The Paranormal Database

Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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May - Paranormal Database Records

Tolling

Location: Ellesmere (Shropshire) - Colemere (aka Cole Mere, aka Crose Mere, aka Crosmere) lake
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 21 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Sunken bells on a long forgotten chapel can still be heard ringing from the mere. One version of the story says they ring to mock Oliver Cromwell, who pulled down the church, while another version say they ring on St Helen's day, the patron saint of the chapel.


The Wakefield Tower within the Tower of London.

Henry VI

Location: EC3 (Greater London) - Tower of London, the Wakefield Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 21 May, midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Murdered in the tower in 1471, Henry's spirit appears a few minutes before midnight, walking around the area in which he died.

Battle

Location: Lewes (Sussex) - Offham Hill
Type: Environmental Manifestation
Date / Time: 25 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This battle fought around the 1300's is still reportedly heard in May - over 3000 people are said to have been killed. The exact date may vary, though the phantom event always occurs in late May.

Monk, Betrayer of the Abbey

Location: Ludham (Norfolk) - St. Benet's Abbey, ruins close to River Bure
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 25 May (reoccurring) (monk), 10 August 2019 (dog)
Further Comments: Now little more than rubble, the site of the old abbey is home to the ghost of the monk who betrayed his brothers to Norman soldiers - the troops later hanged him anyway. Two people out investigating the ghostly monk spotted a large black dog-like creature, the size of a small horse, running towards the church. The two witnesses quickly left the area.

John Carver

Location: Croydon (Surrey) - Former cafe in Brighton Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 26 May (reoccurring), last encountered 1940s?
Further Comments: John Carver was found not guilty of the murder of his wife, though most of the community believed he was guilty. After leaving court, Carver found himself hounded by a crowd who wanted him dead. Eventually Carver moved far away to escape. Sixty years after the crime, the owner of a cafe reported seeing the ghost of a tall man in grey, minus head and legs, climb the staircase and hover on the landing. In addition, on each 26 May (the date of the wife's death), the breaking of glass could be heard. The cafe was thought to be one of the locations Carver tried to hide before leaving the area.

Margaret's Execution

Location: EC3 (Greater London) - Tower of London, Tower Green
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 27 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Refusing to kneel before the axeman, Margaret Pole was chased around the area and hacked to death by him instead. This horrid scene has been witnessed several times, as have the spirits of Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey.


Sutherland House, Southwold.

Redhead

Location: Southwold (Suffolk) - Sutherland House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 28 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: This young red haired woman is reported to wait for the return of Lord Sandwich, killed in a naval battle off the coast here. Footsteps and the sound of doors opening have been heard on 28 May, the anniversary of the Lord's death. Geoffrey Munn speculated that the ghost was Ann Cammell, a former resident of the property who was accused of witchcraft in the mid-sixteenth century.

Lady Waving Handkerchief

Location: Dundee (Angus) - Claypotts Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 29 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Appearing upset, this white woman frantically waves from a high window once every year - it is rumoured she was having an affair with the Cardinal Beaton.

Wolfhound Howls and Doom Follows

Location: Southery (Cambridgeshire) - Near ruins east of the town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 29 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: Belonging to one of those who built the original church at Southerly, the dog was mistakenly killed by a soldier. The phantom hound now hunts the area, and it is believed that upon hearing the howls, the listener will die within a year.

Blue Lights Dance

Location: Bawburgh (Norfolk) - Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 30 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: Blue lights are said to appear and dance over the church well.


A strange-looking coach with horses sinking into water.

Sinking Coach

Location: Antrim (County Antrim) - Antrim Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A coach pulled by a team of four horses which sunk into the pond drowning all on board is seen repeating the tragic accident once a year. In addition, a stone wolfhound which stands by the gateway is said to have once been flesh and blood - the dog gave a warning to an advancing sneak attack upon the castle before turning into rock. It now safeguards the Clotworthy family name on the condition it is never removed. Finally, the sound of heavy breathing can be heard coming from the ruined building.

Mustard Coloured Coach

Location: Theydon Bois (Essex) - Hill Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 May, Midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: On the stroke of midnight, a mustard coloured coach is believed to drive down the driveway of the ruined building. Its owner is thought to be Duke de Morrow, who lived in the building at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Lady Carew in a Coach Pulled by Four Black Horses

Location: Potter Heigham (Norfolk) - Arched Bridge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 May, Midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Occurring on the stroke of midnight, the phantom coach driven by a skeleton is seen to crash into the side of the bridge and fall into the river below. After selling her soul to the Devil, Lady Carew was taken away by two skeletons driving a coach pulled by four black horses on her wedding day. The coach disappeared on the bridge over the River Thurne, and the scene is repeated every 31 May. Another version of the story says the phantom is Lady Evelyn, who died when her coach crashed in 1741.

House with Glowing Windows

Location: Thirlmere (Cumbria) - Armboth Hall, and Thirlmere (reservoir)
Type: Environmental Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 October (reoccurring), Wedding party occurs. Lights seen May 2013
Further Comments: After a murder of a newlywed bride, this house was left to fall into ruin. Some people reported that a glowing candle could be seen moving past various windows, while others claimed a ghostly wedding party occurred. The Hall is now lost below the waters of the flooded valley of Thirlmere, which is home to a phantom dog which swims through the water. In 2013 a witness camping in the area became unnerved after witnessing two silently moving lights along the road.

Carraig

Location: Carlingford (County Louth) - Mountain
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Coins found 1989-2002, hunt occurs second Sunday of May
Further Comments: There was a flurry of Leprechaun activity on this mountain after a green suit and several gold coins discovered in 1989. Two years later, 'Leprechaun Whisperer' Kevin Woods claimed have contacted Carraig, elder for the 236 remaining leprechauns in the area. The little people are now protected in the area, and while there is an annual Leprechaun Hunt, the only things found are tiny cauldrons which have been left by the fairy folk themselves.

Voice of Lord Marney

Location: Layer Marney (Essex) - Layer Marney Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: May (or Easter) (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Legend says that the voice of Lord Marney can be heard echoing around the church.

Guilt Ridden Officer

Location: Sleaford (Lincolnshire) - Colbey Grange - former RAF base
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This phantom officer in RAF uniform is thought to return briefly around May time, in regret for sending dozens of young men off to their deaths, in particular a close friend of whom he was particularly fond. The remaining control tower is thought to be particularly haunted, with footsteps and crashes heard and a poltergeist like entity throwing stones and broken glass at people who venture too close.

Healing Waters

Location: Loch Monar (Highland) - Waters of the loch
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Varies: first Mondays of February, May, August and November
Further Comments: If entered on certain days of the year, the waters of this Loch would heal the sick on the proviso that the Loch was entered three times at midnight and the water then sipped, before a coin was thrown in. The sick would then have to leave the site before the sun came up.

Victorian Woman

Location: Sudeley (Gloucestershire) - Sudeley Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Varies: reputedly during August & September, but last seen May 1983
Further Comments: It is always around these two months that a ghostly housemaid is seen cleaning and dusting, dressed in Victorian working garb. A visiting American Professor reported encountering her during a visit to the castle. Other reported ghosts here include a woman in a green dress and a man with a hawk perched on his arm.


Off the coast of Blackpool.

Kilmigrol

Location: Blackpool (Lancashire) - Off the coast
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: stormy nights. Last heard 21 May 2013?
Further Comments: A town lost off the coast of Blackpool many years ago, the bells can be heard ringing on stormy nights. The bells may have last been heard by a mother and daughter walking near Sandcastle Water Park.

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