Peterborough Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
Dashing Woman
Location: Peterborough - A1 north of Peterborough, 2 - 4 miles outside of city
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1995
Further Comments: During a clear day, a driver and his wife overtaking a lorry at 70mph watched a woman in 1950s clothing, carrying a bag, dash in front of their car to the central reservation. The driver had no time to slow down but did not hit the woman.
Choir
Location: Peterborough - Cathedral
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Several ghosts are said to haunt the cathedral. The sounds of an invisible choir have been reported, while phantom monks appear in the graveyard (one of whom vanishes through a closed side doorway. A light resembling a candle has been spotted floating around the upper floors at the front of the building. Finally, an old piece of folklore says that if a hare makes a lair in the building, the city would be destroyed by fire within a week.
Victorian Man
Location: Peterborough - Cherry Tree public house, Oundle Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The pub is said to be haunted by a man wearing Victorian clothing.
Fred
Location: Peterborough - Cock Inn, Werrington
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Not much is known about this ghost, other than being nicknamed Fred.
Snatchers
Location: Peterborough - Cowgate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Once the site of a cemetery, the area at the end of Cowgate is said by some (but not many) to be haunted by people who had their earthly remains removed by body snatchers.
Monk
Location: Peterborough - Eight Bells public house, Lincoln Road, Millfield (no longer operational)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s?
Further Comments: This pub was said to be home to a phantom monk, a ghostly woman, and the occasional mild outbreak of poltergeist behaviour.
Disembodied Left Hand
Location: Peterborough - Field near railway line, Werrington
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 26 September 2009
Further Comments: A disembodied left hand appeared to be feeling its way around an area by three large trees. The witness who observed the appendage was later told by a neighbour that they had seen a lad wearing a cap and blazer sitting in one of the trees who had vanished when approached.
Broken Crockery
Location: Peterborough - Guest house (no longer operating as such), Eastfield Road
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1960
Further Comments: Two men staying at the property awoke one morning to find broken cups and plates scattered across the kitchen, though they had heard nothing during the night. The sensation of being watched by something unseen was also felt.
Those Shadows
Location: Peterborough - HG's public house, Cathedral Square
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dark shadowy figure has been spotted ascending the staircase, but when staff check to see who the intruder is, no one can be found.
Crashing
Location: Peterborough - House along Mayor's Walk (likely no longer standing)
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: December 1891 - January 1892
Further Comments: Bedsheets would be thrown on to the floor, doors violently shaken and crashing so loud it was if parts of the house were falling (although nothing would be found out of place). Neighbours tried to stay the night to discover the source of the activity but would flee before dawn.
Hounds All Black and Wide-Eyed
Location: Peterborough - In all the woods between Stamford and Peterborough
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Between Lent and Easter (reoccurring), but last reported 1100s
Further Comments: These woods were the scene of a wild hunt, which included large black hounds and loathsome riders on the backs of mares and goats.
Thomas Hunter
Location: Peterborough - Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Anzac during the 1970s, others unknown
Further Comments: Sergeant Thomas Hunter, with the Anzacs during the First World War, died in the building 31 July 1916 when it was a hospital. Hunter was last seen drifting up the staircase, though he is blamed for moving items around the building at night or placing icy cold hands on people. Other entities said to haunt here include a scruffy man in the cellar, a white woman in the upper part of the building, a young girl in the former operating theatre, and a phantom Roman soldier who stands by a sword that is on display.
Pale Lady
Location: Peterborough - Orton Hall Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Staff and visitors have reported seeing a phantom white lady around this building.
Victorian Lady
Location: Peterborough - Prezzo Italian restaurant (was O'Connell's public house)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The phantom woman dressed in Victorian era clothing is not alone here - the building is also home to a ghostly male figure dressed in eighteenth century garb.
Giggling
Location: Peterborough - Queensgate Shopping Centre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Sometimes heard once the shopping centre is closed to the public, the sound of a young child giggling and disembodied footsteps have been reported.
Engines Overhead
Location: Peterborough - RAF Westwood (aka RAF Peterborough)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Even though the area is now a housing estate, this former RAF base is still said to be haunted by the sound of old engines flying overhead and airmen dressed in old uniforms.
Scareship
Location: Peterborough - Skies over Peterborough
Type: UFO
Date / Time: 23 March 1909
Further Comments: Seen by two police officers, this UFO resembled a large airship, travelling at a then unheard of speed.
Watch the Timing
Location: Peterborough - St John's Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Concerning the bells of the church and the cathedral, an old rhyme says, 'when the church and the abbey they strike together, they'll either be a death or change in the weather'.
Horse and Carriage
Location: Peterborough - Sutton Heath Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 2007
Further Comments: While travelling along the Sutton Heath road, one man watched a figure driving a horse and carriage emerge from a bush on the right hand side and cross the road ahead of him. The driver stopped, not believing what he had witnessed.
Jangling
Location: Peterborough - The Bull Hotel, Westgate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Footfalls and the sound of keys have been heard here, but the source never seen. A ghostly dog is also said to haunt the building.
Cellar Shenanigans
Location: Peterborough - The Verve Bar
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It is said that the cellar of this establishment is not averse to a little poltergeist activity.
Monk
Location: Peterborough - Tourist Information Centre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A phantom monk is reputed to haunt this building.
Records 1 - 22 of 22
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