The Paranormal Database

An old postcard showing Ludlow Castle.

Marion

Location: Ludlow - Ludlow Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Marion, her castle besieged by rivals, lowered a rope for her secret love to enter the building, which he dutifully did. Unfortunately, he also brought with him the castle's enemies. Realising too late she had been betrayed, Marion stabbed her lover and jumped from the window of the tower, dying upon impact with the ground. Her shade now re-enacts this tragedy, while the sound of her lover dying has also been reported.

Tall Grey Woman

Location: Ludlow - St Lawrence's Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This elderly female wearing a dressing gown runs around the graves after dark, occasionally heard screaming.

Cow, from a chapbook.

White Cow

Location: Lydham - Michell's Fold stone circle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Pre-eighteenth century
Further Comments: During times of drought or hardship, a white cow would appear in the middle of the circle and allow everyone in the neighbourhood to fill one bucket with milk. Michell, a local witch after whom the circle was later named, milked the cow into a sieve until the creature vanished.

Smiling Old Lady

Location: Madeley - Madeley Court House Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: As well as shadowy phantom monks, this building is also the haunt of an old woman who is seen smiling before dematerialising. Cries of a woman in pain have been heard coming from the surrounding gardens. (Image copyright 2006 Lawson Clout)

Headless Monk

Location: Madeley - Mount Hill (next to Courthouse)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: This decapitated entity terrified a teenage girl to such a degree she never returned to the area.

Candle Thief

Location: Madeley - Private house, Hill Top area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1952
Further Comments: A family moved out after, over a three month period, sixty candles vanished. Witnesses watched as one candle on a sideboard lifted itself from the candlestick and floated around the room before being dropped.

Jilted Maid

Location: Market Drayton - Corbett Arms public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A chambermaid who hanged herself in room 7 after her boyfriend ran away remains trapped there. Single men staying in the room have been awoken to find the bedcovers thrown to the floor.

Shadowy Figure

Location: Market Drayton - Country lane known as 'the rudge', Ashley
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 2003
Further Comments: A shadowy figure which quickly and silently vanishes has been observed in this area. A pedestrian was said to have felt a heavy weight climb onto his back as he walked down the lane.

Kitchen Worker

Location: Market Drayton - Loggerheads public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It has been reported that this pub has three phantoms. A female form is said to work in the kitchen, a man has been observed in the garden, and a dog.

Lady

Location: Market Drayton - Private residence, High Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2019
Further Comments: One occupant spotted a ghostly woman peered into one of the bedrooms. She may be the same entity which has thrown and moved household items. Tapping, footsteps and whistling have also been reported.

Misty Figure

Location: Market Drayton - Sandbrook Vaults public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2011?
Further Comments: During building work, joiner Eddie Chapman Smith witnessed a 'misty outline'. Fearing he had fired a nail into the pipes, he rushed to the spot, but the mist had vanished.

Wild Edric Rides Out

Location: Minsterley - General area
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: 1914
Further Comments: Just before the outbreak of the First World War, Wild Edric and his troops on horseback were seen passing through the area. Prior to this sighting, the presence of the ghostly army marked the start of the Crimean War.

Stone Throwing

Location: Minsterley - Minsterley Hall
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: An invisible entity was said to have briefly taken up throwing stones around the property.

Milking Witch

Location: Mitchell's Fold - Stapeley Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stone still present
Further Comments: A fairy gave the villagers a white cow that could yield enough milk for everyone in the area. A local witch named Mitchell attempted to fool the cow, placing a bucket under the creature filled with holes. Mitchell milked the creature until it could produce no more milk and ran off, never to be seen again. Mitchell did not escape punishment - she was transformed into rock.

Large Dog

Location: Montford - Road running by church
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century
Further Comments: The large hound which was reputed to haunt the area may have been mistaken for a ghostly donkey which quickly dissipated into mist when kicked by a passerby.

Cursed Castle

Location: Moreton Corbet - Moreton Corbet Castle
Type: Curse
Date / Time: Fifteenth century
Further Comments: During its construction, the owner of this building was cursed by a neighbour for being uncaring, and the castle was never finished. It is also said to be haunted by an aging man and a younger gentleman, who were caught on camera in 2003. (Image copyright 2006 Lawson Clout)

White Man

Location: Morville - Acton Arms Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: A former landlady at the inn said that she sometimes spotted this ghost several times a day. The phantom was described as a man-shaped white form that quickly vanished if seen.

Mary Way

Location: Much Wenlock - Crossroads two miles southeast of town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Eighteenth century
Further Comments: This crossroads was said to be haunted by the ghost of Mary Way, murdered on the site. The phantom is reputedly headless and wears a shimmering white dress. A murderer was also said to be buried at the crossroads, although it is not clear whether it was Mary's killer.

Older Lady

Location: Much Wenlock - Private residence, High Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2003
Further Comments: The shadowy figure of a stopping old woman could be seen walking along the upper landing. Although night, strong lighting would have made it impossible for a shadow to be cast where the figure could be seen.

Children Playing

Location: Much Wenlock - Renold's House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Several children in Victorian clothing have been spotted playing with wooden toys on the balcony of this building.

Heavy Breathing

Location: Much Wenlock - Spar shop
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twenty-first century
Further Comments: After digging on the site disturbed ancient bones and pottery, strange things occurred in the shop, including misty figures appearing, the sounds of heavy breathing, and trolleys moving themselves across the floor.

Wild Humphrey

Location: Nesscliffe - Kynaston's Cave
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Circa 1500
Further Comments: Wild Humphrey Kynaston, local highwayman and friend to the poor, used this cave as a hideout. His horse could make jumps so daring the creature was said to either be the Devil himself, or alternatively, the Devil had helped the horse.

Humphrey Kynaston

Location: Nesscliffe - Old Three Pigeons public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Wild Humphrey Kynaston, a local highwayman who robbed the rich to give to the poor, is said to haunt the building where his chair remains.

Upset Mermaid

Location: Newport - Aqualate Mere
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The last time this area of water was cleaned, a mermaid popped up out of the water and threatened to destroy Newport and Meretown if the pool was emptied.

Wild Edric.

Wild Edric

Location: No fixed abode - Lead Mines
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: 1800s
Further Comments: A county hero, Wild Edric is said to emerge from the lead mines where he lives and charge off towards England's enemies when required. Once flesh and blood, it is thought his fairy wife may have had a hand in making him and his troops immortal.