The Paranormal Database

Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana of London's EC3 District

Thomas a'Becket

Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Thomas's Tower
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 1240s
Further Comments: One legend says that the tower collapsed twice during construction, on consecutive Saint George's Days. Henry III was told that the ghost of Becket was seen on the days of the collapse; the king named the tower after the ghost that had caused the disruption to appease the entity. Twentieth century ghost reports from this tower have been more conventional, with the sight and sounds of a ghostly monk being detected.

Margaret's Execution

Location: EC3 - 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.

Figures

Location: EC3 - Tower of London, Water Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late 1960s, or 1970
Further Comments: A shocked sentry was found repeating 'Man in Cloak' - after he regained his senses, the guard claimed to have been approached by a headless cloaked figure, the sight of which caused the sentry to panic and run to find help.

Raleigh

Location: EC3 - Tower of London: 7 Tower Green
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Sir Walter Raleigh is reputed to haunt this Beefeater home and is said to have been heard walking through the building.

Beckett

Location: EC3 - Tower of London: Traitor's Gate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Becket circa AD 1240, monk unknown, hand in 1995
Further Comments: Traitor's Gate, Tower of London. Around AD 1240, the phantom of Sir Thomas Becket was observed by a monk, who claimed the ghost held a crucifix while hitting the walls and protesting the newly constructed gate. The story goes that the ghost became placated when the building attached to the gate was named after Becket. The area remains haunted though - the ghost of a monk is reported to walk this area of the tower, while a tourist who photographed the gate in 1995 found a strange hand dressed in a lace cuff on his image, thought to belong to a yeoman.