Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Greater London

Cryptozoology / Legends

The Parish Church of St Michael, Cornhill

St Michaels’ Church in Cornhill is a Grade I listed building, built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1699 and 1672 following the destruction of the earlier medieval church in the Great Fire of London. It was in this now lost medieval building that according to legend a creature was encountered by the bell ringers early in the first half of the sixteenth century.

Cryptozoology

Hollow Pond Bear

In November 2008, Michael Kent reported seeing a strange hairy bear like creature whilst fishing one evening with his brother and father.

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The Town Of Ramsgate, Wapping

The Town Of Ramsgate public house is a Grade II listed building dating from the 17th century. Press Gangs were said to recruit drunks and imprison them in the cellars of pub, prior to them taking up their new career in the Navy.

Hauntings

Lincoln’s Inn Phantom Bird

There is a strange tale of a phantom bird like creature that in 1913 attacked and killed a young barrister named Charles Appleby in offices connected to Lincoln’s Inn, the oldest of the four Inns of Court in London. An account of this haunting appears in True Ghosts & Spooky Incidents by Vikas Khatri.

Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

White Hart, Crystal Palace

On 4th March 2009 the following article by Jennifer Heape entitled ’ Crystal Palace pub’s strange basement ‘haunted by girl’, appeared in the Streatham Guardian

Deep beneath the White Hart pub in Crystal Palace rumours of secret tunnels, hauntings and witchcraft abound.

Apparitions / Hauntings / WWII Hauntings

Cambridge House

Cambridge House is a Grade I listed Palladian style building dating from 1761. Throughout its 250 year history it has been associated with many notable people, but it was during its time as the Naval & Military Club that it gained its reputation of being haunted by a World War II serviceman.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Mary Jane Kelly, Whitechapel Victim

Mary Kelly was brutally murdered on 9 November 1888 and although it has been debated about, she is generally believed to be the final victim of Jack the Ripper who killed five prostitutes around Whitechapel in the later months of that year.

Anniversary Ghosts / Apparitions / Hauntings

Bruce Castle

Now a museum, Bruce Castle, which was formerly known as Lordship House is a Grade I listed manor house dating from the 16th century. It is associated with an anniversary ghost identified as Lady Constantia Coleraine who committed suicide in the late 1600’s and is said to be seen screaming and jumping to her death from an upstairs balcony.

Apparitions / Dick Turpin / Hauntings / Usual Suspects

St Mary’s Church, Wanstead

The current St Mary’s dates from 1787 and is a Grade I listed building designed by Thomas Hardwick. The earlier church stood 70’ south of the present building and was demolished when the newer church was completed in 1790. The later church does have some monuments inside it that were originally from the older one and according to tradition it may have a few apparitions as well.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Road Ghosts

Mary Pearcey

Mary Pearcey was executed on 23 December 1890 for the murder of Phoebe Hogg and her infant daughter also named Phoebe. Some elements of this murder were similar to the 1888 Whitechapel murders and Mary has been considered as a potential candidate for being Jack the Ripper. It is also claimed that her apparition has been seen, wandering the streets around Whitechapel.