10 Most Haunted Places In The East Of England
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These are the most haunted buildings and locations in the East of England. The spooky locations on this list are in the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Parts of the East are rural parts of the countryside, while the southern part of the region lies in the London commuter belt.
Below are the ten locations in the region that are most famous for their paranormal activity.
10. Thundridge Church, Ware
Photo: © John Salmon
Also known as Cold Christmas Church, after a nearby lane, the building dates back to 1086 and has been the scene of several ghost sightings, the most famous of which occurred in 1978. It wasn't just one ghost that a local woman saw, but an army of ghosts marching out of the church.
The church has a reported history of witchcraft and, as recently as 2009, many have witnessed a ghostly growl coming from the bell tower. Others have seen a mysterious dark figure in a black robe moving silently between the graves in the churchyard.
The church has a reported history of witchcraft and, as recently as 2009, many have witnessed a ghostly growl coming from the bell tower. Others have seen a mysterious dark figure in a black robe moving silently between the graves in the churchyard.
9. The Old Nick Theatre, Gainsborough
There are so many reports of paranormal activity in the building, that used to be a police station and small prison, that some people refuse to enter alone at night, and even in the daytime. The reported phenomenon includes furniture moving, doors slamming, the sound of men and women crying, and reports of people being pushed on the stairs.
Many have witnessed apparitions of faceless policemen as well as convicts, most often wandering around the cells and in the police common room.
Many have witnessed apparitions of faceless policemen as well as convicts, most often wandering around the cells and in the police common room.
8. The Cage, St Osyth
The current owner of this small house, Vanessa Mitchell, who bought the house in 2004, had her first odd experience on the day she moved in to the house. While unpacking, she saw a dark shadow figure, on another occasion she said she was pushed by an unseen force.
The house earned its nickname due to its historical use as a holding cell for witches in the 16th century. 12 local women accused of witchcraft were locked up there, including a witch by the name of Ursula Kemp. She was one of the three women who were eventually found guilty of witch craft, she was hanged for her crimes in 1582.
Some have blamed the ghost of Ursula Kemp for the paranormal activity in the spine chilling house or think that it might be the tortured souls of the plague victims that are coming back to haunt the building. The ghost of the children could be explained by the fact that the witches' offspring would have been locked up with them in The Cage.
Others suspect that the dark energy could be a result of the former resident who took his own life a year before Vanessa moved in to The Cage. Not long after moving in, the former owner who'd hanged himself's death certificate mysteriously appeared in the kitchen while Vanessa was out.
The house earned its nickname due to its historical use as a holding cell for witches in the 16th century. 12 local women accused of witchcraft were locked up there, including a witch by the name of Ursula Kemp. She was one of the three women who were eventually found guilty of witch craft, she was hanged for her crimes in 1582.
Some have blamed the ghost of Ursula Kemp for the paranormal activity in the spine chilling house or think that it might be the tortured souls of the plague victims that are coming back to haunt the building. The ghost of the children could be explained by the fact that the witches' offspring would have been locked up with them in The Cage.
Others suspect that the dark energy could be a result of the former resident who took his own life a year before Vanessa moved in to The Cage. Not long after moving in, the former owner who'd hanged himself's death certificate mysteriously appeared in the kitchen while Vanessa was out.
7. The Red Lion Hotel, Colchester
Photo: © Peter Broster
The Red Lion, dating back to 1465, has such a prolific history of hauntings that for many years the management have enforced a strict preventing staff from mentioning the ghost, fearing the tales might scary away customers. Anyone member of staff caught breaking the rule faced instant dismissal.
The building is said to be haunted by a murder victim by the name of Alice Katherine Millar. She mostly been spotted in rooms five and six, where she's said to have passed through solid walls. Her spirit has also seen been on the stairs and in the hotel's kitchen.
The building is said to be haunted by a murder victim by the name of Alice Katherine Millar. She mostly been spotted in rooms five and six, where she's said to have passed through solid walls. Her spirit has also seen been on the stairs and in the hotel's kitchen.
6. True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum, King's Lynn
Photo: © Basher Eyre
True's Yard is now a fishing museum, housed within two 18th century fishing cottages. It is now home to no less than 38 ghosts. The paranormal activity includes doors slamming on their own, disembodied voices and sudden extreme drops in temperature.
The cottages had a grim past, they witnessed murder, misery and suffering. This is said to have resulted in the many hauntings. The spirit of a young boy is frequently reported and the ghost of a young girl who was murdered by her father.
A poltergeist called Henry has been blamed for repeatedly blowing lightbulbs, knocking paintings off wall and throwing objects around the building. Apparition of children are said to have been seen around the building and a mysterious figure has been seen looking out of one of the windows when the building is empty.
The cottages had a grim past, they witnessed murder, misery and suffering. This is said to have resulted in the many hauntings. The spirit of a young boy is frequently reported and the ghost of a young girl who was murdered by her father.
A poltergeist called Henry has been blamed for repeatedly blowing lightbulbs, knocking paintings off wall and throwing objects around the building. Apparition of children are said to have been seen around the building and a mysterious figure has been seen looking out of one of the windows when the building is empty.
5. Hinchingbrooke House, Huntingdon
A historic house in Cambridgeshire with its routes in the 11th century, that was ravaged by a serious fire in 1830. The house has played host to British kings, queens and nobles for hundreds of years. The earliest known building on the site was the Norman church in the 12th century, by the 13th century it was a priory for benedictines nuns.
The home was converted into a school in the 1970s. During renovations, a worked awoke to an apparition of a monk standing over him. Students and staff claim to have seen phantom apparitions in the library and heard disembodied footsteps throughout the building.
By the early 20th century, reports of paranormal activity began to surface at the house. Shortly after the first war, a woman reported seeing apparitions of nuns on the grand staircase. In the 1940s a younger soldier encountered a ghostly lady in white on the grounds.
There's even two skeletons under the floor in part of the building, still visible today via a trapdoor. The skeletons are those of a nun and her illicit lover, who were murdered for their affair.
The home was converted into a school in the 1970s. During renovations, a worked awoke to an apparition of a monk standing over him. Students and staff claim to have seen phantom apparitions in the library and heard disembodied footsteps throughout the building.
By the early 20th century, reports of paranormal activity began to surface at the house. Shortly after the first war, a woman reported seeing apparitions of nuns on the grand staircase. In the 1940s a younger soldier encountered a ghostly lady in white on the grounds.
There's even two skeletons under the floor in part of the building, still visible today via a trapdoor. The skeletons are those of a nun and her illicit lover, who were murdered for their affair.
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4. Kings Theatre, Newmarket
Photo: facebook.com
Kings Theatre in Newmarket was originally building as a school for girls in around 1875, but was put to use as a hospital during World Wad II. There have been reports of a dark sinister entity roaming the building, as well playful female spirit named Gladys, and a male apparition seen in auditorium. The team also investigate the potential of possible poltergeist activity.
3. Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood
The 1950s nuclear bunker is spread over three floors and is accessible through a 100 meter long access tunnel from an ordinary looking cottage, on closer inspection it's clear the cottage is far from normal, built with thick concrete walls and windows protected by steel shutters.
Visitors to the bunker, which is now a museum, have reported experiencing poltergeist activity, hearing growls and footsteps coming from empty rooms, and even witnessed full apparitions.
During the bunkers construction under order of the Air Ministry in the 1950s, crews are said to have disturbed an ancient burial ground. A foreman also died during the works. His hard hat was found floating in wet concrete, it's thought he was buried alive in the bunker's three meter thick walls. There's also said to be the ghost of a construction worker who committed suicide in the main stairwell.
Visitors to the bunker, which is now a museum, have reported experiencing poltergeist activity, hearing growls and footsteps coming from empty rooms, and even witnessed full apparitions.
During the bunkers construction under order of the Air Ministry in the 1950s, crews are said to have disturbed an ancient burial ground. A foreman also died during the works. His hard hat was found floating in wet concrete, it's thought he was buried alive in the bunker's three meter thick walls. There's also said to be the ghost of a construction worker who committed suicide in the main stairwell.
2. British School Museum, Hitchin
The Dead Street School opened in 1810. The street it was named after got its name after every family living on the road died of the plague, when it swept through Hitchin in 1349. Disease wasn't the only thing to cause mass death on the street. In 1856 the "great fire of Dead Street" destroyed the street, killing many in its path and also burning the school to the ground. A replacement schoolroom opened the following year on the same site.
One guest to the museum saw a man looking over the wall at the raised end of the playground before walking into the toilets. Thinking it was one of their party, they followed him into the toilets only to find they were completely empty. In the main schoolroom, which was once a place of learning for 300 boys, staff have heard disembodied footsteps and frequently report the unnerving sensation that they are not alone.
Through a fire escape in this room and into a back corridor, you'll find the spot where a small, dark shadowy figure was caught on CCTV. Despite many attempts to recreate the phenomena, the cause of the shadow is still a mystery. In a small adjoining classroom, which is now set up to resemble a school room from the time of the Second World War, local paranormal investigators believe they have had intelligent responses from spirits using ghost hunting gadgets.
The gallery classroom is a small, auditorium-style room that would have once had 100 boys crammed into it. Staff have reported hearing the lids of the wooden desks slamming and furniture being dragged around, even while the room has been locked and empty.
Also on the site is the headmaster's house, which the staff refer to as Mr Fitch's house. Fitch was the longest serving headmaster at the school. When he retired he remained in the house and eventually died in the parlour of old age. Since then unexplained footsteps have been heard upstairs when the house is empty, and a shadow figure has been seen walking around the upstairs.
One guest to the museum saw a man looking over the wall at the raised end of the playground before walking into the toilets. Thinking it was one of their party, they followed him into the toilets only to find they were completely empty. In the main schoolroom, which was once a place of learning for 300 boys, staff have heard disembodied footsteps and frequently report the unnerving sensation that they are not alone.
Through a fire escape in this room and into a back corridor, you'll find the spot where a small, dark shadowy figure was caught on CCTV. Despite many attempts to recreate the phenomena, the cause of the shadow is still a mystery. In a small adjoining classroom, which is now set up to resemble a school room from the time of the Second World War, local paranormal investigators believe they have had intelligent responses from spirits using ghost hunting gadgets.
The gallery classroom is a small, auditorium-style room that would have once had 100 boys crammed into it. Staff have reported hearing the lids of the wooden desks slamming and furniture being dragged around, even while the room has been locked and empty.
Also on the site is the headmaster's house, which the staff refer to as Mr Fitch's house. Fitch was the longest serving headmaster at the school. When he retired he remained in the house and eventually died in the parlour of old age. Since then unexplained footsteps have been heard upstairs when the house is empty, and a shadow figure has been seen walking around the upstairs.
1. St. Botolph's Church, Skidbrooke
Photo: © Richard Croft
Also known as "The Demon Church," St. Botolph's had links to Satanic groups in the 1970s and 80s, and as it's now abandoned has become a popular location for paranormal investigators. More recently, in 2004, evidence was found that animal sacrifices had taken place in the church and new Satanic graffiti was found on the walls.
The paranormal reports include sightings of the ghost of a monk, unexplained lights, and the sound of an approaching storm outside during calm weather.
The paranormal reports include sightings of the ghost of a monk, unexplained lights, and the sound of an approaching storm outside during calm weather.
This is an ever changing, dynamically updated page. Haunted locations may move up or down the list as new locations are added to our database and scores are reviewed to reflect new activity.
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