Brewer Street, Soho

It has been suggested that the apparition of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, (Born 29 September 1758 – Died 21 October 1805) has been seen looking through the window of the building at the location where the upholsterer Mr Peddieson had his shop in the late 18th and early 19th century. As it was here that Nelson later kept the coffin given to him by Captain Hallowell (Admiral Sir Benjamin Hallowell Carew (1761 – 1834)) following the Battle of the Nile 1 – 3 August 1798.

The coffin was made from the mast of L’Orient, the Ocean Class, 118 gun flagship of the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile, which was destroyed when her magazines detonated. According to ‘The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson (1806) by James Harrison ‘Before Lord Nelson quitted London he called at Mr Peddieson’s, his upholsterer in Brewer Street where the coffin presented him by Captain Hallowell had been sent, and with his usual gaiety and good humour desired him to get the attestation of it’s identity engraved on the lid. For added his lordship “I think it highly probable that I may want it on my return”.

Nelson died at the Battle of Trafalgar and was returned to England in a cask containing a mix of brandy, camphor and myrrh. He was buried in the coffin made for him from the main mast of L’Orient.

Whether there is any truth the story of his ghost I am unsure as I am unaware of any reported experiences concerning it.