The Paranormal Database

Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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Tyne and Wear Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana

Grinning Lady

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Slug and Lettuce public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2014
Further Comments: Two women who took a self-portrait in this pub caught a grinning female figure in the shot; the image appeared in several national outlets where the unknown figure was branded a ghost. Although the ghost could have a rational explanation, it is said that a phantom figure has been spotted several times since the image became known.

Fairy Court

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Small grassy mounds on Fawdon Hill (area now likely built over)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century
Further Comments: This hill was once believed to be the setting for the fairy court.

Girl in Blue Dress

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - St Andrew's Churchyard
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: A young curate who fell in love with the daughter of a local landowner was now about to set off to see the lass at home when he spotted her walking around the churchyard. The man ran into the churchyard, but she had vanished. The following day he discovered that she had died at home during the night. Though it is said she still walks the area, none have seen her recently.


La Madonna Riposata by Julia Margeret Cameron.

Healing Well

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - St Mary's Well, Jesmond
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Well still present, vision in late eleventh century
Further Comments: This well was once said to have magical healing properties, while at an unstated location nearby, an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared just after England was invaded by the Normans.


Newcastle Cathedral.

Knight

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - St Nicholas Church (now Newcastle Cathedral)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1882
Further Comments: Before this church became Newcastle Cathedral, there were reports of a tall shadowy knight who would walk around day and night, vanishing around corners and pillars. The clank of ghostly armour was also heard.

Crying Child

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Stevenson Street, North Shields
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-nineteenth century
Further Comments: A house along this road was haunted by the cries of a child, and the heart wrenching sobs of a woman - an infant's body was later discovered concealed within the building.

Henry Hardwick

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - The Cooperage public house, alleyways near the building
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Trying to escape pressgangers, Hardwick was murdered, and has been seen near to where he died. A man dressed in Edwardian garb has also been seen in the area.

Bob Crowther

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Tyne Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: The ghost that has been felt as it pushes past people is thought to be an actor killed when a stage prop travelling at high velocity landed on him. He also reportedly has a favourite seat, in which he is occasionally seen.

Prior Olaf

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Tynemouth Priory
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This Viking raider who eventually found God has been seen on the site where so much raping and looting took place. Other phantom monks have been observed on site, several appearing to pray at a stone in the graveyard.

Longhaired Man

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Unnamed public house along Westgate Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1974
Further Comments: This ghostly figure wearing a red coat walked through a barman closing the bar.

William Coulson

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Victoria Tunnel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: April 2018
Further Comments: William was killed in an accident on 16 June 1852 after being hit by a coal wagon. His ghost is reputed to haunt the area and may have been seen by a tour guide in 2018. Other reported manifestations include footsteps, booms and voices.

Heavy Footsteps

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Willington Mill
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1835-1847
Further Comments: Just a small part of the phenomena, the footsteps were heard first. Over a period of weeks, these developed into bangs, whistling, the sounds of machinery, and finally a voice that spoke. Phantom animals were seen around the building. The family finally moved out, though the spirit stayed a little longer (but was much quieter).

Legs

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - 13 Grey Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Cleaning staff reported this building to be haunted by a ghost of which only the bottom half could be observed; one member of the team fled after encountering the entity.


All Saints Church, Newcastle.

Jack the Beadle

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - All Saints Church, Quayside
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Jack was a well-liked member of the community before being caught and tried for removing and selling lead from coffins. A local legend now places Jack's ghost in the churchyard.


Broad Chare, Newcastle.

Martha Wilson

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Area around Broad Chare
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The phantom woman haunting the area has been named as Martha Wilson, a suicide buried at a nearby crossroads. One man who encountered Martha said she wore a veil - she lifted it up as he approached, in time for him to realise she had no face.

Woman's Voice

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Blackie Boy public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A woman's voice was heard screaming 'Get out! Get Out!' from an empty cubical in the men's toilets, causing a member of staff in the room to flee.

Furniture Mover

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Board Room public house, Stevenson Road
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1980s
Further Comments: Landlord Richard Bell reported shattering glasses, moving pictures and upset furniture at his pub.

George

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Carriage public house (former station), Archbold Terrace
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: George was said to have worked for the railways and died in an accident on the track. He is said to haunt the pub and is blamed when things fall or break. A woman and man are also said to haunt the site - they were killed while standing on the platform when a bomb exploded nearby during the Second World War.

Steam Locomotive

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Central station
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1988
Further Comments: A driver of a pacer train pulling into a bay platform spotted a steam locomotive starting to pull away from the platform towards him. The driver promptly engaged the emergency brakes, only for the steam locomotive to disappear. No one else witnessed the steam locomotive in the bay platform.

Joseph the Monk

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Former La Dolce Vita nightclub (now closed)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: A lover of dance when he lived, Joseph's shade would appear to have been kick-started when a nightclub opened near his grave. The tall monk dressed in his robes was seen dancing in the club several times by both staff and customers.


Amen Corner, Newcastle

A Hound Follows

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - General area
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Belief circa nineteenth century?
Further Comments: It was believed that a phantom dog would follow midwives as they travelled around the city. If the dog laughed as the midwife reached her destination, all would be well, but if the hound howled, then complications would follow. One report described the hound as Mastiff-like.

Mummy

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Hancock Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 2004
Further Comments: It was reported in 2004 that this Egyptian mummy's ghost is still active, and now walks around the museum at night.


The front doors of the Lit and Phil Library.

Door Opener

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Lit and Phil Library
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 25 October 2012
Further Comments: Video footage released showed a fire door opening on its own accord, although a gust of wind or change in air pressure are the more likely mundane explanations. The building is also used by ghost hunt organisers.

Golfer

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Maisonette built over an old coal mine, near Battle Hill
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: Reported on BBC Northeast, the occupants of several maisonettes were haunted by strange sounds, unexplained footsteps and moving objects. One family took to leaving at night and sleeping elsewhere. Another man reported his golf clubs and balls were scattered across a room - he fled from his home. A BBC sound engineer speculated that the building's construction could be responsible for creating and amplifying the sounds.

Pterodactyl

Location: Seaton Burn - Skies over the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Circa 1990
Further Comments: A Pterodactyl-shaped creature with a six metre wingspan flew around six metres over the top of houses. The creature moved at around 30mph and made absolutely no sound.

Records 26 - 50 of 86

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