Ye Olde Salutation Inn, Nottingham

With parts of the building dating back to 1240 this old haunt naturally has many old haunts, including three previous landlords, all named John. The most active spirit, however, is that of a little girl. Named Rosie by the locals, she is estimated to be aged 4 or 5 years old. Numerous gifts, dolls and the like, have been left in the cellar for her and most of the time, she is restful. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security though, Rosie is often far from angelic, as many scratched visitors will tell you.

A40, Pembrokshire

Driving home from his failed date, our protagonist stopped to pick up a female hitchhiker. Things got flirty in the car and the couple decided to pull over and get it on in a roadside public toilet. Class! The driver claimed that he was seduced by his mystery passenger in ways too graphic to describe. During the act, he started to smell something strange, which stuck in his throat and started to choke him. As he gaged, he pushed away his newfound lover. Only, she was no longer the beautiful woman he had picked up, but some ancient, "disgusting old woman with some kind of awful skin condition". He screamed for his life and she vanished into thin air.
This account is included in Ghost Sex by Gavin Davies.

Mermaid Pool, Derbyshire

Set below Kinder Scout, this landlocked pool is home to two mermaids who are only said to show themselves at Easter. For those that see them, one of two fates will befall them - eternal life or dragged to a cold watery grave.

Hannath Hall, Lincolnshire

The previously named, Sparrow's Nest, was bought by Josepth Hannath in 1812. Following the premature death of his wife, he was unable to let go, so kept her corpse in the house for months. During this time, he asked the maids to continue to take his dead wife meals, and tend to her. This drove one maid to the brink, and before Hannath saw sense, the maid committed suicide. It is said to be the maid’s spirit that lingers at the hall. In the late 50s, The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) held a number of well documented investigations at the property. The SPR communicated with a presence through a series of knocks, witnessed a chair flying through the air, and encountered an unnerving incident with a toasting folk.

The Skirrid Inn, Abergavenny

800 years ago, the Inn was used as a courthouse, where 182 felons were hanged from a beam in the building. Many visitors have experienced interactions with hostile entities, many of them feeling the sensation of something tightened around their neck.

Brown's Pie Shop, Lincoln

The ghost of a small boy, Humphrey, is said to haunt this restaurant. He becomes especially mischievous when he is ignored. He has often been seen running through the premises and the sound of his pattering little feet is not uncommon.

Kersey, Suffolk

In October 1957, three Navy Cadets on an orienteering expedition saw the village's smoking chimneys and church spire from their vantage point. Hiking into the village, the church could no longer be seen and the cottages were now timber-framed buildings. No cars, phone wires, TV aerials... and not a living soul in sight. Looking in what looked like a butcher's shop window, they saw rotten oxen, covered in cobwebs. Suddenly, filled with a feeling of dread and sense that their every move was being watched, the boys made a run for it. When they cleared the village, they glanced back... only to see the smoking chimneys and church spire of Kersey.

Manorbier Castle, Pembrokeshire

In late September, as the leaves begin to turn and the nights draw in, the reoccurring apparition of a female, dressed all in black, is often seen near the gatehouse to this 11th Century Castle.

River Severn, Jackfield, Shropshire

Young twins were playing near the river on the Craven Dunnill Tile Works spoil pile one wet winter day, when the river burst its banks and swept away the pile and the unsuspecting twins. Their bodies were later found, still holding hands. Locals say that their cries can still be heard to this day.

Langrick Fen, Lincolnshire

An article published in 1926 told of an account from a local archaeologist who uncovered a human skeleton with a wolfs skull. The archaeologist took the remains home, where he was terrorised from dusk till dawn by a werewolf. He survived by barricading himself in to a room and reinterred the bones where he had found them the following day.

Barkston Signal Box, Lincolnshire

Often seen during the winter months, the apparition of a former signalman frequently crosses the tracks in front of oncoming trains. He approaches the old redundant signal, clearly concerned that it no longer functions.

Public Library, Kings Lynn, Norfolk

Formerly a monastery, the library basement is home to a former resident that refuses to move on. A phantom monk has been seen by several employees, most of which will now only venture into the basement in pairs.

Abington Park Museum, Northamptonshire

A visitor to the museum received the fright of her life when she peered in to a Victorian horse-drawn carriage to see a female phantom passenger staring back at her. The spectre faded and the visitor ran for the exit.

Morfa Colliery, Glamorgan

In the days leading to 10 March 1890, unearthly voices and screams were heard coming from the tunnels. It is thought that they were a warning against the disastrous explosion that killed 87 miners on the morning of the 10th. Tata now occupies the site.

Edgehill, Warwickshire

In 1643, Edgehill hosted the first bloody battle of the English Civil War, where over 1000 men were slaughtered. Many witnesses have seen the ghostly re-enactment of the battle and heard the bone-crunching clash of the opposing armies.

Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire

Dating back to 1071, the castle has a number of resident spirits, the most notorious being that of Mary Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned here on four occasions. She is said to have suffered greatly at Tutbury and detested the place. However, the most prevalent spectre is The Keeper. Always in full armour, he is said to be an authoritative and intimidating figure. There have been numerous accounts of him shouting at visitors 'Get thee hence'. One visitor complained that an angry medieval enactor, adorned in full armour, had shouted at them 'Get over the fence'. Needless to say, there were no such enactors present that day and the visitor likely misheard the instruction.

Blo Norton Hall, Norfolk

A staircase leading to the attic had to be removed from this 16th Century manor as the restless spirit of Gaudy, a former owner who committed suicide there, would stomp up and down the stairs during the night.

Bosley, Cheshire

The stiles around the area are constructed from the Gun Hill gallows, where murderer, John Naden, received his punishment. Naden’s malevolent spirit is said to haunt the stiles, raging in the darkness.

Bretby Business Park, Derbyshire

It’s a cold winter evening when the security guard is approached by a young woman wearing a summer dress, asking for directions to Stapenhill, which he gives her. Thinking her attire strange for the season, he checks the CCTV footage to see if she’s left, he can’t see her so he rewinds the tape. He sees himself speaking and gesturing directions, but there’s not a trace of the young woman on the entire footage.

Plas Mawr House, Conwy

When the novice Dr Dick attempted to deliver a baby, he lost both the mother and child. To escape the house and avoid the husband he used the chimney, but he got stuck and suffocated. His body remains there and can be heard scratching and scraping the walls, still trying to escape.

Cranwell, Lincolnshire

A photograph taken just days after the end of WW1, now referred to as Goddard’s Squadron, shows the faint image of Freddy Jackson peering over the shoulder of the chap, fourth from left on the back row. Three days prior to this picture being taken, Freddy had been killed in a terrible accident at this location. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a closer look at the image.

New England Hotel, Boston, Lincolnshire

Two guests were met outside their door by a man in overalls who told them he was working in the next room, he said he would be twenty minutes and would keep the noise down. For over an hour they could hear sawing and hammering. When the guests complained at reception they were told that there were no workmen on site but the room next to them was reported to be haunted by the ghost of a carpenter who died there in the 1970s.

Castle Hill, Bakewell, Derbyshire

Jim Marlowe, butler at this fine residence, escaped the incessant nagging of his wife by shooting himself one Friday evening. Every Friday, his footsteps can still be heard moving from the pantry, up the staircase to the room in which he died.

Cromer, Norfolk

Before a storm, the bells of St Peter’s church, Shipden, can be heard ringing. However, both the village of Shipden and the church were taken by the sea many, many years ago.

St Mary’s, Burgh St Peter, Norfolk

Desperate to complete the construction of this church, the builder made a deal with the Devil. Once complete, the builder tricked the Devil and never left the grounds of the church so Old Nick couldn’t take his soul. It is said that the builder still lingers in the safety of the church ground and can be seen as a clothed skeleton each year on 2 May. The Devil still waits for him at the threshold.

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