The Paranormal Database

Former Vicar

Location: Boldon Colliery - Hedworth Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa March 1896
Further Comments: Churchgoers reported being able to see a figure standing at the windows of this building. The ghost was said to resemble a former vicar and had regularly returned for over a month.

Dart Throwing

Location: East Boldon - Black Bull public house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: October 2018
Further Comments: In an interview with local press, manger Kelly Hedley said chairs had moved unaided, darts were known to be thrown by an unseen hand, and glasses would slide and smash. Ghostly children and a sad Cavalier are reputed to haunt the site.

Charlie Gordon

Location: Gateshead - Albion Inn, Bill Quay
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Charlie enjoyed the hospitality of this public house that he returned to it two years after dying. Seen dressed in a grey suit by the new landlady, she had no idea who he was until she described him to a couple of (living) regulars.

Angel of the North, copyright Tim Robinson 2012

German Officer

Location: Gateshead - Angel of the North
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One author has claimed that this modern piece of art is haunted by the ghost of a Nazi recruiting officer from the Second World War, though the reason why is not properly explained.

Middle Aged Man

Location: Gateshead - Beeswing public house (no longer open), Felling
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2008
Further Comments: A middle-aged man in a waistcoat and spats would stand at the bar with an old-fashioned glass containing ale. Newcomers to the bar were said to have engaged the man in conversation, although no one else could see him. It was speculated that the man may have been connected to one of the Felling pit disasters.

Plate Smashing

Location: Gateshead - Bronte Street, unknown house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 03 November 1963 - January 1964
Further Comments: Poltergeist disruption in a council house here was said to be so bad that the tenant finally fled after bottles were smashed and their crockery broken. An exorcism was performed on the site in December after which the activity ceased, until the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day when Christmas Decorations were shattered and chairs moved across the floor.

Bump

Location: Gateshead - Dead Man's Arch (former site of Bensham Station)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 01 January (reoccurring), midnight
Further Comments: A local piece of folklore says a train driver took his life under the arch. If one walks along the footpath at midnight on New Year's Day, you can feel the bump of a body against your own.

Sitting Man

Location: Gateshead - Golden Lion public house, Winlaton
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 12 December 2004
Further Comments: A photograph taken in this pub purports to show a strange man sitting in the background, slightly out of proportion to the rest of the environment. As the floor in the pub had just been raised, it has been suggested that this is the reason why the image looks slightly strange.

Dead Alien

Location: Gateshead - Hedley Street and St Cuthbert's Church
Type: UFO
Date / Time: Spring 1940
Further Comments: Five-year-old Robert Hall, together with other children, encountered several strange figures shortly after observing an egg-shaped flying object. One of the figures resembled a short bigfoot, while another had a skeletal body and bat wings. After taking a sample of Robert's blood, the figures left. The following day, a short 'grey'-like alien appeared to Robert. The boy's screams brought his uncle to the scene, who killed the alien with a shovel. A local story says the alien's body is buried in a nearby churchyard (or concealed within a secret room).

Actor

Location: Gateshead - Little Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The theatre is reportedly home to disembodied voices and footsteps that can be heard after the building is closed for the night. One story says the theatre is haunted by an actor who died on stage.

Former Wagons

Location: Gateshead - Site of old Heworth Colliery, Leam Lane Estate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s onwards
Further Comments: While little of the colliery remains, dog walkers and children have heard machinery and the shunt of old train wagons. Ghostly figures have also been reported.

Black Shape

Location: Gateshead - Three Tuns public house, Sheriffs Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 2017
Further Comments: A member of staff was left in tears after being approached by a black shape. An article in the local paper claimed that there had been a hundred incidents over the years which resulted in people encountering something or leaving the site out of fear.

Woman in Black

Location: Houghton-Le-Spring - Robbie Burns public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: One of three ghosts reportedly haunting this building, the woman in black would be observed disappearing into a wall. A male shadow has been seen darting across the bar area, and finally, a young fair haired boy has also been spotted.

Cats' Eyes

Location: Houghton-Le-Spring - Seven Sisters Round Barrow
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 17 December 2019, 21:00h
Further Comments: While walking along the track passing close to Seven Sisters, a witness spotted cat's eyes reflecting in their torch beam. The witness turned off the light, and when they turned it back on about a minute later, the torchlight reflected multiple pairs of eyes. The witness said the eyes were between knee and waist height and moved very fast.

Isabella Chaytor

Location: Jarrow - Jarrow Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The building is reputedly home to the ghostly Isabella Chaytor, daughter of Sir William Chaytor, the nineteenth century Whig MP for Sunderland.

Venerable Bede's Chair

Location: Jarrow - St Paul's Church
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Newlywed brides who sit in this famous chair soon fall pregnant, according to local legend. Another version of the legend says that anyone to sit on the chair is granted three wishes.

Overpopulated

Location: Marsden - Marsden Grotto public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A team of investigators claimed that this was the most haunted public house in England, with seven ghosts being 'detected' by their electro-magnetic apparatus. One of the shades is reportedly the ghost of a smuggler who tried to inform the authorities of his gang's actions - they found out and locked him away, allowing him to starve to death. A secret tunnel is said to run to another nearby haunted pub, the Jolly Sailor.

Businessman

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Manors railway station
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990
Further Comments: Wearing a smart three-piece suit and bowler hat, and holding an umbrella, this phantom figure stands on the platform as if waiting for a train. The man is said to look concerned and would suddenly disappear.

Looking across to Newcastle Keep.

Black Shadow

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Newcastle Keep
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: May 2006
Further Comments: A four foot tall black mass was photographed here during a ghost hunt, seemingly coming out of a wall.

The Black Gate in Newcastle.

Small Child

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Newcastle Keep, the Black Gate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2006 onwards
Further Comments: A small child is reputed to haunt this area. Steve Taylor, the local ghost walk organiser, reported several strange occurrences, including stone throwing, growling sounds and strange black shapes. People on the site have experienced being bitten or scratched by unseen perpetrators.

Man with Dog

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Old George public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A ghostly man and his dog have been spotted in the bar, vanishing if approached. Another ghostly figure has been seen sitting in a chair, while elsewhere footsteps without feet go about their business.

Faded Nun

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Private residence along Bentinck Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2002
Further Comments: A woman and her child moved away from this property after seeing the faded figure of a nun drift down a passage before vanishing. The woman had experienced poltergeist-like activity in the property prior to the sighting, including toys being activated in the early hours of the morning without cause and items vanishing for several days at a time.

Jane Jameson

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Quayside, area around John Wesley's memorial
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Jane was executed in 1829 for the murder of her mother, although she did try to frame her boyfriend for the crime. Jane now calls out for her lover to find her.

Edwardian Man

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Robinson's Wine Bar, Cloth Market
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mid-twentieth century
Further Comments: This ghostly figure was seen leaning against a wall within the bar. A manager who witnessed the entity described it as a tall man with grey hair, wearing Edwardian clothing.

Cavalier

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Sallyport, Carpenter's Tower
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This soldier died fighting against the Scots in 1644. His phantom reportedly gazes from the tower window. One witness watched him float from the ground into the air, disappearing into the ceiling - she was later told that a spiral staircase stood where she had seen the apparition.