THE VAMPIRE RABBIT OF NEWCASTLE
In Amen Corner lies the Vampire Rabbit of Newcastle, lurking above the rear of St Nicholas’s Cathedral. It has petrified locals since its appearance in 1901 and over time has shed its sandy coat for something far more sinister – a black fur with red eyes, to be precise. Some say it’s a hare that architects created to reference their friend Sir George Hare Philipson, but darker rumours would suggest that it is there to watch over the burial grounds of the dead or to demonise the Cathedral with its uncanny presence. Either way, the curious case of this creature has never truly been solved…
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THE GREY LADY OF THE THEATRE ROYAL
Could it be that the grandest building in Newcastle is also the most haunted? The theatre opened on Mosley Street in 1788, where a fire that broke out caused 8 people to be crushed to death in the chaos to evacuate. Though the theatre standing today was built on Grey Street in 1837, it seems the bad luck, or the curse perhaps, followed… Legend says that a young Victorian lady had fallen in love with an actor who was starring in the productions at the time. They were supposed to be running away together and marrying that night, but he admitted his intentions had never been genuine for her. Whether she fell or threw herself we will never truly know, but she dropped to her death from the upper gallery and has madcd pe her presence known within the theatre ever since…
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THE DARK SPIRITS AT THE BLACK GATE
The Black Gate stands opposite Newcastle Keep and was constructed in the 13th Century as a defence for the castle, with the original drawbridges and portcullis. Similar to Castle Keep, the Black Gate has had many reports of paranormal activity from within it, particularly of a woman who watches people on the balcony at night whilst holding her baby. Many people claim to have seen this firsthand…
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TOWN MOOR WITCH EXECUTIONS
Superstitions in the 1650s meant women were perceived as witches for many reasons, causing them to live very cautious lives in order to avoid this condemnation. And in fact, the largest mass execution for witchcraft reported in English history was a bloodcurdling event that took place on our very own Town Moor! It is said that a woman named Margaret Brown, along with 12-14 other witches, had pins pierced into their bodies to determine whether they were witches or not. Not drawing blood meant that they were guilty and as a consequence, all of them were hanged. Apparently, the man who accused these “witches” was later found to have made up to 120 false allegations.
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THE LIT & PHIL MYSTERY
The Lit and Phil building opened in 1825 and has the largest collection of literature and music outside of London. As well as this however, it is said to have between 16-17 resident ghosts that haunt all floors of the old building. All of the spirits seem to be linked to the library in some way, whether they are employees or society members of the past. There have been many reports of pages being turned, footsteps when there is no one there and particularly, the sensation of being watched down in the Basement bookstore.
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CHARLES I AND THE OLD GEORGE INN
The Old George Inn is Newcastle’s oldest pub dating back to 1582. Charles I, monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland, was being held by Scots in an open prison on Pilgrim Street and was often allowed to stop by the pub for a beverage in the evening time. The “Charles I Room” and the chair that he vacated still sits there today. Many visitors that have spent time in the room, either on their own or socialising with others, have suggested there is an overwhelming feeling of being watched as well as the shadow of a grey figure that sits within the chair.
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THE STORY OF MARTHA WILSON
In the early 19th century, there was a widow named Martha Wilson who hanged herself in her lodgings on the Quayside due to the heartbreak of losing her beloved husband. As she had committed what was deemed to be the great sin of suicide, she was refused a proper burial and dumped on the crossroads with a stake stabbed right through her heart. Angry with this harsh treatment, it is now reported that she haunts the alleys by the Quayside and down by River Tyne, particularly next to The Broad Chare, frightening anyone who crosses her path. She supposedly wears a veil, which, when lifted, reveals nothing but a hollow space where her face should be…
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POPPY GIRL OF CASTLE KEEP
Castle Keep is one of the finest examples of a Norman Keep, which was part of the medieval fortification build by Robert Curthose, son of William the Conqueror. There are many photographs of sightings in books and online of dark shadows, orbs and mists. The most famous ghost that resides in Castle Keep is Poppy Girl – sent to prison for owing money and beaten by male prisoners and killed. She roams the hallways and can be sensed by the overpowering aroma of flowers that follows her around at night.
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