Sea Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

In 2004 the Sunderland Echo posted the following story concerning haunt like events taking place at a Greggs bakery in Fulwell. The article published on 29 June was entitled ‘The Greggs-orcist’.

‘SPOOKED staff have reported some “spectre-cular” goings-on behind the pie and pastie counter at a Sunderland bakery.

Some of the city’s most historic and famous buildings have their own resident ghoul – and now there is one more to add to the list.

Greggs in Sea Road, Fulwell, Sunderland, has been hit by a series of ghostly events, which has wafted a frightening chill over the sweet smell of baking stotties.

Kettles have been boiling unexpectedly while banging and clashing in the staff changing rooms has unnerved anxious customers.

But fear not, according to staff, the ghost – thought to be that of an elderly woman – is a friendly one who never steals the sandwiches and cakes.

Shop assistant Angela Thompson, who has worked at the store for the past two years, said: “I often hear banging from the floor above as if furniture were being moved around – even when I know nobody is up there.

“I think it must be the spirit of the old lady who lived in the flat upstairs before it became a shop.

“There is often an old fashioned, flowery smell of lavender in the building just before or after she pays us a visit.

“When our baker Ray used to work on the premises a few years ago, he told us that the kettle would already be boiling when he’d come in at 4am to start the early shift.

“Not only that, but if he ever played the radio too loud, he would hear banging on the floor from upstairs.”
Angela claims that most of the 12 staff employed at the bakery have, at one time or another, felt a strange presence as they go about their work.

Mike Hallowell, a paranormal investigator who specialises in this type of ghoulish activity, believes a poltergeist could be to blame.

He said: “This type of activity happens in shops a lot more than what people might think. It could be a haunting, but my guess is, it’s a poltergeist.

“Now, this isn’t something which throws things about, but rather is usually found in the presence of a young woman who is worried or stressed about something.

“This stress then manifests itself outwardly.”

Whatever the cause, staff say they aren’t too concerned about the problem and have grown quite used to the strange happenings.

Well, almost.

“I still don’t like to take breaks on my own,” adds Angela.

The article was revisited on 7 February 2019 by Ross Robertson who ended his piece with ‘We asked a PR representative for Greggs if the ghostly activity is still going on, but have yet to hear back. So whether the haunting continues, we do not know. Have you had any spooky experiences there?’