Stratford-upon-Avon is best known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, but the town, which is over 800 years old, is also known for its ghosts.
The White Lion Inn. The Inn is said to be haunted by the ghost of the Stratford Ripper, John Davies. People swear they’ve been chased from rooms or even followed home by a ghostly man with a knife. It’s said that a little girl named Alice (one of Davies's victims) haunts the area as a protective spirit. Sightings of as many as forty other ghosts have been reported at the White Lion over the years.
The Dirty Duck Pub. The ghost of a World War II pilot has been seen at the bar at the Dirty Duck pub, wearing old-style clothes and hoisting a pint. Once, the landlady even spoke to the ghost before it excused itself and vanished.
Ettington Park Hotel. The Ettington Park hotel is probably the area's most haunted site. Built in the 1100s, it has served as a night club, prisoner-of-war camp, and nursing home. After a fire, the location was renovated and became a hotel. Haunting activities include:
~ Mysterious forms staring out the windows of empty rooms.
~ The ghost of an old woman wearing a Victorian dress has been seen in the conservatory.
~ Women's voices are heard coming from the empty drawing room.
~ The sounds of heavy footsteps are heard, stomping around the premises when there’s no one there.
~ The sound of billiard balls clacking and colliding comes from the deserted library, and books have been known to fly off the shelves.
~ A candlestick has been seen floating above a fireplace mantel.
~ It’s said the ghost of a servant named Mary, who died in a fall, has appeared on the main staircase.
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36 comments:
I wonder where Shakespeare's wandering around.
A floating candlestick! Now that's cool. Much better than being followed by Mr. Ripper and his knife...
Interesting. I'm going to look up this town.
Gah! One of the guys I work with a lot is called John Davies. Now I'll never look at him the same way....
I'd love to spend a day at that hotel. Not a night, mind you :)
I did not know Stratford was quite so haunted - 40 ghosts in one pub, that's a bit of a population problem if they decide to appear all at once! ;P
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The hotel wins - that's a lot of ghosts.
I haven't visited those three places, but I have been to Stratford-upon-Avon.
What ? Birthplace of Shakespeare haunted by ghosts ?
Awesome hauntings!
That pilot has been drinking a pint for 70 years. To many people, that would be heaven.
Somehow we missed all the haunting when we were there (visiting the Shakespeare sites). Now I have a reason to go back :)
That town looked pretty calm and innocent to me when I was there years ago. But underneath the surface, strange things happen.
I waited and waited to talk to Will whilst touring his childhood home. Alas, he never materialized. I guess I should have gone down to the pub. :)
How fitting that Shakespeare's hometown should be known for ghosts. Maybe that's why so many of his plays are as well.
Even though I don't believe ghosts can hurt a person, I still wouldn't want to be followed by a knife-wielding ghost. Yikes. That would scare me.
I'm surprised Shakespeare didn't write more ghost stories than he did!
Ooh, a place I've actually been! Although I wasn't there long enough to check out any of these haunted sights, though I wish I had...definitely some intriguing tales here.
I would love to visit Shakespeare's birthplace and get a few good scares:)
It seems a good bet that anything that was a POW camp is haunted.
I never heard of the Stratford Ripper. Yikes.
I'd be more interested in visiting this location to experience ghosts than to connect with the spirit of William Shakespeare. But if I did encounter the Bard I'd want to ask him who really wrote all those plays.
People have lived in the area so long it's no wonder some of their energy would be left behind.
My mind read that the WWII guy was hanging out at the Dirty D*ck at first. Whih brings a whole new meaning to "hanging out. " Stupid brain.
I think the heavy footsteps would freak me out the most. Or the moving billiard balls - would sound like chattering teeth or clacking bones. Shudder.
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I would be so scared if I was followed home by a ghost with a knife! Sounds super creepy!!
Makes me wonder if Shakespeare ever saw a ghost before he wrote some into his plays.
The Dirty Duck Pub has a very polite spirit there.
800 years old?
I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Shakespeare is part of the wandering spirits...
The one and only time I was in Stratford upon Avon we had gone to Shakespeare's birth home and then our tour guide was bringing us to a pub for lunch and was hit by a bus and killed.... yeah...but I didnt see any ghosts.
Seeing any kind of ghost would freak me out, but if one were chasing me with a knife? Well, I don't even know what would happen, but I'm pretty sure a heart attack would be involved.
I've been "dying" to get here all day to see where the ghosts are popping up. Too many errands have kept me from the haints and the haunted places.
So about the Dirty Duck Pub. I've been there, but never saw a WWII pilot. Will have to return and hoist a few pints. I'll bet I'll see that bloke then.
Too bad Shakespeare's ghost isn't hanging around!
When I saw the title of this post, I thought I was going to read about Shakespeare's ghost. I had no idea the place was known for being haunted by ghosts, that's pretty cool.
My drama major self has always wanted to go to Bardland. Now I have even more reason.
I don't think I could ever stay in a haunted hotel! I'd never be able to sleep. :)
When we were in England, we went to see the birth place of Shakespeare. It has been a long time. I did not realize that the hotels could be haunted.
So many noises for a single place, the hotel sounds like the scariest location here.
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