Could one of the musicians on the Titanic be haunting the Devonshire Park Theatre in Eastbourne, England? Who is the person behind the ghost said to still be playing the violin?
In the seaside town of Eastbourne, the Devonshire Park Theatre stands as one of England’s most elegant Victorian playhouses.
Since its grand opening in 1884, the theatre has welcomed countless performers, audiences, and stories to its stage. But when the last curtain falls and the lights dim, it is said that not all who linger in the theatre belong to the living.
Devonshire Park Theatre by Oast House Archive
The Violinist from Titanic Haunting the Orchestra Pit
For decades, whispers have circulated about a ghostly musician who haunts the Devonshire Park Theatre. Some claim to have seen a man dressed in white tie and tails standing silently in the orchestra pit or seated among the stalls, his instrument cradled gently beneath his chin. The figure, shimmering faintly in the low light, is said to vanish the moment one looks twice.
Reports of this spectral violinist date back to the 1960s and 1970s, when both staff and visitors described fleeting glimpses of him during rehearsals and late-night performances. Though sightings have become less frequent in recent years, those who have experienced the haunting speak of a deep sense of melancholy that seems to hang in the air whenever the mysterious music begins.
For a time, locals believed the apparition to be none other than John Wesley Woodward, the Titanic’s heroic cellist who famously continued to play as the ship went down in 1912.
John Wesley Woodward: (11 September 1879 – 15 April 1912) was an English musician. Born in West Bromwich. A memorial plaque was erected to Woodward on the promenade in Eastbourne depicting the Titanic as it sank.
In Eastbourne, he played the cello both at the Grand Hotel and in the local orchestra. While in Eastbourne he joined the White Star Line musicians, playing on transatlantic ships. On 10 April 1912, he boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton for her maiden Transatlantic voyage. Five days later, on 15 April 1912, the ship hit an iceberg and he and the other musicians famously continued to play as the Titanic sank. Their final tune was, according to some survivor accounts, “Nearer, My God, To Thee”. All members of the band, including his friend Jock Hume, drowned, and the body of Wesley Woodward was never recovered.
The theory gained traction due to Woodward’s connection to Eastbourne, where he is memorialized with a plaque at the Bandstand. However, researchers later discovered that the ghostly musician could not be Woodward, as the spirit has always been described as a violinist, not a cellist.
Who, then, is the phantom that haunts the Devonshire Park Theatre?
Paranormal Investigation at the Theatre
The mysterious violinist is perhaps not the only ghost haunting the theatre though. According to a spokesperson, they actually had a few paranormal investigators at their venue in 2005. According to a medium visiting and doing the investigation with them, they believed that a ghost haunting the place could have been Murray King who was an actor and licensee of the venue in the late 1800s up until the 1930s. Could this also be the identity of the mysterious violinist?
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
In the Norwegian fairytale house in Krøderen, Villa Fridheim is said to be haunted by its former mistress, still running things her way as she did in life.
Rising like a fairy tale vision along the shores of Krøderen, Villa Fridheim is often called Soria Moria in wood and paint. Its towers, carved details, and storybook halls draw visitors into a world shaped by Norwegian folklore.
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Those staying at the house long enough often sense that the museum is more than a collection of fairytale artifacts. There is a persistent feeling of not being entirely alone.
The Haunted Fairytale Castle: The enchanting Villa Fridheim, a Swiss-style house in Krøderen, Norway, inspired by Norwegian folklore and rich with history. // Source: John Erling Blad
The House of Fairytales
Villa Fridheim is a Swiss-style building with elements of national romanticism and dragon style on Bjørøya in Krødsherad, built in 1890–1892 by Lumber merchant Svend Haug. Villa Fridheim was intended to serve as a country home for the lumber merchant and his wife Thea (née Sveaas). When the builder himself died in the middle of the construction work in 1891, it was the widow Thea Haug who completed the work. She then moved here permanently and used it as a home for herself and her children.
After several years, the family converted the place into a hotel, but it was soon sold out of the family. The hotel was in operation from 1914 to 1960. After that, the house was left empty and dilapidated. After many years of decay, there were plans for the building to be burned down as part of a fire drill.
Soria Moria: The Villa Fridheim is often called the Soria Moria castle, a name from Norwegian folktales about the hidden castle where the hero will find the princess. It has also now turned into an expression for expectations about a great place.
It currently houses the Villa Fridheim Fairy Tale Museum , which is mainly associated with Asbjørnsen and Moe’s work as collectors, storytellers and publishers of fairy tales.
A House That Never Sleeps
Guests and staff have spoken quietly of sounds echoing through the servant wing after hours. Furniture seems to scrape across floors where no one walks. Doors creak open and close on their own, as if someone unseen is still making her nightly rounds.
There are many different claims to who is haunting the place. In a book that used to be in the house, people wrote down strange occurrences they experienced. One of them was about a little boy in the cafe who vanished into thin air right before them.
The Ghost Haunting the Villa: The intricately designed interior of Villa Fridheim, showcasing its wooden architecture and fairy tale motifs. There’s a lot of ghostly tales lingering in the walls. // Source: John Erling Blad
On the fourth floor, some claim to have seen children at play, a little girl. She was dressed in old fashioned clothing, running and laughing among the shadows before vanishing as suddenly as they appeared. No footsteps follow them, and no voices remain once they are gone.
From the attic, a sound, almost like an audiotape playing at high speed is heard.
The Woman in Black
Most striking of all is the figure seen in the main hall. Visitors have described a woman wearing a long black dress, her appearance belonging to another century. She moves calmly through the space, observing rather than frightening, her presence quiet but unmistakable.
According to local tradition, this is the spirit of Thea Haug, the first lady of the house. In life, she was known for her discipline and order, ensuring that Villa Fridheim ran smoothly and with dignity. She died in 1924, when she was 85 years old. In death, it seems she has not entirely relinquished her role.
When she is not satisfied, the ghost slams the doors, it is said. According to legends, she didn’t treat her staff particularly well. Although, some say that when she retired and went back to Drammen, a feast was held in her honor, and she was given gifts by the locals for all her effort and hospitality. Mostly in written form, she was remembered as a person with a big heart.
It is also said that her daughter, (maybe named Rilda), was hidden away in the tower room when she got syphilis and turned mad. This is also one of those tales that doesn’t have much proof, as their daughters don’t have as much information about them as their sons.
A German tourist once staying there came down from the second floor and talked with the staff. “So festive that the staff wear old costumes,” she said after having seen a woman wearing a black dress from another century. The staff all wore jeans and t-shirts.
A TV-series called Soria Moria was recorded at the hotel in the early 2000s about the fictional ghost of a nazi soldier. One day all the images from a Polaroid camera to keep track of continuity were strange. All of them were marked by a shadow that looked like a female figure in a long skirt.
A Watchful Housekeeper
Those who work at the museum believe that Thea Haug still watches over the building’s forty rooms. If she senses carelessness or neglect, doors may slam sharply as a warning. It is not seen as malice, but as correction, the firm reminder of a housekeeper who expects standards to be upheld.
Villa Fridheim: Is there really the ghost of a woman in black haunting Villa Fridheim?
Despite the strange occurrences, no one speaks of cleansing the house of its ghost. The presence causes no harm, and many feel it adds depth to the living history of Villa Fridheim. The husfrue is considered part of the story, woven into the walls as surely as the carved dragons and fairy tale motifs.
At Villa Fridheim, it is said that being a house ghost is a good existence. The Lady of Soria Moria still keeps watch, ensuring that her enchanted home remains just as it should be.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
Said to be found deep in the mountain range MacGillycuddy’s Reeks in Kerry, Ireland, the ruins of Dun Dreach-Fhoula castle is said to be the home of bloodthirsty fairies of the Otherworld. Question is if it’s an ancient legend or a modern hoax.
The Castle of Tainted Blood or the Castle of The Blood Visage is supposedly a fortress in the mountains in Kerry in Ireland, said to be inhabited and built by the blood sucking and shape-shifting fairies from ancient times.
But how much truth is the legend of the supposed bloodthirsty fairies? Is it truly as old as the story claims? And what is the truth about its connection to Dracula? Let’s first have a look at what the legend tells.
The MacGillycuddy’s Reeks: The Coomloughra Horseshoe Loop Walk in Co. Kerry is one of Irelands best ridge walks. It is a strenuous 6 to 7 hour (12 km) hiking trail over several mountain peaks in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks range including 4 of the top 5 highest mountains in Ireland. Thought to be the place where the ruins of fairy folk with a taste for blood lives. // Photo:Valerie O’Sullivan
The Legend of the Castle of Tainted Blood
High among the jagged slopes of Kerry’s MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, meaning Black Stacks in Irish, it goes on for 19 kilometers from Gap of Dunloe in the east to Glencar in the west. It’s Ireland’s highest mountain range with the highest peak and sharpest ridges.
It is said that this is the place where the ruins of Dun Dreach-Fhoula, a fortress of blood and death, is hidden away in the misty mountains. The “Castle of the Blood Visage,” as it translates, was said to guard a lonely mountain pass where few dared to travel. The silence of the peaks, the thick mist that curls around their ancient stones, and perhaps it was the strange crimson hue of the stone that sometimes stains the walls after rainfall gave rise to whispers of a darker truth. It was said that the very rock itself was cursed, steeped in the blood of the living and haunted by creatures that were neither mortal nor divine.
The legends tell that Dun Dreach-Fhoula was not built by human hands alone. According to the old stories, the fortress was raised by beings from the Otherworld and blood-drinking fae who hid from sunlight and feasted upon travelers who strayed too close. The pass they guarded was more than a road through the mountains; it was a threshold between life and death.
The Dracula Connection
Bram Stoker: There has been a lot of work connecting vampires and the fame and lore of vampires to Ireland. But how true are these claims? How was the Irish vampiric lore before modern fame?
Now, the legend is not really told as a stand alone story, but it is certainly mentioned when talking about alternative theories to the inspiration behind Dracula. Many have argued that this Irish legend, rather than the history of Vlad the Impaler, may have inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Though Stoker himself claimed otherwise, the rumour about it being more Irish than anything exists and has taken hold in lore since at least the 90s.
He never visited Eastern Europe and relied on travelers’ tales to construct his vampire’s homeland. At the same time, in Dublin’s National Museum, Geoffrey Keating’s History of Ireland was displayed, filled with accounts of undead spirits and ancient chieftains who rose from their graves to drink blood.
One such tale was that of Abhartach, the blood-drinking lord of Irish legend, whose grave was said to exude darkness even in daylight. Around the same period, writer Patrick W. Joyce published a story about this same chieftain, spreading his name throughout Ireland. I
The words alone, “the place of tainted blood”, seem like something born from Gothic imagination, yet they belong to Ireland’s own folklore. Or does it? Is it really just a piece of Gothic imagination? Some say that the very word Dracula comes from the word, Droch-fhoula. But if we start to dismantle the grammar and linguistic history of the Droch-fhoula, it seems to fall apart. And the question is, does the whole legend of Droch-fhoula fall apart if you take a close look at it?
The Hunt for Droch-fhoula Castle
Now, the tale gets passed around that Droch-fhoula comes from ancient Irish legends. The expression is believed to refer to blood feuds between people or families. Could it also be for a vampire legend native to Ireland?
It looks like this claim comes from Peter Haining and Peter Tremayne in their book The Un-Dead from 1997. According to them, they got the story sent to them in a letter from Cathal Ó Sándair in 1995. It is supposed to be from a lecture delivered by a man called Ó Súilleabháin, the head of the Irish Folklore Commission, who supposedly mentioned a castle called Dún Dreach-Fhola in Magillicuddy’s Reeks inhabited by blood-drinking fairies:
It was Ó Sándair, writing to the authors in April 1995, who also made the observation that Bram might have been guided to use the name of the historical Wallachian hero – Dracula – because it sounded the same as the Irish droch-fhola (pronounced drok’ola), bad blood; he might even have connected the name with a Kerry folk-tale about ‘Dún Dreach-Fhola’ (pronounced drak’ola), the castle of blood visage. The castle was said to be high up in a lonely pass among the Macgillicuddy’s Reeks, a range in Co. Kerry, which contains Ireland’s highest mountain. Ó Sándair may well be right: Seán Ó Súilleabháin, the Kerry-born one time registrar and archivist of the Irish Folklore Commission, mentioned this same oral folk-tale in a lecture at UCD in 1961, prior to the publication of his book on Irish death customs, Caitheamh Aimsire ar Thórraimh, translated into English six years later as Irish Wake Amusements. He said it was told to him in the Macgillicuddy’s Reeks. The story concerns an ‘evil fairy fortress’ – Dún Dreach-Fhola, inhabited by neamh-mhairbh (Un-Dead), who sustained themselves on the blood of wayfarers. Unfortunately there is no reference to the story in Caithreamh [sic] Aimsire ar Thórraimh. Source: The Un-dead, page 71
Folklorist, Owen Harding believes the origin of the word could come from this word and that the connection comes from a manuscript about another vampiric legend about The Abhartach. An article says:
“Owen Harding says there was a manuscript published about this legend from an anonymous writer. It was entitled The Abhartach, Dreach-Fhoula. This document was exhibited up till 1868 in none other than Trinity College which Stoker attended. So is it likely that Stoker used this story to base his novel on? Harding believes it is.”
Is it true that these writers got the story from a folklorist who collected Ó Súilleabháin was a folklorist, but there are as of now, no primary sources directly from him about this legend. In fact, an article about his work actually said: Vampires are not to be found in Seán Ó Súilleabháin’s A Handbook of Irish Folklore, published in 1942. So that this part is true is rather dubious. It is also worth noting that both Hauning and Tremayne also wrote a lot of fiction and perhaps were not careful enough in their research.
Although they are claiming these folklorists and writers have been straight up lying about it and most hits searching for it is a blog post dedicated to expose the story as fabricated and not ancient and local of Kerry at all. So it begs the question, was it more of a mistranslation and confusing old Irish text, or about fabricating them to make stronger claims about Irish connection to Dracula? Or is it really a piece of evidence somewhere, where the tales and ruins of a castle inhabited by blood thirsty fairies exist?
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
After being stranded on their little island at Struten Lighthouse in stormy weather with the waves crashing in, a woman succumbed to her illness and has since then been haunting it, still waiting for the help that never came.
Far out at sea beyond Hvaler, Østfold, where the Skagerrak turns unforgiving and the horizon feels endless, lies a small volcanic island called Struten. The island is crowned by an abandoned lighthouse that should, by all logic, be dark and silent. At night, its light still shines across the water, guiding ships away from hidden reefs.
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Today, the lighthouse is part of the coastal trail in the Oslofjord, with options for overnight stays. And when darkness deepens, the island reveals something else.
Struten Lighthouse: A historic beacon on a remote volcanic island, stands amidst scenic greenery, symbolizing maritime heritage and haunting stories. // Source: Kyrre
An island born of shipwrecks
The waters between Hankø and Hvaler have long been feared by sailors. Storms rise quickly, currents shift without warning, and countless ships once met their end on unseen rocks. So many lives were lost that public pressure eventually forced authorities to act.
In the autumn of 1904, the barque “Sir John Lawrence” went down at Struten, and the entire crew of 13 perished. The wreck was located in 1997 and is considered a marine archaeological find of great interest. A proposal has been made to leave the wreck untouched as an “underwater museum”. The tragic sinking led to the demand from the seamen’s associations being made again. Now the matter gained momentum and a lighthouse station was built at Struten during 1906/07. In the autumn of 1907, Struten Lighthouse was completed and put into service.
Fyrvokter Fredrik Nannestad arrived from Kristiania with his wife Albertine Marie and their two sons, Fredrik and Arthur. Together, they were entrusted with keeping the paraffin lamps burning so that no more vessels would be claimed by the sea.
A life of isolation
Life on Struten was harsh and lonely. The family worked in shifts through the night, seven days a week. There was no telephone. No motorboat. No school for the children. Their only regular contact with the outside world was the mail boat, which arrived every other week if weather allowed.
In case of emergency, they were given one lifeline. If help was needed, a black balloon was to be raised on the flagpole. Someone on the mainland would see it. Help would come.
The winter of 1910 was unusually brutal. Storm after storm battered the island throughout February, cutting the family off completely. Waves smashed against the rocks. Wind screamed around the lighthouse tower.
Albertine fell gravely ill. She burned with fever, coughing blood and mucus as her strength faded. Fredrik did everything he could. As the storm howled, he tried again and again to raise the emergency balloon. Each time, the wind tore it loose.
At last, he managed to secure the black balloon to the flagpole. It fluttered wildly in the storm, a silent cry for help. But no one on land saw it, or they did, but it was a week until they could get a boat out to see what was going on.
For days, Albertine lay dying while the lighthouse continued its duty. When the weather finally calmed a full week later, a rescue party was sent. They arrived too late. Albertine Marie Nannestad had been dead for several days. The doctor later determined she had suffered from tuberculosis, a deadly and contagious lung disease.
A tragedy that echoed
Albertine was buried in the city. The very next day, Fredrik and his sons were required to return to Struten and resume their duties.
The story shook the entire region. Locals began calling the lighthouse Djævleø-Fyre, the Devil Island Lighthouse. Newspapers wrote of the tragedy for days.
That same autumn, the eldest son died from a heart condition. The youngest left for America as soon as he was old enough. Fredrik remained alone on Struten until retirement, watching the light burn where his family had once lived.
A presence that never left
Struten Lighthouse was automated in 1985. Since then, no one has lived on the island.
Many report hearing footsteps in the steep spiral staircase leading up the lighthouse, even when they are completely alone. Others have seen the shadow of a woman moving silently across the island, her figure fading before they can approach.
Every night, as the old wall clock in the keeper’s residence nears quarter to eleven, she is said to begin her rounds. She is often seen near the flagpole. It is also said that the boulder on the north side turns every Thursday at midnight.
Since Struten Lighthouse was opened to tourists, witnesses claim she appears every single evening. In the fading light, a woman stands by the flagpole, scanning the horizon. At Struten, the lighthouse still does its job. And beside it, a keeper’s wife still waits for help that is more than a century too late.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
The once stately Sauda Fjordhotel is said to be haunted by a remorseful colonel, who took his own life when his womanizing ways lost him the love of his life.
At Sauda Fjordhotell in Rogaland, the fjord lies calm and dark beneath the mountains, reflecting a building that has witnessed more than a century of guests, celebrations, and quiet departures. Sauda Fjord Hotel is a manor hotel that was built in 1914 as a recreation center for the wealthy. Until 1931, Sauda had no road connection with the outside world. All traffic was by boat, which caused problems when the winters were cold and the ice was thick on the fjord.
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In more modern times, the hotel has gone bankrupt time and time again, and the reviews tells of a tired place in need of renovations. Most guests check out and leave with memories. Some never do though. On the third floor, behind the closed door of room 315, something restless is said to remain.
Guests assigned to room 315 often report disturbances that begin after nightfall.
Heavy knocks echo through the room, slow and deliberate, like the rhythm of a walking stick striking the floor. Furniture is found moved from its place by morning. Lights flicker on and off without explanation. Glasses slide across tabletops as if nudged by an unseen hand.
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Some speak of a shadowy figure standing at the edge of the room. Others describe the sensation of being watched, studied, appraised. The air grows colder without warning, and sleep becomes difficult to hold onto.
The Colonel Who Loved Too Much
According to local legend, the presence belongs to a colonel who stayed at the hotel in the early years of the twentieth century. He was a man of rank and charm, accustomed to attention and admiration. Engaged to be married, he could not resist flirting with other women, even as his wedding day approached.
His fiancée, humiliated and enraged, called off the marriage entirely. Only then did the colonel realize what he had lost. In despair and shame, he took his own life in room 315, hanging himself where he had once prepared for a future that would never come. He was only 28 years old.
A Ghost That Never Changed
Death, it seems, did not temper his nature. The colonel is said to have remained a womanizer even beyond the grave. Female guests have reported the unsettling feeling of cold hands brushing against them in the darkness. A touch on the arm. A presence too close to ignore. Always brief. Always chilling.
One of the hotel’s managers has stated that many guests in room 315 have asked to change rooms because they feel that someone is lying next to them.
Room 315 at Sauda Fjordhotell is still in use. The door still opens. The lights still work. But when night falls and the sounds begin, some guests come to understand that not every check in is followed by a check out.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
After the Titanic sank in 1912, people started talking about seeing the ghost of Captain Smith around the world. Even after all these years, his death and afterlife have an air of mystery surrounding it and he has become one of the most well known ghosts from the Titanic tragedy.
Captain Edward Smith, a man once regarded as unsinkable as his ship, was among those lost to the icy depths. Throughout his life, he had never been involved in accidents, until he was in the midst of one of the biggest tragedies at sea.
RMS Titanic: The largest ocean liner in service at the time, Titanic was four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. on 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, she hit an iceberg and sank. Out of the 2,224 people onboard, 1,635 died. Many of them are now believed to haunt different parts of the world. //Image: 1912 illustration by Willy Stöwer.
Straight after the tragedy of the Titanic, people started to tell stories about seeing his ghosts, and those stories have evolved, travelled across the world and even today, new stories emerge from those claiming to have met the ghost of the Captain.
The Life of Captain Smith
Edward John Smith was a British sea captain and naval officer, born in 1850 in Stoke-on-Trent in England. At the age of 13, he left his childhood home and went to sea. In 1880, he joined the White Star Line as an officer, beginning a long career in the British Merchant Navy.
There were many witnesses that came forward with different stories about him. Some of the earliest accounts of the captain’s demise turned out to be people that wasn’t even on the passenger list. So what really happened that night? Most witnesses said he appeared on the bridge of the Titanic just moments after impact, asking what happened. .
“An iceberg, sir,” First Officer William Murdoch told him. The rest is history, and also a bit of mystery. Some say that he went into shock, and that he became quite passive when the work of getting people into the lifeboats started.
Captain Edward John Smith at the Titanic bridge on the morning of April 10th, 1912
Some say that he shot himself with a pistol, wireless operator Harold Bride, said he’d seen Smith “dive from the bridge into the sea.” Some say that he was swept off by a wave. Titanic fireman Harry Senior, Smith jumped off the ship with “an infant clutched tenderly in his arms,” swam to a nearby lifeboat, handed off the child and swam back toward the Titanic, saying, “I will follow the ship.”
“[Smith] took one of the children standing by him on the bridge and jumped into the sea,” fireman James McGann recounted. “He endeavored to reach the overturned boat but did not succeed. That was the last I saw of Captain Smith … He held the little girl under one arm as he jumped into the sea and endeavored to reach the nearest lifeboat with the child.”
Thomas Whiteley, a first class steward, also described seeing the captain trying to help a baby into a lifeboat.
“Some women tried to drag him on the boat, but he pulled away from them and said: ‘Save yourselves,’” Whiteley recalled. “I saw him go under, and he never came up.”
Author Wyn Craig Wade wrote in The Titanic: End of a Dream, “Captain Smith had at least five different deaths, from heroic to ignominious.” His final moments remain shrouded in uncertainty, inspiring stories that he either took his own life or was swept away by a wave only to return to his doomed vessel.
Though his body was never found, his spirit may not have stayed at sea.
The Ghost of Captain Smith and his Final Goodbye
One of the strange phenomena that happened after the Titanic sank, was the widows of sailors and crew members waking in the nights, hearing their names called out by their loved ones, or seeing their ghosts, long before they knew about the ship sinking.
According to one eerie legend, his wife, Sarah Eleanor Smith, saw his ghost appear in their home before the world had even learned of the Titanic’s fate. This must have been in their home in a red brick, twin-gabled house named “Woodhead” on Winn Road in Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire.
She claimed he stood before her in her drawing room, dripping wet and silent, as if to say his final goodbye. He walked across the carpet to the window, not saying a word before vanishing into thin air as he reached the window. According to Mrs. Smith, this is when she learned about her husband’s death.
The Haunted Britannia Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool
This was not the last time people claimed to have witnessed his ghost roaming though. Another place he is said to have haunted is the Adelphy Hotel in Liverpool, a hotel often dubbed, the most haunted hotel in the UK.
It is said that The Sefton Suite in the hotel is an exact replica of the first-class smoking room on the ship. A paranormal researcher claims to have witnessed three men haunting the room, saying it was Smith together with two other naval officers who also went down with the ship. It is however disputed that the Sefton Suite is a replica or built by the same craftsmen that the myth claims.
From left to right: First Officer William M Murdoch, Chief Engineer Joseph Evans, Fourth Officer David Alexander and Capt. Edward J. Smith seen on the Olympic.
His Ghost Haunting Baltimore
One of the strangest stories though, is how a mariner claims to have seen the captain in different places in Baltimore, Maryland over a 17-year period and that he hadn’t died at all. Peter Pryal was a businessman who claimed to have been a Quartermaster on the steamship Majestic for the White Star liner over 30 years ago when Captain Smith was his captain..
Mr. Pryal said that he saw the Captain on a Wednesday morning, and to confirm it was him, he went to the same spot that Friday and saw the Captain again. At 9 o’clock the following Friday or Saturday morning, he went to the corner of St. Paul and Baltimore Streets where he had seen him last and stood on the corner for almost an hour. To his astonishment, he saw the same man approaching him, he said, ‘Captain Smith, how are you?‘ The mystery man replied, ‘Very well, but please don’t detain me, I am on business.’
Mr. Pryal followed the man to St. Paul and Fayette Streets. Several times the supposed Captain turned to see Mr. Pryal followed him, and he ducked into the Calvert Building to try to lose him in the crowd. He caught up with the Captain as he was boarding a car or a train to Washington and the Captain said:
‘Be good, shipmate, until we meet again.’
Mr. Pryal was shocked as he believed him to be dead. He had a nervous breakdown in public and got himself home, but his doctor attested that he was: “absolutely sane and not given to hallucinations.” But what really happened here? Did he see his ghosts? Did he uncover the truth that the Captain had in fact survived? Or was it all just a big misunderstanding?
The Haunting of the SS Winterhaven
In the 70s, another ghost story emerged connected to the Titanic and the ghost of the captain. Although there aren’t many sources for this story online before 2008. In 1977, Second Officer Leonard Bishop gave a tour of the SS Winterhaven. A soft-spoken brit was among the passengers, and something about this particular passenger felt different, although Bishop couldn’t explain why. He turned away for a minute, and when he looked back at the passenger, he was gone.
This would all fall into place years later, when Bishop stumbled across a photo of Captain Smith and saw that it was the passenger that he had taken on a tour.
Haunting his Childhood home in Stoke on Trent
Another place Smith is said to be haunting, is his childhood home in Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. The home was built in the early 19th century and was used as a corner shop by Captain Smith’s mother. He lived there until he was thirteen and he went to sea.
Most of the ghost stories come from the house owners, Neil and Louise Bronner who rented the house out to many tenants for a decade before they sold it in 2012. Many came back with a ghost story or two.
There have been those who claimed to have seen his ghost in the bedroom. A man was alone in his bed one day and saw the apparition in the captain. The man in the house had apparently been at sea himself. Neil also got a phone call about a uniformed man walking around in the kitchen.
On a side note, there used to be a story circling around that a mirror from his home was haunted by him as well. According to the story, he put it on his dressing table before setting sail on Titanic. According to the story, his maid kept seeing his face in the mirror on the anniversary of the sinking.
According to the story, her name was Ethelwynne, and was offered to take one item from his home when he went down with the ship after the vessel hit an iceberg on April 14, 1912 as a keepsake and in lieu of wages. She chose this and had it in her and her family’s possession until it was found in an estate sale.
Eventually the mirror ended up in auction houses with the story attached to it, and landed in ghost hunter Zac Bagan’s collection. But how true is this story though? Coincidentally, the auction started a couple of months or so in 2018, when a couple in Belfast snapped a picture in a bar they claimed was his ghost. How much of a coincidence is it that the two different hauntings of the same ghost appeared so close together? Kenny Biddle for the Skeptical Inquirer did a longer piece about why the mirror and its haunted story was most likely not true at all.
His Ghost in a Pub in Belfast
Talking about the picture snapped in Belfast, this is perhaps the lates sighting and big story about the ghost of the Captain.
Cheryl and Luke Arkless were in Robinsons bar in Belfast one evening in 2018. The couple, both 34 at the time, were visiting from Devon and sat down for a drink on July 29th. Cheryl’s mother in law took, in a matter of seconds, three pictures of them. According to themselves, they felt a cold wind on their backs, but didn’t think much of it until they were back in England and saw something strange in the photos. As Cheryl herself stated:
‘I called my husband and he said it was probably a person walking behind us very fast. But the thing is, everything around us is crystal clear apart from that blur. I was very skeptical at first but now I really think it looks like a man. There is a strong ‘Titanic’ background in the bar, and the more you look at the more he resembles the captain. On the right-hand side behind us, a band was playing, so he looks as if he is watching the band.’
According to ghost hunters Paranormal Investigations UK, they analyzed the photo and tested it for manipulation. According to Cheryl, they told her the photo was untampered and unexplainable. Now, why this bar? According to Cheryl, the pub had not experienced anything like it when she called and let them know about the picture.
It’s important to note that the pub is filled with original memorabilia from the Titanic like letters and post cards written on board, first and second class China from the White Star Line vessels. Could it have been Captain Smith haunting the bar close to where the Titanic first set sail?
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
How big can a haunted area be? Can the whole of Wailua on Kauai Island be haunted? The place certainly seems steeped in tales of Night Marchers and a procession of the dead, making their way down the river to the afterlife.
Wailua, a place rich in ancient history and sacred sites, is not just known for its majestic heiau, or temples. The name translates to Two Waters in Hawaiian and is on the eastern side of the Kauai island. The sleeping giant, Nounou Mountain divides the coastal Wailua from the inland Wailua.
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It’s also a land steeped in haunting legends that send shivers down the spines of locals and visitors alike. This verdant area on the island of Kauai holds tales of restless spirits, shadowy apparitions, and unexplained phenomena that have persisted for generations.
Another use for the word Wailua is often translated to ghosts, spirit or the remains of the dead, and there are many haunted legends around these parts.
Mysterious Wailua: Opaeka’s Waterfall falling into the Wailua River
Ancient Hawaiian Legends of Wailua River State Park
Around the eastern part of Kauai there is the Wailua River State Park, a place known for its historical landmarks as it was once the seat of power for the chief on the island. It has places of worship, called Heiau, refuge places known as puʻuhonua and royal birthing stones.
The Night Marchers of Wailua River
Among the most chilling legends of Wailua are the stories of the Night Marchers—the ghosts of ancient Hawaiian warriors and chiefs. According to tradition, these spirits emerge during a certain phase of the moon, particularly on moonless nights. It is believed that the spirits of those who had recently died would journey down the Wailua River in large numbers, silently paddling their ghostly canoes under the cover of darkness.
The Wailua River is said to be the only navigable river in Hawaii for boats larger than a kayak. From there, they would make their way around the island to a cliff at Polihale, a sacred place where souls were said to leap into the next life.
Warriors of Hawaii: Night Marchers of Hawaiian legend is not only ghosts and lingering people of people that have died, but have said to also be ancient warriors or manifestations of the Hawaiian gods. /Flickr/Jai Mansson
Holy Haunted Paths of Wailua Roads
Along with the river itself, there are many sacred paths close to the Wailua River also said to be a place the marchers go through.
Many Hawaiians believe these Night Marchers still roam the land, particularly along the highway that stretches between Wailua and Lihu‘e. Witnesses describe eerie sightings of spectral processions, with ghostly figures moving in unison, their presence heralded by the sounds of drums and chanting. It is said that if you encounter the Night Marchers, you must lie face down on the ground, showing respect and avoiding eye contact, or else risk being taken with them into the spirit world.
A Highway of Hauntings
The highway connecting Wailua to Lihu‘e is notorious not only for sightings of the Night Marchers but also for a troubling number of car accidents. While law enforcement often attributes these wrecks to drunk driving, locals whisper of a more sinister cause—cursed spirits seeking vengeance or guiding those who disrespect the land to their doom. The road, it seems, is haunted by more than just reckless drivers. Some believe that the Night Marchers, in their ghostly procession, disrupt the living as they move between realms, leading to tragic accidents.
Wailua, with its breathtaking beauty and deep spiritual significance, remains a place where the past and present intertwine. The ancient spirits, it seems, are never far away, silently watching and waiting as they continue their eternal march through the island’s history. For those who visit, it’s a reminder that some stories are more than just tales—they are a part of the land itself, echoing through the ages in whispers and shadows.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
Rising from their graves, the vampiric Amalanhig from the Philippines are after your flesh and blood. But where did these creatures come from?
Across the Philippine archipelago, amidst thick jungles and quiet villages where the night air seems to hum with ancient secrets, there exists a terrifying legend told in hushed voices: the tale of the Amalanhig. Part vampire, part restless revenant or some sort of zombie-like creature, these undead beings are feared in Visayan mythology, especially among the Hiligaynon-speaking people of the central Philippines.
Though the shapeshifting creature aswang often steals the spotlight in Filipino lore, the Amalanhig is a uniquely haunting breed of monster. Neither entirely living nor fully dead, these creatures stalk the night in search of the warmth of human blood… or the eerie sound of laughter in the dark.
The Birth of the Amalanhig
According to myth, the Amalanhig were once human aswangs which is sinister, flesh-hungry creatures of Filipino legend known for their bloodlust and shape-shifting abilities. But unlike their counterparts, these particular aswangs failed to successfully pass on their dark powers before death. Stripped of their chance for a peaceful afterlife and denied their monstrous legacy, they rose from their graves — stiff, unyielding, and ravenous for human blood.
These undead beings are said to haunt burial grounds, thick forests, and isolated villages, forever cursed to chase down the living. Their appearance mirrors that of ordinary humans, though their upper canines are often unnaturally long and sharp, betraying their true nature.
It is also said that some humans could turn into these creatures as well. Most often people who died with some unfinished business or are after revenge after being murdered.
Death by Bite… or Tickle
In some versions, they relentlessly pursue the living, aiming to sink their oversized canines into the necks of unsuspecting victims.
But in one particularly strange and eerie variant of the myth, the Amalanhig dispatches its victims not with fangs, but through tickling. Yes — these deathless beings are said to chase humans until they catch them, and then proceed to tickle them to death. A grotesque and terrifying ordeal, where the victims perish from a mixture of laughter, breathlessness, and sheer horror.
The Army of Undead
Some legends claim that the Amalanhig was created by humans. According to one legend, a long time ago before the Spaniards came to the Philippines a chieftain ordered his priestess to create an army of warriors that couldn’t be killed.
They were created by killing ordinary men with dark rituals like putting dark soot, and putting a cursed pebble in their mouths. After three days they came back to life but they were mindless, walking corpses that only died after accomplishing their task.
How to Escape an Amalanhig
Due to the rigor mortis-like stiffness of their corpses, Amalanhigs can only walk in straight lines. A would-be victim can escape by running in a zigzag pattern, weaving unpredictably to confuse the creature.They can also be outrun as they are unable to bend their knees.
Another time-honored method is to seek refuge in high places like trees, rooftops, or raised platforms as the Amalanhig’s rigid limbs prevent it from climbing. Deep bodies of water are another safeguard; these undead fear rivers and lakes, and will not follow their prey into the depths.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
Said to be haunted by the people from the funeral home that used to be next door, the Doyle’s Pub in Dublin is said to have more than living patrons having a drink.
At the bustling corner of Phibsborough where the North Circular Road meets Doyle’s Corner stands Doyle’s Pub, a Victorian landmark with a chilling past and if we are to believe the drunken rumors, it is said the pub also houses a few ghosts.
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Once known as The Arthur Conan Doyle, this handsome old public house was built using stones from the nearby Saint Peter’s Church and is said to hold more than just whiskey and stories within its walls. Beneath the floorboards, a forgotten well lies in the cellar, and in the still hours after closing, the air grows heavy, as if something below is stirring.
Doyle’s Haunted Past
Over the years, Doyle’s has attracted its share of famous patrons. The celebrated Irish writer Brendan Behan often drank here, filling the pub with laughter, song, and poetry. But there was another regular whose presence was far darker. The infamous Albert Pierrepoint, one of the most prolific executioners in British history, made Doyle’s haunt whenever he was in Dublin for “work” at nearby Mountjoy Prison. After sending men to their deaths, he was known to stop by for a quiet whiskey or two, sitting in contemplation of his grim duty.
Some say that the ghosts could be one of Mr. Pierrepoint’s victims from Mountjouy who is looking for the man who hanged them.
The Ghosts from Lanigan’s Funeral Home
But what about the ghost said to haunt the pub? According to the stories, it is all because of the old funeral that was next to it for many years.
The pub once stood beside Lanigan’s Funeral Home, which may explain why restless spirits are said to wander here. Patrons have reported doors slamming, glasses shattering, and footsteps pacing the upper floor long after the bar has emptied. Some claim to have seen a pale figure appear at the top of the stairs before vanishing into thin air, while others swear they have felt a tap on the shoulder from unseen hands. The ghost, they say, may be one of Pierrepoint’s unfortunate “clients” from Mountjoy, still seeking out the hangman who drank here in life.
It is said the haunting reached its peak in the early 2000s, when Doyle’s was a thriving music venue and made the national news headlines when it was reported that a noisy ghost was living on the second floor of the pub. Today, it seems the old dancefloor on the second floor is no longer in use.
When the night grows quiet and the last patrons drift home, Doyle’s Corner becomes something else entirely. The laughter fades, the air chills, and from the darkened stairway above comes the creak of unseen feet. Perhaps it is only the old building settling. Or perhaps the condemned have finally come calling for the hangman.
A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
The whole estate of Rathfarnham Castle in south Dublin is said to have its ghosts. From the antique ballroom, its icy lakes and roads leading up to it, ghosts are said to linger.
In the border town of Sweden of Norway, Fredriksten Fortress has seen more bloodshed than many places. But who is the White Lady said to be haunting it, soaring around the clock tower in the night?
High above the town of Halden, a border town in Norway toward Sweden, where stone walls overlook the fjord and the borderlands beyond, Fredriksten Fortress rises with quiet authority. Built to defend Norway from invasion, it has stood through sieges, cannon fire, and centuries of uneasy peace. Today it is a place of museums, concerts, and summer crowds. But when night settles over the ramparts, the fortress is said to remember its dead.
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Among the many legends bound to these walls, none is as enduring as that of Den Hvite Dame, the White Lady of Fredriksten.
Fredriksten Festning: The haunted fortress in Halden, Norway is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman in white, said to have been behind mysterious disappearances and strange occurrences, leaving some soldiers defeated. // Source: Kjetil Bjørnsrud
A Fortress Shaped by War
Fredriksten Fortress is one of Norway’s most important military strongholds. From the seventeenth century onward, it played a crucial role in defending the border against Swedish forces. The fortress is perhaps best known for the death of King Charles XII of Sweden, who was killed during the siege of 1718.
There is still a debate about if it was a Norwegian who killed him, or one of his own country men who was behind the shot. Long after the final shots were fired, the weight of conflict still seems to cling to the stone.
The Woman in White
According to legend, the White Lady was once the secret mistress of the fortress commander. Some say that she was the maid of commander Johan Hubner von Holst, or some say that it was actually one of the soldiers.
Their relationship was hidden within the walls, known only to a few, and carried out in the shadow of constant danger. During a Swedish attack on the fortress, the commander or soldier was struck and killed by a cannonball or shot by a pistol. His body was never recovered, lost to the chaos of battle.
In some versions, her grief was simply that her love was never reciprocated. Either way, overcome with grief and despair, the woman is said to have climbed the fortress white clock tower and flung herself from it. Her death bound her to the place where her life and love had ended.
Since then, her spirit has never truly left Fredriksten.
Midnight on the White Tower
The White Lady is most often reported near the clock tower now known as the White Tower, appearing close to midnight and the full moon. She is also said to be seen around the commander’s building and down in the dungeons.
Witnesses describe a pale female figure dressed in white, silent and still, never touching the ground as she glides past. Some say she waves gently toward those who see her. Others claim she stands motionless, gazing out over the city of Halden and the dark waters of the fjord beyond.
One of the strangest details repeated in many retellings is the behavior of the fortress lights. Several people have claimed that the spotlights illuminating the walls suddenly switch off moments before the apparition appears, plunging the area into darkness just before the White Lady reveals herself.
She is not said to be violent, but her presence carries a deep sense of sorrow, as if the grief that ended her life continues to echo through the stone.
The Missing Lieutenant and The Mad Soldiers
One of the most famed stories about the ghost comes from two soldiers placed on watch by the tower in 1820. When a soldier was taking over the shift of a soldier named Tobias, he noticed how strangely he beheaved, but didn’t find out what happened. Tobias was pale and shaken, staggering down the stairs, unable to put into words what he had seen.
When a lieutenant came to free this next soldier, he too was pale and shaken. Wanting to investigate, the lieutenant grabbed his pistol and ventured up to the clock tower. Not long after, shots were fired, and all of them went to the scene. But no one found the lieutenant, who had vanished into thin air, and was never seen again.
Tobias turned mute after the incident, and never talked about anything after, dying a year after he was sent home. The other soldier turned mad and died at the mad house the year after as well, and no one found out what really happened that night.
Some speculate that it was actually the woman herself who killed her lover, and that she ever since has hated men, and they should be careful walking around the clock tower at night. In 1926, a human skeleton was found under the tower, and many claim that this had to be the missing lieutenant. But what really happened that night, was never cleared. Even how true the story was, is rather uncertain.
Eyewitnesses After the Incident
After that tragic vanishing supposedly happened, many more soldiers came forward with their own stories about those who had seen the White Lady. In a newspaper, it was published when an old soldier who used to work there told about his own encounter an August night in the 19th century:
“Her hair was covered with a grayish, veiled fabric that fell in folds downwards and blended in with the rest of her dress. I did not notice her body, but she must have been tall and slender. Her face was very beautiful. But because of her mournful eyes it seemed ravaged and pale. For a moment she stared intently at me, then the image was blurred, and she disappeared,” Source
Another soldier saw the white lady when he returned to Fredriksten on leave. He saw a beautiful lady as she “stepped out of nowhere” and came through the heavy gates towards Place d’Armes. She followed him on the way to the house he lived in. In front of the door he turned and looked five minutes later. She was still there.
In the 1930s and around World War II, there were a number of incidents surrounding the white lady although it had perhaps not been reported so much in the 1900s. But there are cases in modern times where sightings of the ghost happen.
In the early 2000s, two German campers visited the fortress and claimed to have seen a smiling female figure in the middle of the night, dressed in a thin, white cloth. The Germans had never heard the story of the white lady and wondered if someone was filming it. NRK Radio and several newspapers interviewed the couple.
Some psychics visiting claim to have felt a thing or two, and paranormal researchers coming from all around the world, claim to have found evidence of something supernatural inside of the fortress. Although the definite truth of it all will perhaps never be revealed.
Julius Runge: Fortress Frederiksten at Halden-Norway
The King’s Bastion
There are also those claiming that the cafe is also one of the places where supernatural occurrences happens. Those working there say that the table cloths has been ripped off the tables and sounds from the kitchen on second floor makes sounds when no one is supposed to be there.
From the top of the King’s Bastion, the view stretches across Halden, the fjord, and into Sweden. By day, it is a place of beauty and perspective. By night, it is one of the most commonly mentioned locations in reports of unexplained sightings and sensations.
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A story of doomed lovers and haunted ivy leaves, the Lady in Green is said to haunt Caerphilly Castle in Wales together with the spirit of Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, wailing as an omen of death.
After the battles during world war two, Hegra Fortress was a place that became known to withstand the Germans, although they too in the end had to raise the white flag. After the war, people started to believe that one of the fallen soldiers was still there, wandering the deep and damp tunnels.
In a cemetery turned into a public park, the Wolfe Tone Square is said to be haunted by John Toler, one of Ireland’s most haunted man and remembered as the Hanging Judge.
The old cabin high on Hardangervidda, Norway is said to be haunted by its very first caretaker. But although Krækkja DNT cabin is said to be his eternal home, it seems like the more people visiting, the more he retreats to the plateau.
Preying on the blood of the young one, the vampiric Guajona from northern Spain is said to stalk the villages and valleys in Cantabria, thirsting for blood.
On the hills where the last wolves in Ireland roamed, ghosts have been spotted on Feltrim Hill, always moving towards the sacred spring that were said to have healing powers.
A gathering place for the elite class in Norway, Losby Manor house in the countryside outside of Oslo housed kings and queens. It is also said that some of its residents are haunting the place, especially the ghost of The Lady of Losby, who dedicated her life to her home.
In the Naul outside of Dublin, the Westown House was for a long time abandoned and left to ruins. Now the work of restoring the building has started, but the question is, how about the ghosts said to linger there? Are they still haunting their ruins?
In the Norwegian coastal city, Haugesund, Lothes Mat & Vinhus is one of those restaurants that keeps things traditional. But could it be that some of the former residents of the house are behind the strange things that have been going on for decades?
Stalking the northern valleys in Spain, the vampiric Guaxa witch from Asturian legends stalks the night. Although no one is safe, the starved and thirsty monster is especially after the blood of the children.
Is the ghost of Anne Brandfjell, a famous fortune teller and wise wife from Norway haunting the old Maritime school in Oslo?
