skirt in faded pink and white cotton
which reached to her ankles and black shoes, gently moving about
the ` needlework bedroom`. She has also been seen standing in the
main bedroom and coming out of the Rupert Room, by a number of visitors.
Early in 1975, two of the first tourists of the season saw the apparition
in the main bedroom. `Janet` once lived in a cottage in Rushley
Lane and was deeply devoted to the castle. `She would have been
heartbroken to leave it`. I was assured. Top
TUDOR HOUSE HOTEL
High Street
Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire
I was delighted to be allowed to sleep in the haunted bedroom here
where, I was assured by the owner Mr. Diglang, that some guests
had seen ` the vague figure of a woman dressed in a long white gown.
She has been witnessed on several occasions but disappears on reaching
the doorway`. Another ghost seen only a couple of times is that
of a black labrador that stands on the main staircase landing. Described
as ` probably the best building in Tewkesbury` by the Society for
the Preservation of Ancient Buildings, it was constructed in 1540,
became the Court of Justice and, some year later, the Reverend Samuel
Jones formed an Academy here. Top
Leicestshire,
The Midlands
BELPHER ARMA
High Street
Newton Burgoland
Leicestershire
Sudden inexplicable drop in temperature near the original site of
the fireplace and two unusual `feelings` have been experienced here
on many occasions. The unpleasant sense of being suffocated by an
unseen hand has been encountered, not only by customers but a relative
of the landlord. 'Something jumping on the bed'was also reported
by members of the landlord's family when using a particular bedroom.
Top
MOODY INN
Belmesthorpe
Leicestershire
According to tradition this little pub was built on the site of
an ancient monastery equipped with a 30 feet deep well. During the
last 20 years the ghostly figure of a hunchback has been seen occasionally
by residents near the bricked up well in the yard. Mrs. Bradbury,
wife of the licensee in 1971, said that she too had witnessed the
phantom, usually late in the evening just before locking up. Top
Northamptonshire,
The Midlands
BLACK LION INN
Abington Street
Northamptonshire
Lighting problems, the movement of a beer barrel, a mysterious mist
and rattling doors were earlier manifestations of a poltergeist
nature experienced here. But a few years ago one of the licencees,
on entering his bedroom, saw the figure of a man accompanied by
a large dog. Assuming that the visitor was a potential thief he
told him to , `Get out of here. Who are you? Upon which both figure
vanished. Terry Canning a more recent licensee told me that after
an investigation from local `psychic research group` during which
they saw a peculiar flickering light in the cellar and an unusual
shadow, he heard the sound of a baby crying. This would not be unusual
except for the fact that the hotel was empty on both occasions and
his own child was fast asleep. In 1892 Andrew McRae, a former owner
of the building, was sentenced to death for killing his mistress
and their baby . Top
BLAKESLEY HALL
Blaseley
Northamptonshire
A few years ago whilst decorating a bedroom of this fifteenth century
yeoman farmhouse the owners discovered some ancient wall paintings
with a strong religious motif. The assumption is that it was used
as a form of refuge from religious persecution and could have been
a private chapel for there is a tunnel leading from the house to
the local church. More than once visitors and friends whilst walking
in the grounds, have witnessed the ghost of a woman in a `bluish
gown` who seems to be looking for something. Legend has it that
she is a mother searching for her child but no actual facts are
known about the haunting. During a party a few years ago one of
the guests glanced at another member of the group who was talking
to a `strange looking fellow`. A few minutes later the woman, suddenly
became ill and nearly fainted. On enquiry she admitted that the
man she had been talking to `suddenly disappeared - just vanished
`in front of her. She had been puzzled by the fact that he never
said anything at all. Only the host recognised the figure of the
man. He was, in fact portrayed in an old family painting in another
part of the building and had been dead for over 150 years. Top
HARTWELL
Northamptonshire
Few travellers cross the M1 from Hartwell to Salcey Forest and on
to the A50, but a couple of occasions in the last few years picnickers
and walkers among the woods have heard the disturbing sound of an
invisible coach and horses careering through the trees. The local
legend is that there used to be a phantom monk as well as the ghost
of Nell Gwynne, who frequents the site of the manor house. Top
LYRIC THEATRE
Midland Road
Wellingborough
Northamptonshire
Although this building was only constructed in 1935 the phantom
that haunts it is, it seems, well authenticated and has been witnessed
by many people. As usual it is difficult to identify. Some believe,
somewhat irrationally, that it is of someone buried on the site,
which was originally the graveyard of a Congregational Chapel. Other
state that it is the ghost of a manager who got into financial difficulties
and hung himself. Even more illogical is another tale concerning
a soldier who was killed in the first world war but who lived in
a cottage on part of the original site. Descriptions differ only
slightly. Mrs. West saw it as, `A white shadow which moved from
one side of the foyer balcony to another and then vanished`. Mrs.
Mansfield who told the 'Evening Telegraph' of her experience in
1969, said that she saw it as `a white face` on two occasions in
the same locality. In 1971 one or two customers whilst playing bingo
were distracted from the fervour of the game by seeing the same
`white shape flit across the balcony`. A few days later, night cleaners
reported `weird and inexplicable tapping somewhere on the balcony`,
an ideal site from which to hang oneself surely? Top
THE SHIP INN
High Street
Oundle
Northamptonshire
Many years ago a landlord here killed himself by jumping from an
upstairs window and ever since, though infrequently, visitors and
a member of the staff have felt something brush past them on the
stairs. Centre of `a disturbing atmosphere` is bedroom ` where few
people are able to enjoy a full night's sleep and Joan Forman, a
fellow writer, found it to be `curious, restless with disturbing
quality`. Top
SOUTHWICK HALL
Southwick
Near Oundle
Northamptonshire
This fourteenth century Manor house, owned by the Capron family,
is thought to house the burial certificate of Queen Mary, for the
family were Catholic during the Elizabethan times and were closely
associated with nearby Fotheringay and the support for the Scottish
queen. The ghost of a woman was seen in the chapel by Miss Capron
fairly recently and described as a tall, slim woman wearing a dark
grey or blue dress with a collar pointed at the back. She walked
to the alter, where she stood for a second or so and then moved
through the Priests` Room and to a staircase where she vanished.
Joan Forman in her 'Haunted East Anglia' tells of her visit to another
haunted site, that of the Oak Room, where the phantom of a child
has been witnessed. Top
TALBOT HOTEL
Oundle
Northamptonshire
There are very few witnesses to the ghost that haunts this hotel
but several guests have commented, or complained about, `peculiar
wailing`, or `a woman sobbing` in a bedroom known to be empty at
the time. One gentleman was also slightly disturbed to hear footsteps
walk past him in an upstairs corridor, though there was nothing
to see. The only description of the phantom is that supplied by
a guest standing by the reception counter one evening. Because she
was intrigued by the clothing of the woman, she enquired as to her
identity and was astonished to learn that the hotel was empty that
night. `The figure was wearing a fawn-coloured dress with what looked
like a white blouse and small cap. There was also a dainty apron
on the front of the long dress and I thought at first she might
be a maid in a weird uniform. The ghost has also been observed looking
down into the yard from a window on the landing. Top
Nottinghamshire,
The Midlands
A.A. HEADQUARTERS
Fanum House
484 Derby Road
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Although some 3000 motorists and travellers visit these offices
during each summer, the apparition had only been seen on six occasions
during the last ten years. It is hardly surprising for it is only
seen at night, usually at about one in the morning. Definite inexplicable
footsteps have been heard on the first floor by the majority of
the night staff and sometimes an unusual crashing sound is heard
for which there is no apparent cause. I spoke to an AA official
whilst participating in the BBC Radio Programme `Late Night Extra`
a couple of years ago and he confirmed that he had seen the figure
of a man in a dark grey suit in an upstairs office, only a few week
earlier. The phantom has been recognised as the area supervisor
who suddenly collapsed and died in his office at 5.30 p.m. Apparently
he had been working for too many hours without a break and his heart
failed. Top
HIPPO RESTAURANT
Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
According to the local paper 'Guardian Journal' in February 1971
poltergeist activity was experienced here for some months and then,
as usual. stopped as mysteriously as it started. Shortly afterwards
however, Brian Palmer, the manager at the time went to lock the
basement one evening and saw apparently sitting at one of the tables
a man 'wearing a Quaker costume with a dark coat and a large hat'.
Slightly disturbing though was that the face seemed to have no features
'It was just an oval mist'. Other members of the staff and a few
late customers have commented on the footsteps which they hear walking
towards a particular table. The basement room was only discovered
in 1969 when the building was being renovated and is thought to
be connected with nearby ancient caves. Top
NORTH WILFORD POWER STATION
Wilford Road
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
Considering the fact that some parapsychologists think that ghosts
are a form of electricity it is not really surprising that electric
generating plants maybe associated with phantoms. There is one station,
at Roundshaw in Croydon, in which the sounds of children` voices
have been heard, and also this building in Nottingham where a figure
of a man has been seen. Described by Sam Pykett who witnessed the
apparition in November, 1967, it appears as `a little fellow wearing
a check shirt, a blue bib overall and a cap. I also remember that
he had widest eyes and rather thick lips`. Sam continues, `I was
on the 10 p.m. shift and had just shut down the pumps in the Screen
Room, where the water from the river is filtered and pumped through
to cool the turbines, when I thought I heard something. I couldn't
see anything so I went on clearing up the leaves away from the screens
when suddenly, standing by the door there was a figure. It smiled
turned and went through the closed door. It was all over in about
five seconds. Just then I realised how cold I had become. It was
icy. So factual was the incident that Sam entered it in the daily
report sheet and told the foreman, Senior members of the maintenance
team interviewed him, feeling perhaps that he was overwrought. He
convinced the officials but was surprised when one of them, having
heard the description of the apparition again said `That's old George.
He used to work here but he's been dead for some years`. He had
worked at the power station for some 25 years and was doing the
same job that Sam was carrying out.
This was not the only appearance of `Old George`, however, for he
was seen by another of the team on afternoon shift in the Turbine
Room, But this time the apparition, in an overall, walked behind
a pillar and vanished. Most recently other workers have commented
on occasionally seeing the figures of 'a little chap wearing a check
shirt'in the same area but, 'it or rather he doesn't worry us. He
doesn't stay long enough'.Top
TOWN HALL
High Street
East Retford
Nottinghamshire.
One evening during 1975 a cleaner working in the empty Town Hall
was startled to see the vague figure of someone in `a flowery hat,
or perhaps a wig` bending over a desk in one of the committee rooms.
She switched on the light and the apparition faded away. Some weeks
later, the town clerk of East Retford was checking over some papers
in the same room when he suddenly went `icy cold`. Glancing at his
watch he realised that it was the exact time that the other member
of the staff had witnessed the ghost. There have been tales of a
former judge haunting the building for some years but these are
the first recent incidents which strengthened the belief. Both these
recent witnesses were so convinced of the authenticity of the phenomena
that they reported the case to the BBC radio programme `Down Your
Way` during a visit in 1978. Top
WILFORD AMBULANCE STATION
Wilford Road
Nottingham
Nottinghamshire
When research into phenomena is called for, librarians and fellow
investigators often prove to be valuable. Such is the case here
for Colin Smith, of the Midland Association of Ghost Hunters, and
Mr. G. Denison, the local librarian were responsible for kindly
providing information concerning the haunting of the Ambulance Station
and the nearby power station at North Wilford. As recently as November
1973, two of the ambulance men witnessed the ghost of ` A little
chap who walked into the toilet, but there was no -one there when
I went in to check`. Dave Hatton, another member of the team reported,
`We were on nights and I was in the cab of the ambulance. I was
suddenly aware of a black shadow moving at the side of me and, thinking
it was my mate, began talking about one of the incidents that had
happened earlier in the day. When he didn't answer I jumped out
to see where he'd gone but he was in the telephone room and had
never left it`. Odd noises of doors closing by themselves and unusual
footsteps having been heard confirm, at least to the ambulance men,
that their 18 year station also houses a ghost. Top
Staffordshire,
The Midlands
BLITHFIELD HALL
Near Rugeley
Staffordshire
At one time even recently, no less than five ghosts haunted this
magnificent Elizabethan manor. Now it appears that the main 'Grey
Lady of Blithfield' has ceased her visitations, having last been
seen in September, 1970 and the `creepy wailing` which was once
heard at the site of a well in the garden has not been reported
for many years. Another unseen phantom is that which still creates
the sound of 'rustling skirts` or even a priests robes. The noise
is heard most frequently at approximately 11.20 p.m. along the lower
gallery. First seen in 1973 was another unknown but visible apparition,
standing in the main drawing room. It was three o'clock in the afternoon
when a cleaner entered the room to see a man dressed in dark clothing
staring at the floor. He was also idly rubbing an unusual ring on
a finger of his left hand, but 'faded away' as he was approached.
The other ghost is that of a woman 'with a long frock, with what
looks like a grey mackintosh over it and a flat straw bonnet', who
walks near some azalea bushes in the eastern sector of the garden.
Top
GLADSTONE POTTERY MUSEUM
Uttoxeter Road
Longton
Stoke on Trent
Staffordshire
One of the custodians here told Julian Dunn of BBC Radio 2, in 1978
that up to a few weeks earlier he had dismissed the idea of ghost
as `ridiculous`. But one evening, about 5.45, he was checking through
the building to make sure no visitors had accidentally been locked
in, when he noticed the figure of an old man near one of the benches.
'He was grey-haired with side whiskers and wearing a short brown
coat, like a smock. I called out to him, pointing out that we were
closed and he faded away. I found it hard to believe what I had
seen'. Later, however, the official checked with other members of
the staff and learnt that some of them has also seen the phantom.
Even a late visitor pointed out that 'there's an old chap still
in there'. When he left the building, but nothing was found. The
first witness believes that the old gentleman is one of the former
pottery craftsmen who originally worked in the early Victorian Potbank
in which the museum is housed. Top
RAVENHILL
(Thorn Automation)
Rugeley
Staffordshire
The first major book written about the well-known prisoner of war
camp 'Colditz'featured in a very popular television feature, was
dedicated to Colonel Gut German D.S.O., T.D. His wife Rosemary German,
is but one of the many witnesses to the ghost of a little grey lady
who haunts this 130 year old building which now forms a drawing
office within the large complex owned by Thorn Automation. In 1975,
Colin Smith of Birmingham received a fascinating letter from a former
resident of he house, Mr. Thomas H. Gardner of Wolseley Bridge in
which he provides a wealth of information, and kind permission to
publish the details. The house, set in 32 acres of fields, and a
magnificent garden with two streams, was his mother's pride and
with the warmth and friendliness of the staff, the whole environment
provided ` a very happy start to life` for Thomas and his two brothers.
The family moved there in 1921 and only departed in 1935 on the
death of Mr. Gardner senior. It was during this time that Rosemary
German witnessed the ghost. She had been invited to stay at Ravenhill
for a few nights and one evening, just before dinner, as the Gardners
were walking down the stairs, Rosemary came rushing up to them.
She was flustered and explained that she thought that she had been
the only guest. On entering the drawing room and finding an `elderly
lady sitting by the fireside` she realised that she was not alone
and, because of convention would need to be introduced in the proper
manner. The Gardners were puzzled and denied any knowledge of the
unknown visitor and there was no further sign of the old woman when
the three entered the room. However, Mrs. Gardner had to admit that
she had seen the phantom herself in the same room, some time earlier,
as had the governess, Miss Gallivan. Thomas's younger brother when
`about seven years old` and sharing the night nursery suddenly woke
his brothers having been scared by a peculiar incident. From a small
space between the wardrobe and the wall, dimly illuminated by the
passage night light shining through the half open door, he had seen
a folded umbrella being slowly raised and pointed by an extended
bare arm in the direction of the windows on the opposite side of
the room. Was this a nightmare? Perhaps, but the lad never forgot
the experience and still feels that it was in some way connected
with the `elderly lady`. There were also tales of a ghostly coach
and pair having been seen on the drive, but none of the Gardners
ever saw it.
The letter from Mr. Gardner was in response to a report from a member
of Thorn Automation that he had been surprised to see one evening,
when he was working late, the figure of , `An old woman sitting
in one of the offices near a sealed up fireplace`. On entering the
room to enquire as to the identity of the unknown visitor the apparition
`just vanished`. Top
STAGS HEAD
Vicarage Road
Penn Common
Wolverhampton
Staffordshire
In December, 1972, Harold Irwin confirmed that his pub was definitely
haunted. `We are happy family` he said, `my wife, children and myself,
and a lady in white`. The lady he referred to was the ghost seen
by his daughter, Christine, sitting on a beer barrel in a corner
of the bar lounge. The fact that several customers have also witnessed
the lady strengthened the claim. She is seen to be wearing a demure
Victorian gown, rather out of place perhaps under the circumstances,
but nevertheless her appearance is fitting for, according to the
local belief, she is the wife of a vicar who was keen on `nipping
out for a pint between sermons`. But the vicar and his wife in this
case must be rather eccentric characters for in the strict moral
environment of Victorian prudery, a lady to be seen in a bar was
`really beyond the pale` and to be accompanied by a clergyman must
have caused a lot of embarrassment. Why the lady haunts the place
is a mystery but as she did in life so in death one assumes, though
what happened to the vicar, one wonders? Top
TAMWORTH CASTLE
Tamworth
Staffordshire
This Norman motte which was built on foundations of a Saxon fort
built by the daughter of Alfred the Great, but now, under the control
of the Weal Corporation, houses a fascinating banquet hall and the
ghost of a woman. She is occasionally witnessed on the narrow, rather
gloomy, staircase leading to the Tower Room and in the room itself.
Strange moans and indistinguishable `whisperings` have been heard
and recorded. The phantom appears as `the vague shape of a woman
in a white dress and dark grey shoes`. There are also reports that
she is seen in a nearby meadow. Top
Wawickshire,
Midlands
BROWNSOVER HALL HOTEL
Brownsover
Near Rugby
Warwickshire
Wine and Dine in the Phantom Coach Restaurant` is the recommendation
of the owners of this haunted hotel, for the phantom and associated
`ghostly happenings` have occurred so frequently that the staff
now fully accept the phenomena as 'just one of those things` Legend
has it that in time of Elizabeth I', a one-armed ancestor of the
family known as 'One Handed Boughton'used to drive round his estate
quite capably in a coach and six . For some unknown reason when
he died the multiple apparition of his coach with six horses and
the old man continued. In 1755 the family decided to rid the property
of the `frightening apparition` and called on the services of a
vast team of clergymen to carry out an exorcism. The service was,
apparently only temporarily successful. One of the weird rite carried
out by the Rector of Harborough Magna one of the participants, was
to persuade 'the spirit to enter a bottle which was quickly sealed
and thrown into a lake in the grounds'.
In the 1880`s the container was discovered by a fisherman and returned
to the family, And of course rumours restarted that footsteps were
being heard and the sound of horses hooves `clomping over the fields
from Lawford Hall` Nevertheless, the bottle itself was still to
be seen in 1964 in a cupboard when Browsover Hall was used as the
head office of the diesel engine division of English Electric Group
of companies. When they left the bottle taken by Mrs. Boughton -
Leigh a survivor of the original family, back to her house at Lawford
Hall. In 1939, Sir Frank Whittle . father of the modern jet engine,
set up a research establishment in the hall, but the introduction
of modern science in the ancient walls had no effect on the haunting.
Night watchmen from nearby Lutterworth and Whetstone constantly
heard footsteps and the sound of voices when the building was empty.
On one occasion a night cleaner swore that he heard talking and
groaning coming from the tower which still forms an integral portion
of the house. Mr. Nairn, a nigh watchman at the hall refused to
accept that the place was haunted, attributing the noises to the
scrabbling of jackdaws in the chimney. His wife however was convinced
of the existence of the ghost. Confirming Mrs. Nairns belief is
the statement of another watchman, Mr. Dunkley. He had been sitting
in the hall one night when he suddenly heard hoofbeats and the sound
of wheels on the drive. On opening the front door to see who or
what was calling, his dog Judy, who accompanied him, snarled, bristled
and fled. The drive was empty. Many other members of the staff have
seen and heard examples of the haunting John Flavell an ex-Guardsman,
felt something unseen brush past him and later heard the sound of
a chair scraping on the floor of the empty conference room. Mr.
Prestidge, heard footsteps and the sound of horses on the drive
and those sounds can still be experienced. Top
CHURCH LAWFORD
Church Lawford
Warwickshire
Instead of using the motorway linking Rugby to Coventry, drive on
this former main route between the two towns and one is likely,
at Church Lawford, in the evenings to see a large lorry with dim
headlights coming straight at you on the wrong side of the road.
Brake and pull up if you must, but fear not, for this vehicle is
a phantom and will continue its silent journey. Turn round and it
will have vanished. Several unfortunate motorists have over-compensated
and driven into a ditch or spun the wheel to the right and hit a
real vehicle. Top
ETTINGTON PARK HALL COUNTRY CLUB
Stratford - on- Avon
Warwickshire
Inexplicable footsteps walking along an empty corridor in the early
hours, invisible material stroked over the face of a guest in a
bedroom and the phantom lady in white have all been experienced
in this ancient manor house. The lady, wearing a long gown know
as 'Lady Emma'has been witnessed walking along the cloister-like
terrace beside the arched entrance and by one of the staff in 1975
when she was seen to vanish on reaching the wall. `She was a very
old lady` I was told, `and was gliding along the hallway. When she
reached the wall it seemed as if she melted into it`. Top
GATE INN
Mill Street
Sutton Coldfield
Warwickshire
There are not many serious ghost hunters in the country, but one
does spend a lot of time in this sometimes exciting occupation is
Colin Smith, founder of the Midlands Association of Ghost Hunters
and Author of 'The Haunted Midlands'. A recent case that he investigated
was that affecting the Gate Inn which he believes is at least 163
years old. `It could have been a toll house before then` he told
me. One of the celebrities who joined Colin in a ghost hunt in March
1975, later reported by Chris Bohn in the 'Sutton and Erdington
News', was the well-known guitarist Bert Weedon, accompanied by
his wife Margaret. The ghost was first seen by Mrs. Val Bevan, the
licensee's wife at 8.30 one morning. 'I turned round think my husband
had walked in` she said, ` but saw instead the figure of a man dressed
like a cavalier. He stood there for a about 10 seconds and then
just faded away. It didn't frighten me at all`. Two people have
had some unusual experiences whilst in toilets. One, a man thought
he heard someone knocking on the door but found no-one outside,
and the other victim, a lady, saw the bolt slide back of its own
accord and the door open. A former landlady, Mrs. Gough, told Mr.
Smith that her son Paul used to enquire about a man who often entered
his bedroom. `He is such a nice man, bigger than daddy, with a read
cloak`. Paul was nine years old at the time.
Colin himself carried out a long wait for the phantom to appear
and, incredibly, between 4 and 5 in the morning both he and Mrs.
Bevan saw 'a hazy, human form about six feet from the table. It
didn't move, just stayed there for about 15 - 20 seconds'. He stressed
that neither he nor his colleague had anything to drink during their
vigil. It was interesting to learn that when Margaret Weedon a complete
stranger to Sutton Coldfield, walked into the pub she went straight
to the door where the phantom had been seen and said `I suddenly
became very cold`, suggesting that she too is sensitive to vibrations`.
Top
HARROW HILL
Long Compton
Warwickshire
Late in 1879 James Haywood, a farm worker, was accused of killing
Anne Tennant an 80 year old woman because he said 'She had bewitched
me and there are 16 other witches in the same area who deserve the
same fate'. The murderer was brought before Baron Bramwell at Warwick
Assizes in January 1880 and found insane and unfit to plead. Within
a stones throw of the site of the murder at Harrow Hill lies Lower
Quinton where in 1945 7.5 year old Charles Walton was slain by a
pitch fork, the ancient method of disposing of witches. This murder
was never solved though the police superintendent at the time had
suspicions. A few miles away at Westwood Common, Nanny Morgan, another
old woman with a reputation of being a witch, was killed by an eel
spear in 1875 by William Davies. It seems that Harrow Hill and its
environs is really a centre for witchcraft especially as the nearby
ancient monument of the Rollright Stones was the site of 'black
mass'held by a group seen to be practising 'disgusting rituals'in
1949. At nine o'clock one morning in November of that year two furniture
delivery men arrived to unload a purchase of goods to a house nearby
and stopped in a lay-by near the bottom of the hill for 'a quick
cuppa'.
Suddenly the `tatty figure of a hideous looking old woman, at least
70 year old with grey matted hair and filthy old black shawl` mysteriously
appeared in front of the van. As she glided past the vehicle, both
men watched, wondering where she had come from. They were so puzzled
as to her inexplicable arrival that they got out of the van intending
to see where the old woman was going to, but, according to the foreman,
` she had vanished. The road was empty`. Was she one wonders, the
ghost of Anne Tennant, known to be of Romany stock and who had a
dislike of washing? Mrs. Downes of Long Compton confirms in a letter
that `The ghost of an old woman has confronted villagers several
times` , she believes it to be the ghost of poor old Annie. In a
fascinating article in the monthly magazine 'Alpha' of July 1979
Dr G.V. Robins provides proof of the existence of some pulsating
forces emanating from the group of Rollright Stones. Might this
be the catalyst that enable witnesses to see ghosts? Top
HARTSHILL CASTLE
Hartshill
Warwickshire
One evening in 1976 a couple were walking past this ruined Elizabethan
mansion standing in the middle of the village when the woman suddenly
stopped and said ` Who's That?`. A few yards away was the figure
of a lady in a black silk dress and ` a white apron down to her
knees`. The husband, unable to see the apparition or at least he
said he was, tried to reassure his wife, when the ghost suddenly
disappeared. Unbeknown to each other was the fact that the lady
with the silk dress has been seen several times, on so many occasions
that timid villagers are reluctant to go anywhere near the old buildings.
Mr. J. Moore of Harshill, on being interviewed by the local 'Chronicle'
stated that his family had lived in the `castle` for over two hundred
years but now in such a state of disrepair it is used merely as
a store in connection with a small holding. When his younger brother
saw the ghostly figure some years ago he appealed to `The Bishop
to carry out an exorcism`, but this was never carried out. `She
would come so close that she almost brushed by and you could hear
the rustle of her dress`. Over 50 years ago Mr. Moore`s grandfather
discovered a subterranean passage leading from the building to nearby
Merevale Hall and his mother told him that there was a skeleton
in the tunnel, the remains of the last man who tried to walk the
passage. Or could it be the phantom female is connected with the
skeleton in some way?. Top
PARISH CHURCH
Church Lane
Ilmington
Warwickshire
Whilst attending a conference on the subject of poltergeist phenomena
at Offchurch in September 1979, I learnt that the church at Ilmington
is haunted by a former parish clerk. He has been seen `about half
a dozen times in the last few years, once by the verger`. I was
also assured by a lady in the village that a friend of hers, whilst
arranging flowers on the altar, had seen the figure of the middle-aged
gentleman, Edward Golding, walking towards her. `As he got near
me`, she said, ` he faded away as if one was turning off a television
programme`. Top
Birmingham,
Central Midlands
ALEXANDRA THEATRE
Stafford Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
Though nothing is seen here the 'presence' of a former director,
Leon Salberg, is 'definitely felt'standing at the back of the stalls.
More tangible is the sound of soft footsteps of a former wardrobe
master who died in his office one night. The current wardrobe mistress
is one of the members of the team who has heard the `gentleman pattering
from over concrete to wood along a passage leading to the room where
the old man was found`. The master always wore carpet slippers for
some unknown reason and the floor which he still frequents has been
carpeted for some time, yet the distinct change in tone is `very
noticeable`. Top
BLACK PATCH PARK
Foundation Lane
Smethwick
West Midlands
Stories of a 'ghostly old woman'haunting this park near Birmingham
Canal, have been in existence for about 50 years. They gained more
credence and authenticity however, when Mrs. Heeley of Warley told
a local research group that the figure of a 'very old woman'had
suddenly appeared in front of the pram containing her four year
old son. `As I moved the pram to walk past her, she just vanished`,
she said. The apparition was wearing a long black dress and surprisingly,
a red cape. She also had ` beautiful long black hair for her age`.
The exact site of the appearance was on a pathway and a few yards
from a narrow bridge. She is thought to be the phantom of `Queen
Henty` a gypsy who was responsible for a Romany encampment in the
park earlier this century. Top
BRISTOL ROAD
Rednal
Birmingham
In a report to Colin Smith, Mrs. Edna Jefferies relates another
instance of a telepathic phantom image being seen within hours of
the death of a friend. In 1966, when a nurse at Bromsgrove General
Hospital she was waiting for a number 144 `bus to take her to work
for the afternoon duty when she saw the figure of a friend of hers,
John Bevan walking towards her. As it was some three years since
they had actually met, she rather wondered whether he had recognised
her. She smiled and greeted him, Hello John, what brings you to
this neck of the woods?'. Edna was shocked at the response for John
ignored her and continued to look straight ahead. 'Very intensely
and never glanced at me. He looked terribly ill, and I called his
name again'. The 'bus arrived and with great concern she boarded
the vehicle and anxious to see her friend again she looked through
the window but the road was empty'. No shops, no side road John
had vanished'. Later that day when she came off duty she met another
mutual friend and told him of seeing John Bevan and her concern
over his appearance. She described the clothes accurately but was
puzzled as to why she was asked the question concerning his appearance.
`The reason was that John Bevan died here two days ado`, she was
told. This fact was confirmed by a visit to the hospital mortuary.
Perhaps other travellers might have noticed a solitary man who looks`
terribly ill walking towards the 144 `bus stop and then suddenly
disappearing? If so don't be frightened. John Bevan if that is who
it is was a kindly man. Top
BROADCASTING CENTRE
Original BBC Studios
Pebble Mill Road
Birmingham
'One of the largest and most modern television centres in Europe`,
was the boast of the BBC when this expensive broadcasting area was
opened by Princess Anne in November 1971. They made no comment naturally
that during its construction one of the builders had fallen from
the scaffolding and been killed. But in July 1977, the whole incident
was recalled dramatically when the play 'Ritual of Stifling Air'
was being prepared. The producer, Michale Rolfe admitted that during
the recording, strange and mysterious noises were heard and an extremely
unpleasant atmosphere was experienced by many of the cast. This
phenomena was not at first associated with the fatal accident which
had occurred years earlier until on of the BBC employees admitted
at a phone programme on another channel that the dead work man had
been seen on numerous occasions by maintenance staff and security
officers.
Although there have been many programmes produced by the BBC, both
on radio and television dealing with the paranormal, 'Auntie Beeb'
is, it seems, reluctant to publicise the fact that not only does
it have a ghost here in Birmingham but also one in the Langham,
nearly opposite the headquarters in London. However, the ghost which
has been recognised as the victim of the fatal accident at Pebble
Mill remains and one presumes will continues to haunt for some years
yet. Top
CROSS ROADS
Tyburn and Chester Roads
Erdington
Birmingham
West Midlands
It is not always wise to include a case in a book of this nature
if a haunting has only been witnessed by one person, but in certain
cases there is a strong possibility that there are other witnesses
who have reluctant to report their experience. Such is the haunting
of a stone bench situation near Tyburn House. Quite recently, a
nurse from Good Hope Hospital was returning home one Sunday afternoon,
having spent a few quiet minutes resting on one of the benches,
and turned round to check that she had left nothing on the seat.
Sitting on the bench was a misty figure dressed is a long grey garment.
It remained for some 20 seconds before fading away but he witness
was unable to see where the apparition was male or female for the
face was not revealed. A local researcher established that there
were two events which occurred in the nearby area which could have
created the ghost and the 'North Birmingham Times' published his
report. One of the incidents was that of a murder in 1745. A drunken
colonel of the Duke of Cumberland's Regiment, irate at the failures
incurred at Flanders, and at the fact he had left his sword behind
in the hostelry many miles away, grabbed a passing lad and demanded
to know the way to a particular building. Unfortunately, the local
was not only scared by the sight of the war weary troops and the
screaming officer, but had a deformed mouth and was therefore unable
to provide the information. The colonel, believing the man to be
a spy, ordered that he should be decapitated. His body was tossed
into the nearby Pype Hayes Park but the head was thrown into a tree
at New Shipston. The skull was revealed when the tree was felled
in the nineteenth century and the headless skeleton discovered a
week later. The alternative suggestion as to the identity is that
the ghost is of Mary Ashford who was murdered following a Whit Monday
dance at the Tyburn Inn in 1817. A young farmer named Thornton was
tried for the murder but acquitted, but the local populace believing
in his guilt, hounded him to such a degree that he emigrated to
America where he died. A rather interesting postscript is that Erdington
CID borrowed the notes of this case, for another murder occurred
of a young girl on Whit Monday 1974 and the man accused was named
Thorton. He too was acquitted. Both characters lived in Pype Hayes.
Top
POLICE STATION
Coventry Road
Smallheath
Birmingham
West Midlands
Close to the ground of Birmingham City Football Club n St. Andrews,
one finds an imposing Victorian building housing a division of the
local police force. For it has been unusual for officers of the
law to reveal their interest in the paranormal, though some of the
more advanced freely admit not that assistance provided by hypnotists
and clairvoyants has proved valuable in the fight against crime.
At last, realising that extra-sensory faculties do exist in certain
people and phenomena is experienced some members of `the force`
are beginning to release information themselves concerning haunted
property.
One such instance is the station on the Coventry Road where, according
to one senior officer who spoke to the 'Sunday Mercury ' in January
1978 `Doors would slam upstairs when there was no-one up there,
and some of the men were none too keen to investigate the mysterious
noises they heard`. The figure of a woman has also been seen in
the building and from the description given, established as that
of 'Hilda'a former cleaner who died some time ago. Top
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH
Cardworth
Birmingham
West Midlands
Not often seen in the graveyard here is the `tall figure of a woman
in a long green gown`. However, she was witnessed as recently as
1977 and is believed to be the ghost of a relative of a Royalist
Officer buried in a mass grave after a battle during the Civil War.
There are certainly a number of such graves in the area and even
a rumour that there is a `hoard of buried treasure` in the locality.
Top
VICTORIA ROAD
Aston
Birmingham
West Midlands
Walking to wok at 8.15 in the morning on 28th September 1971, along
Victoria Road were two friends. Mrs. Bagley and Mrs. Heath. They
had reached the site of a former police station when they spotted
a woman `in a green frilly gown, standing in the middle of the road`.
Both witnesses were apprehensive for their `bus was approaching
but when only a few feet from the mysterious phantom the green lady
vanished. Months later Mrs. McFarlane, in exactly the same area
but at 9.30 in the evening, was shocked to see a woman in a `Yellowish
green dress suddenly appear at the kerbside, hurriedly cross the
road and disappear as she reached the pavement on the other side.`
Mrs. McFarlane feels the ghost may be that of an usherette from
the Aston Cross Cinema who was killed whilst crossing the road some
years ago. Top
WARLEY ABBEY GROUNDS
Warley Park
Abbey Road
Smethwick
West Midlands
Despite numerous attempts by serious researchers to capture 'The
Grey Lady of Warley'on film, the phantom here refuses to oblige,
yet continues to be witnessed by the occasional evening visitor
to the grounds when, at the time, they were thinking of `nothing
in particular`. She is known to have appeared in the late 1950`s
and in the early 1970`s and is seen as a tall woman wearing a grey
coat. The most frequent area is that of the site of Warley Abbey
constructed in the eighteenth century and demolished in the mid
twentieth century. Some believe she is the phantom of a murdered
heiress to the estate There is certainly some connection with the
original building for she appears where the original front door
was situated, walks along a pathway and vanishes. .Top
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