Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Category: Usual Suspects

Apparitions / Hauntings / Mary Blandy / Usual Suspects

Town Hall, Henley on Thames

It has been suggested that the ghost of Mary Blandy was witnessed by a number of people at a re-enactment of her trial at the Henley Town Hall sometime prior to 1969. Her actual trial took place on 3 March 1752 at the Oxford Assizes held in the hall of the Divinity School.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Mary Blandy / Usual Suspects

Churchfield Wood, Turville

Churchfield Wood can be found North East of Turville Court and is thought to be haunted by Mary Blandy who was executed on 6 April 1752 for poisoning her father. Mary was known to have visited Turville Court, though not the current building which only dates from 1847.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Sarah Siddons / Usual Suspects

27 Upper Baker Street

The famous 18th century actress Sarah Siddons (born 5 July 1755) bought 27 Upper Baker Street in 1817 and it was here that she died on 8 June 1831. Because of its connections with Sarah, in 1876 the house became the first building to receive a nationally recognised memorial plaque for a woman.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Lady Alice Lisle / Usual Suspects

Moyles Court

Mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as being held by Cola the Huntsman, Moyles Court is now a private school on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire. It was once the home of Lady Alice Lisle who was executed for sheltering traitors following the Monmouth Rebellion which has been described as judicial murder.

Apparitions / Dick Turpin / Hauntings / Usual Suspects

St Mary’s Church, Wanstead

The current St Mary’s dates from 1787 and is a Grade I listed building designed by Thomas Hardwick. The earlier church stood 70’ south of the present building and was demolished when the newer church was completed in 1790. The later church does have some monuments inside it that were originally from the older one and according to tradition it may have a few apparitions as well.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Sarah Siddons / Usual Suspects

Bristol Old Vic

Work commenced on the construction of The Theatre Royal, Bristol (home of ‘The Bristol Old Vic’ theatre company) in 1764 and the first performance was held there on 30th May 1766.  According to a 2002 Bristol Evening News article; ‘the old Bristol theatre is reportedly haunted by the ghost of actress Sarah Siddons and her repeat performances at the theatre are the stuff

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings / Mary Queen of Scots / Usual Suspects

The Manor Castle, Sheffield

This pub sits in the grounds of the now ruined Manor Castle (or Manor Lodge) in Sheffield and is haunted by the apparition of a figure. When encountered by Jack Wright, the new Landlord he moved his family straight back out after three weeks of being continuously haunted, if not by seeing the figure then by feeling a presence.