The Paranormal Database

Annie Doonan

Location: SW7 - Second Hand City (formerly a Methodist Chapel), demolished 1970s
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1965 onwards
Further Comments: Annie Doonan was a working girl murdered by a client. Her body was found in the chapel's basement. A short while later, after the building was transformed into a market, staff who started work early in the morning began to report a phantom figure who would glide down the stairs towards the basement.

The westbound line of South Kensington Station, London.

Worker in a Reefer Jacket

Location: SW7 - South Kensington Station, westbound line
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: December 1928
Further Comments: a spectral locomotive was seen by a person who had just disembarked the last train of the night. A ghostly worker in a reefer coat and flat cap held on to the side of the phantom train. The ghost train gave a whistle and then disappeared into the tunnel.

The Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

The Great Bed

Location: SW7 - Victoria & Albert Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Great Bed was made by Jonas Fosbrooke in the 1460's for the King. In later years, as the bed passed from owner to owner, Jonas' spirit began to attack anyone who slept in the bed who had no royal blood, unless a toast was drunk to him before lights out.

Sliding Stationary

Location: SW7 - 20 Bute Street, Kensington (was a stationary shop)
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: August 1907
Further Comments: Stationary, books and electric lamps were moved by an invisible force, witnessed by the owner and his assistant. A few days later, four people were hit by items thrown by an unseen hand.

Keighley Mill Girl

Location: SW7 - British College of Psychic Science (closed 1947), 15 Queen's Gate
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Mid 1925
Further Comments: The so-called 'Keighley Mill Girl' (see Keighley, Yorkshire) stayed here as part of her poltergeist removal treatment. Initially the poltergeist stayed active, moving tables and chairs and breaking dishes in the presence of the woman, but over several weeks the activity slowed and eventually ceased.

Rose Devereaux

Location: SW8 - Lost Society bar, 697 Wandsworth Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A former flower seller, Rose Devereaux was murdered and is now reputed to haunt this bar. The building was once part of the Clapham Manor Estate.

Tall Man

Location: SW9 - Council flat along Gosling Way, Lambeth
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early 1970s
Further Comments: The local council finally sent in an exorcist to deal with this haunting, which involved the manifestation of a six foot tall man who would terrify children living here. The spook would also pull up carpets and hide cutlery.

Ringing Bells

Location: SW9 - Gresham Arms Hotel (no longer open)
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1900
Further Comments: A spiritualist told the occupants of this hotel that the reason bells would ring unaided by human hand was that a spirit had taken up residence there, unable to leave having dropped dead at the bar.

Turin Shroud

Location: SW9 - Mostyn Road Methodist Church
Type: Other
Date / Time: 1948 onwards
Further Comments: After being damaged during the Second World War, a damp spot appeared above the altar forming what some believe to be an image of the Turin Shroud.

Workman

Location: SW9 - South Island Place, Northern Line, near Stockwell Station
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1984
Further Comments: A trainee manager sent to walk the line by himself as part of his training encountered an old man with a tilly lamp working at South Island Place. They exchanged a couple of words in passing. When the trainee reached Stockwell Station and commented that he had seen someone else along the line, a search party was dispatched to find the worker as no maintenance work was scheduled. No one could be found, and the trainee later discovered that the old man had been seen dozens of times over the years. The ghost was believed to be that of a worker killed on the spot during the 1950s.

The Maid Did It

Location: SW9 - Stockwell - unknown house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1772
Further Comments: A 'poltergeist' that drove an old lady from her house by throwing crockery and eggs was later discovered to be the maid, who confessed she had used long hair tied to cup handles to create havoc.

temp

Location: SW9 - Unidentified terraced house, Brixton
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: November 1954 - March 1955
Further Comments: Police were called after something destroyed the kitchen while Mrs Brindle and her children watched helplessly. A neighbour said they had seen a picture fall from the wall and curtain drop from the rail. The destruction continued sporadically but the house fell silent after a blessing. The family moved to Australia the following month.