Going to London has always been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember, especially seeing the spooky side of London! And I’m glad to be able to say I’ve finally done that!
We were able to see some sights most notable for their histories including the Ten Bells Pub, Buckingham Palace, Highgate Cemetery, the Tower Bridge, and more!
So, I thought I’d come back and give an updated version to a previous blog post and talk about the spots we visited that have haunting histories!
Highgate Cemetery
I’ve read about Highgate Cemetery many times over the years but never thought I’d be able to visit myself! For ten pound, I was able to do just that.
Highgate Cemetery has been around since the 1830’s. It was originally created as an attempt to assist in the vandalism and desecration happening at other cemeteries at the time – body snatching, tombstone smashing, the theft of body parts for science are just a few examples. Francis Goodwin (1784-1835), an architect had plans to bring his ideas to life in regards to this cemetery, though this could not be done prior to his death. Though in 1836, there were renewed attempts, eventually leading to its opening it 1839.
While many notable figures are buried here, (George Michael, Karl Marx, Catherine Dickens, wife of Charles Dickens, to name a few), this cemetery has begun to see the effects of overcrowding and lack of space. As mentioned in the book ‘A Tomb With a View’, Peter Ross goes into great detail in regards to this and predicts that within the next decade, Highgate could cease to be a functioning cemetery for newer burials. At a point in the 60s, this did happen when Highgate closed its doors for a period of time.
Ghost Stories
This closure opened the doors for rumors and stories of hauntings, satanic practices, and even vampires.
There’s one vampire in particular that many have claimed to see. Although he is nameless, he is known commonly as the Highgate Vampire. He is believed to have been a medieval nobleman from Romania and practiced black magic. Believed to have also been buried in the West end (There is both a west and east end separated by two gates and a narrow roadway that is VERY exhausting to climb in my opinion), he slumbered until he was awoken by Satanic practitioners that preformed a dark ritual on the grounds.
He is said to be a tall, imposing figure that lurks the grounds, causing chaos to your electrical belongings (particularly clocks and watches) and has even been blamed for numerous dead foxes that have been found in the area. It is believed that those who spend the night in the cemetery (Just please don’t do this out of respect at the very least), tend to encounter his presence more.
While I did not come across a Nosferatu-creature in the cemetery, I will not discredit anyone else’s experiences of course, that is simply not what I do.
Adding more fuel to this paranormal fire, other spectral sightings are said to occur here. Like that of a ghostly nun that is seen to wonder as well as random spooky faces that appear out of nowhere. The ghastly cries of banshee screams and even the ghost of a cyclist are other examples of the phenomena that individuals encounter here at Highgate Cemetery.
We visited during the day at seemingly peek visiting hours and our stroll was nothing but peaceful and interesting. While I am very fascinated by cemeteries and definitely consider myself a taphophile, I have yet to experience anything ghostly around cemeteries. But I’d love to hear if you’ve visited Highgate and have a spooky story to tell!
The Tower Bridge
When stopping to see Tower Bridge on a very wet and cold day, I thought about the ghost stories I’d heard about it. (When I pass by houses or buildings that look old, my first thought is typically “I wonder if it’s haunted”, this location was no exception.) Even though we didn’t get to see the inside (If I go back someday, that is the first thing I am doing!), the beauty of it is hard to describe. Now, let’s get into its history…
In the eighteen hundreds, there was a major issue that the city of London looked to overcome: a way to have a bridge that didn’t interrupt or disrupt any river activities. The City of London Corporation then decided on a contest. Yes, a contest for others to submit designs that could help their problem with over 50 submissions. However, one idea came to fruition with the help of the city architect, Sir Horace Jones who partnered with Sir John Wolfe Barry (the son of another architect who designed the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament) in 1884.
After eight years, with the help of 432 construction workers and five contractors, the bridge was completed and on June 30, 1894, the Tower Bridge was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
- Creepy little fact – one of the tower bases was used as a morgue where bodies were brought in by boat and stored. Though, now, no one is permitted to enter.
Ghost Stories
During construction of the bridge, many fell to their deaths from one of the walkway areas. There no exact number on how many perished this way, but today, many have witnessed shadow figures along the same walkway and many have reported something tugging on their clothes while others have experienced a very heavy weight on them, something strange and oppressive.
While on tours and paranormal investigations, some individuals have experienced sudden onsets of sickness and nausea, others have a general sense of unease.
Tower of London
Built in the 11th century, the Tower of London is right down the river, next to the Tower Bridge. All you have to do is turn your head and there it stands menacingly, in the confines of the brick wall that surrounds it.
The history soaked into the bricks is chilling, to say the least. Its been a prison and now guards the Crown Jewels. Many were executed and even royals were beheaded. Its no shock that people believe it to be one of the most haunted places in the United Kingdom.
Ghost Stories
It’s not an overstatement to say there are many, MANY spirits that linger on the grounds of the Tower of London. There are known to be 13 at the very least! Here are just a handful of the supposed hauntings:
Lady Jane Grey
During the 1500’s, Lady Jane Grey became the Queen after the death of King Henry VIII’s son, King Edward VI died. However, her reign was very short lived: just nine days. She was named the heir in Edward’s will, however after just nine days, the council stated that the true Queen of England would go to Catholic Mary, also known as Mary Tudor or ‘Bloody Mary’ by the Protestants. Today, Jane’s white ghost is sometimes seen around the battlements.
Mysterious Female Spirit
Lady Jane Grey is not the only female, white spectral being to be spotted. While we don’t for sure know who this spirit belongs to, we can make a decent inference. Back in 1864, Captain J.D. Dundas observed what is called a Yeoman Warder (guardsman, typically dresses in a red uniform – not the ones with the tall black, fluffy, hats – that guarded the Tower of London) attempting to use a bayonet on a ‘whitish, female figure’. This figure was spotted in the courtyard where Anne Boleyn was beheaded – she was a wife of King Henry VII, executed for treason in May of 1536.
Sir Walter Raleigh
Speaking of beheading, this man was also found himself imprisoned in the walls of the Tower of London three times and spent over 13 years. He attempted suicide during on confinement. His was eventually beheaded in 1603. And his ghost is said to roam around the prison.
Other notable entities said to haunt the Tower of London:
- Henry VI, who was murdered in 1471 and is said to haunt the Wakefield Tower around midnight.
- Guy Fawkes, who was taken to be imprisoned in the Tower of London after playing a part in the assassination of James I in 1605 and became subjected to horrible, excruciating torture. Today, if you listen close enough, you may hear his residual screams.
Thank you for joining me for Part 1 of The Haunted Side of London! This was very fun to write, especially since I could bring some of my own pictures as well! There’s more to come and I hope you can join me then as well!
Paranormal Addict 