Surrey Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
Rider
Location: Dorking - Graveyard
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A decapitated rider on horseback follows a road that no longer exists - the figure crosses the gravestones and vanishes through a hedge.
Lady in Grey
Location: Dorking - Pippbrook House (currently Dorking Library)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghost of a woman wearing a long grey dress is reputed to haunt the staircase, while a phantom butler has also been reported.
Whirlwind
Location: Dorking - Polesden Lacey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s
Further Comments: The original house no longer stands, but the ghosts remain. Nun's Walk is said to be haunted by an apparition which resembles a whirlwind, while the bridge is haunted by a figure dressed in a brown robe and hood which conceals its face.
Duke of Norfolk
Location: Dorking - White Horse Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ninth duke of Norfolk remains in the inn, apparently too drunk to depart this plain of existence.
Kiln Worker
Location: Earlswoof - Bull's Head public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local legend says this pub is haunted by a lime kiln worker who died during the seventeenth century.
Accident
Location: Effingham - A246
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: May 2015, between 03:00 - 03:30
Further Comments: A motorcyclist spotted a pair of red taillights on the road ahead. Despite changing speed several times, the lights stayed the exact distance away, until they veered off the road into trees. The motorcyclist heard a crash, and fearing an accident, pulled over and looked for the crashed vehicle. Nothing could be found.
Little Man
Location: Egham - Hillside villa
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early twentieth century
Further Comments: The subject of three legal battles (between 1903 & 1907) debating whether the house was haunted, and ergo fit for human habitation, the house was alleged to contain the spirit of a child murderer; a little man whose footsteps could be heard at night.
Phone Call
Location: Egham - Private residence east of M25
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 05 May 2022
Further Comments: While a husband and wife were alone downstairs in this property, the husband's mobile phone that had been left upstairs placed a call to the wife's phone. When the husband went to grab his phone, he realised that his boots had moved from the stairs and had been placed on the bed, where he had previously been.
Thomas Holloway
Location: Egham - Royal Holloway University
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Founded by Thomas Holloway, the man himself is said to haunt the Founder's Building, though he manifests in the form of a black cat. Jane Holloway, Thomas's wife, is said to haunt the fourth floor of the same building.
The Other Mother
Location: Englefield Green - Private residence
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 2000
Further Comments: The residents in this property experienced items being moved, lights which turned themselves on, and doors which slammed shut. One resident also heard whisperings, while a child on the site would talk to someone they described as their 'other mother', an older woman wearing grey. An old man was once also seen on the site, looking out of the empty living room window.
Heavy Footsteps
Location: Englefield Green - Wooded area off Coopers Hill Lane
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: April 2021
Further Comments: While walking through this wooded area, one person heard heavy footsteps approaching along the footpath. No one could be seen, even though there was a disturbance on the ground. Even though it was a bright sunny day, the area felt oppressive, and the witness left the area terrified.
Aged Gentleman
Location: Esher - House lived in by Anna Porter, the author
Type: Post-Mortem Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Anna Porter claimed to have seen a man known to her enter a room and sit down, before suddenly rising and leaving again. She thought the gentleman looked unwell, and sent a servant over to his house, who discovered that he had died earlier in the day.
Girl in the Cupboard
Location: Esher - Marquis of Granby hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The young woman was locked in the cupboard and left to die; now, years later, her spirit is trapped inside the small room by a large family bible propped against the door.
Agnes
Location: Ewell - Former Antiques Shop, High Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Unseen footsteps were heard here, and customers felt 'something' push them aside. Some believe that this is the ghost of a woman called Agnes.
Cloaked Figure
Location: Ewell - Nonsuch Park
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This area around the eastern gate is said to be home to a phantom concealed within a cloak. The sounds of partying have also been reported and are thought to come from the palace that was burnt down during the seventeenth century.
Plague Victims
Location: Ewell - St Mary The Virgin
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Several graves belonging to plague victims are thought to be haunted by their occupiers.
Horse and Coach
Location: Ewell - William IV Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The sounds of a horse pulling a coach have been heard outside this inn, though never seen.
Drunken Man
Location: Farnham - Castle Street, & Castle Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Seen climbing down from a phantom coach, this figure staggers across the road and enters a nearby house. The Castle Theatre that stands down this road is reportedly haunted by a suicide which plays with the lights and record player.
Dancing Girl
Location: Farnham - Farnham Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Though long since removed, the bell that was once housed in the castle tower can still be heard to chime. A shadowy figure haunts the guard room, while the long gallery is home to a phantom monk. Lastly, a little dancing girl haunts a staircase, where she collapsed and died. Outside the castle, on the hill where it stands, disembodied footsteps are heard.
Lynx
Location: Farnham - General area
Type: ABC
Date / Time: Eighteenth century to twentieth century
Further Comments: The sightings of a large cat in the neighbourhood are said to date back at least two hundred years.
First ABC?
Location: Farnham - Heathy Park Reservoir
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 16 July 1962, 07:45h
Further Comments: One of the first modern ABC sightings, Water Board worker Ernest Jellett staff spotted a large black cat. Over the following months, others witnessed a cheetah stalking the area - it was never caught.
Old Lady
Location: Farnham - St Andrew's Churchyard
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: This old lady, seen walking in the churchyard, disappears as she reaches the church. She is completely silent, though her mouth moves, as if trying to pass on information. The inside of the church is said to be haunted by phantom singing, plainchant, and Latin prayer.
Serving Girl
Location: Farnham - The Bush Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This servant is said to be friendly in nature, though the way she disappears is said to be disconcerting.
Sounds of a Coach
Location: Farnham - The Hop Bag Hotel, Downing Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The sounds of a coach pulling into the courtyard of this hotel have been heard, complete with whinnying horses. A ghostly girl in grey has also been seen waiting for the return of a lost lover killed on the outskirts of the town.
Lady in Grey
Location: Farnham - The Lion & Lamb public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This local pub is reportedly haunted by a lady wearing a large hat. She has been seen in the bar area, and footsteps heard moving around the corridors at night. A woman dressed in maid's clothing has been seen in the courtyard.
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