Exeter Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
Black Shadow
Location: Exeter - Alleyway that runs from the top of South Street to the Cathedral Green
Type: Other
Date / Time: 18 April 2010, 01:00h
Further Comments: As a man walked down the alleyway, he became aware of a dark shadow looming over him and felt a presence over their right shoulder. The man turned and saw a black mass which seemed to dissipate upwards into the night.
Queen Henrietta Maria
Location: Exeter - Barnfield House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This Queen stayed here to give birth before escaping to France, though she also appears to continue to remain here today.
Three Headed Entity
Location: Exeter - Cathedral Green
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Multi-headed entity unknown, hand felt circa 1998
Further Comments: Seen moving silently across the Green, one strange apparition is reported to possess three heads. A man walking with a group of friends across the yard felt a hand grab his right shoulder and pull him backwards. Thinking it was one of his friends, the man turned around, but nobody was there - all the group were ahead of him.
Fish Man
Location: Exeter - Coastline
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: November 1737
Further Comments: Fishermen on the shore caught a four foot tall humanoid, with duck-like feet and a tail protruding from its back. The creature tried to escape but was killed when the fishermen beat it with sticks. Another fish-man was caught a few months later in the same area, though this one was described with more seal-like qualities.
Plague Victims
Location: Exeter - Devon Air Radio Studios, St David's Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: Built on an old plague pit, the ghosts of the inhabitants are blamed for the sounds of closing doors (in places the doors are already closed) and other unexplained events.
Vanishing Woman
Location: Exeter - Ernest Jones, next to the Guildhall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A female ghost is said to vanish as quickly as she appears. She is blamed for knocking over displays and setting off the fire alarm.
Nun
Location: Exeter - Exeter Cathedral
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: July, 7pm (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Seen only around this time, the nun quickly disappears once spotted. A monk has also been reported in the area surrounding the cathedral, while a small group of witnesses heard music coming from within the building although it was dark and empty at the time.
The Last Executed
Location: Exeter - Exeter prison
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1973
Further Comments: Two prisoners reported seeing a middle-aged man walking along the upper gallery, vanishing as he reached a cell door. After staff carried out a little research, they discovered the man was the last person to be executed in the prison.
Workman
Location: Exeter - Exeter University
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1967
Further Comments: A phantom man dressed in painter's overalls has been seen walking down the corridors.
Cycling Through
Location: Exeter - Exeter's Underground Passages
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The guides of the underground passages, normally open to the public, tell of a phantom cyclist who passes through the area. There is also rumoured to be hidden treasure somewhere in the tunnels.
Mr Jones
Location: Exeter - Fore Street
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Early nineteenth century?
Further Comments: Mrs Burrow spotted Mr Jones, a retired silversmith a little way ahead of her along this street. Burrow walked faster to catch up, but Jones vanished as she reached him. The following day Burrow received a message that Jones had died at the moment she had seen his ghost.
Gardener's Father
Location: Exeter - Franklyn Mansion gardens
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa nineteenth century
Further Comments: While working in one of the gardens, the gardener claimed to have spotted his father's ghost.
Silk
Location: Exeter - Globe Hotel
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Summer 1932
Further Comments: An American guest at the hotel reported waking several times during the night to the sound of swirling, as if someone were waving armfuls of silk scarves through the air. The woman in the room next door also reported hearing the same noise.
Rose Lady
Location: Exeter - Guildhall Shopping Centre basement
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A shadowy form of a woman has been reported as haunting this area, the smell of roses accompanying her presence.
Victorian Nurse
Location: Exeter - Hospital
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A ghostly nurse occasionally appears by the bed of anyone close to death and rearranges any nearby flowers so that they form a cross.
Murdered Maid
Location: Exeter - Lord Haldon Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This tragic figure fell pregnant after having an affair with a local landowner - he killed the maid to cover the relationship up, and now she returns to the top of the building, dripping wet.
Giant Bat
Location: Exeter - Magdalen Road
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 25 May 2000
Further Comments: A witness walking down the road late at night stated he watched a giant bat, with a wingspan of 1.2 metres, swoop around the churchyard along this road.
Heavy Breathing
Location: Exeter - Marks & Spencer store
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: Said to be built on an old Roman burial ground, phantom heavy breathing has been reported from staff, as have light poltergeist-like behaviour.
Crying Mother
Location: Exeter - Martin's Lane, general area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A weeping woman waits along this lane at night - her daughter ran away to follow Sir Francis Drake on his last voyage, and never returned.
Footsteps
Location: Exeter - Okehampton Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 09 November 2013, 03:00h
Further Comments: Crossing the bridge, this witness could hear footsteps walking on loose stone. Stopping to listen for a couple of minutes, the footsteps continued to crunch, although no one could be seen.
Crowd Pleaser
Location: Exeter - Private home in St Sidwells area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1897
Further Comments: Police were called is disperse a crowd of people who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the ghost which had taken up residence in this house.
Little Girl with Rag Doll
Location: Exeter - Prospect Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 25 December (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This young child only appears once a year in the upper part of the building. She is said to smile sweetly at any witnesses, before quickly fading away.
The Vikings are Coming
Location: Exeter - River Exe
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local legend has it that a ghostly Viking long ship complete with an angry fighter passes up the river.
Coughing
Location: Exeter - Royal Clarence Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Built on the site of Walter Raleigh's fathers' house, some attribute the coughing sounds to Walter himself.
Sir Francis Drake
Location: Exeter - Ship Inn, Martin's Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The inn claims to have once banned Drake from coming in, as his behaviour once drunk was intolerable - maybe this is the reason he returns here...
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