The Paranormal Database

Headless Woman

Location: York (North Yorkshire) - Area of Bishopthorpe
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Eighteenth century
Further Comments: A wealthy woman was murdered for her money, and her body hidden a short distance from her house in Bishopthorpe. It was several days before the corpse was discovered, and it is said that the state of decay was so bad that her head had become separate from her torso. Her headless ghost haunted the area where her body lay for years after the event.

Holy Trinity Church, York.

Thomas Percy

Location: York (North Yorkshire) - Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local folklore says that a decapitated Thomas Percy, the Seventh Earl of Northumberland, fumbles around the churchyard searching for his severed head. Thomas and head separated after upsetting Elizabeth I; the earl attempted and failed to raise an army against his queen and was executed for this error of judgement. More recently, a ghostly figure in a long gown (possibly a nun) has been observed on the site.

Evil Hill

Location: Youlgreave (Derbyshire) - Area around Wenley Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area was once thought to be a place of evil - no birds would sing in the area, and it was thought haunted by a headless hound. A headless man was also reported in the region.