Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Bath

Hauntings

Sham Castle

The Sham Castle at Bathampton is a Grade II listed building dating from 1762. It was built for the entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ralph Allen (Born 1693 – Died 29 June 1764), who perhaps haunts it still. The following extract is taken from an article by David Brandon and Alan Brooke which was published in The Guardian on 31 October 2009.

Ancient Sites / Apparitions / Civil War Hauntings / Earth Works / Hauntings

Freezing Hill, Bath

Landsdown Hill, Tog Hill and Freezing Hill were the site of the English Civil War Battle of Lansdowne (Lansdown), which was fought on 5 July 1643. The Parliamentarian force under Sir William Waller (Born C 1597 – Died 19 September 1668) was forced to retreat by the Royalist troops led by Lord Ralph Hopton, 1st Baron Hopton (Born March 1596 – Died September 1652).

Hauntings

8 Gay Street, Bath

The author and diarist Hester Lynch Piozzi (née Salusbury, surname of first marriage Thrale) (Born 1741 – Died 1821) who was a friend of Dr. Samuel Johnson (Born 18 September 1709 – Died 13 December 1784), lived at 8 Gay Street in Bath. I have come across a reference* to two haunt like experiences relating to the house, but I cannot comment on the validity of them.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Dandy of Gay Street

Designed in 1735 by John Wood, the Elder, (Born 1704 – Died 23 May 1754), Gay Street links The Circus with Queen Square. On 22 August 2001, the Daily Sport reported that the apparition of a well-dressed 17th Century Regency dandy, had been sighted by several American tourists on Gay Street in Bath. They went on to suggest that the ghost only appears to men.

King Arthur / Legends

Bathampton Down & The Battle of Badon Hill

It is thought by some that Bathampton Down and it’s Iron Age hillfort, Bathampton Camp, may have been the location for the early 6th century legendary Siege or Battle of Badon Hill (also known as the Battle of Badon or the Battle of Mount Badon), in which King Arthur’s Britons halted the advance of the Saxons into Britain.

Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Devonshire Arms, Bath

The cellar of the Devonshire Arms at 139 Wellsway is thought to have been haunted by a 19th century girl who died on the nearby railway line. Amongst the experiences said to have been reported include a member of staff having their shirt pulled by unseen hands and bolted doors opening.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Grosvenor Place, Bath

Grosvenor Place, Bath is made up of 42 terraced houses dating from around 1790 and built by John Eveleigh.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Queen Square, Bath

The apparition of a jilted bride named Julia is thought to haunt Queen’s Square dressed in a white gown, possibly he wedding dress.

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The George Inn, Bathampton

The Grade II listed George Inn on Mill Lane in Bathampton dates from the mid late 17th century and is thought to be haunted by Viscount John Baptiste Du Barry who was killed on Bathampton Down on18 November 1778 during the last legal duel in Britain. His mortally wounded body is said to have been brought into The George Inn where he finally died.