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Most Famous Photographs of Ghosts and their Backstory

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Spirit photography has existed since the first camera. Today there are plenty of hazy images people claim holds a spirit within the frame. Have a look at some of the more well known photos people believe prove the existence of ghosts.

A picture says more than a thousand words. What do they say about the existence of ghosts? What is a spirit photograph really? These intriguing images often capture more than just a moment in time; they reveal the mysteries and beliefs surrounding the supernatural. Historically, spirit photography emerged in the 19th century, captivating the public’s imagination and sparking debates about life after death.

Here are some of the more famous photographs showing ghosts allegedly, presenting not only the eerie visuals but also the captivating stories behind them. Each of these images tells a tale filled with profound emotions and unanswered questions, inviting viewers to ponder the thin veil between this world and the next. Whether through ghostly figures captured in old family portraits or spectral images appearing unexpectedly in scenic landscapes, these photographs challenge our perception of reality and beckon us to explore the unknown.

Boot Hill Cemetery Ghost

The Boothill Cemetery Ghost: After the photo was taken and developed, the two friends noticed a third person present they hadn’t seen the day they took the picture.

Boot Hill Ghost is a captivating picture taken in 1996 by Ike Canton in Boot Hill Cemetery, a historically rich site located in Tombstone, Arizona, USA. This iconic cemetery is known for its storied past, which includes the final resting places of many infamous figures from the Wild West era.

In the photograph, Canton and his friend Kelly from Southern California are dressed up in classic cowboy gear, donning wide-brimmed cowboy hats and gripping authentic six-shooters, which lend an air of authenticity to their old-timey appearance. As the camera clicked, only Ike Canton’s friend was clearly visible in the frame, while the mysterious man wearing a hat lurking behind him was not.

This shadowy figure has sparked numerous theories and debates among enthusiasts, who speculate about the possibility of capturing a ghostly presence in such a significant location steeped in legend and lore. Although digital manipulation was possible in 1996, software’s like photoshop was still in the early days, and most would agree that the image looks untouched when talking about editing like that. So then, what happened that day in the cemetery?

Read More: The Haunting Mystery of Boot Hill Cemetery Ghost 

Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Chicago, USA

The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove: This picture of what appears to be a ghost sitting on a grave in Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery became quite famous after it was taken in 1991 by Judy Felz, and so did the legend of the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove.

The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove: This picture of what appears to be a ghost sitting on a grave in Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery became quite famous after it was taken in 1991 by Judy Felz, and so did the legend of the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove. The image showcases a figure dressed in white. Since its emergence, this photograph has sparked numerous discussions and investigations into the supernatural, drawing people from various backgrounds who seek to understand the mystery behind the haunting. Many believe that the figure represents the spirit of a grieving mother, vigilantly watching over her child’s grave, while others ponder the cemetery’s tragic history as a possible source of paranormal activity.

Read more: The Haunting of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: Chicago’s Most Infamous Graveyard 

The Falling Body in the Cooper Family’s Photograph

The Ghost in the Photo: The photo in question was this and caused a lot of debate over the years. Now, it seems the whole story is out.

The mystery of the infamous Cooper Family Falling Body photo, long circulated in paranormal communities as one of the most haunted images, has been debunked. Originally believed to show a ghostly figure falling behind a family in their new Texas home during the 1950s, the photo’s eerie backstory evolved over time, with tales of haunted houses, tragic pasts, and even lingering spirits. However, in 2020, Richard Ramsdell, an artist and editor, revealed that he created the photo in 1981 using darkroom techniques.

Read More: The Mystery of the Cooper Family Falling Body Photo is Solved 

The Woman in White in Château de Bonaguil in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance, France

Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a photo of his wedding to the Chateau de Bonaguil and claims that a ghost appeared (outlined in red) at the time the photo was developed. © Photo credit: source

Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a captivating photo of his wedding to the picturesque Château de Bonaguil, renowned for its rich history and enchanting beauty as well as its haunted rumors. He claims that an otherworldly presence, a ghost, appeared when the photo was developed, adding a mysterious element to his cherished memory. The Château de Bonaguil:, steeped in legends and tales of hauntings, has long been a subject of fascination for both historians and ghost enthusiasts alike.

Read More: The November Ghost in Château de Bonaguil

The Chinnery Backseat Driver Ghost

March 22, 1959, 44 year old Mrs. Mable Chinnery from in Ipswich in Suffolk, England packed up their car and took off to visit Mable’s mother at the cemetery with her husband, Jim. When they arrived, Mr. Chinnery stayed in the Hillman Minx car as his wife went to the grave of her mother.

Mable had just gotten a new camera, some saying it was an Eastman-Kodak Brownie. She had brought it on her trip to take some pictures of her mother’s gravestone who had died a week prior. After taking several photos, Mrs. Chinnery saw that she had one picture left. So, she pointed the camera at her husband in the car and took the picture.

When they got the film developed though, she saw it was more than her gravestone Mrs. Chinnery had taken a picture off. Sitting in the backseat of the car was the clear image of a person. When Mrs. Chinnery showed the pictures to her friends they pointed out the figure in the backseat saying: “But there’s your mother in the back!”

Read More: The True Story of The Chinnery Backseat Driver Ghost 

The Amityville Horror Ghost Boy

The Ghost Boy: One of the more iconic images from this case is the photo taken when the Warren family visited the house. They snapped this picture and claimed it showed on of the murdered children.

The haunting caught the attention of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and two months after the Lutz family fled, the Warrens and a local TV crew did a segment on the house, bringing in so-called “ghost hunters” and paranormal experts to evaluate the couple’s claims.  The Warrens visited the house on the night of March 6, 1976, and declared it infested with a dark, demonic presence. 

Among other things, they snapped the now famed photo of the ‘ghost boy’, thought to be one of the DeFeo children. But was it? The picture has gone through a lot of investigations and mostly debunked by those who had a closer look. they claim it was It’s Paul Bartz, an investigator working with the Warrens on his knees and wearing glasses.

Read More: The Amityville Horror: A Ghost Story That Refuses to Die

The Man in Kilt at Stirling Castle

There have also been spotted a male ghost wearing a traditional Highland kilt. Many have mistaken him for a tour guide working at Stirling Castle and are shocked when he just turns and passes through the wall. The ghost of the man in the kilt is often seen walking around the corner and disappearing through the wall near a dungeon of Stirling Castle. Back in the day, there used to be a door there, but today it is bricked up and just a solid wall.

The ghost has been talked about in the more modern times as it was allegedly caught in a photograph. In 1935 the Highland ghost is said to have been pictured by an architect, when he was planning for some upcoming building work of the castle.

It must be said that many of the people that owned the picture of the supposed ghost that they claimed could be seen in the picture and passed it around as a ghost picture, was known to be fond of practical jokes. Still, the mystery and intrigue of the picture has kept the story of the lonely man in kilt alive at Stirling Castle.

Read More: The Colorful Ghosts at Stirling Castle

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

Brown Lady of Raynham Hall: This is the picture taken in the staircase that is now perhaps one of the most famous ghost photos.

The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall is one of the most famous spirit photographs ever taken, capturing what many believe to be the ghost of Lady Dorothy Walpole. The image, taken in 1936 by photographers Captain Hubert C. Provand and Indre Shira for Country Life magazine, shows a ghostly, veiled figure descending the staircase of Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England. According to legend, Lady Dorothy was imprisoned in the hall by her husband and died there under mysterious circumstances. Reports of her ghostly apparition date back to the early 19th century, with witnesses describing a woman in a brown brocade dress with empty eye sockets. While skeptics argue the photograph may be a trick of light or an accidental double exposure, believers see it as compelling evidence of the paranormal, solidifying The Brown Lady as an enduring icon of ghost photography.

Read More: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall

The Tulip Staircase Ghost: A Haunting at the Queen’s House in Greenwich

Ghost on the Stairs: The picture was said to be sent to experts to check the validity of the image. Although it certainly could be a classic case of double exposure, the image of The Tulip Staircase Ghost still holds a lot of credibility with some.

A retired Canadian reverend, R.W. Hardy, and his wife were visiting the Queen’s House on a casual tourist outing. While there, they took a picture of the staircase. When the film was developed, what should have been a simple snapshot became one of the most famous paranormal images in history. The photo clearly shows a shrouded, shadowy figure ascending the staircase, gripping the railing with an almost skeletal hand. Not one, but two hands, in fact, as if someone—or something—was climbing upward. 

Experts—including Kodak in their laboratory—examined the negative, ruling out tampering or double exposure. The eerie, translucent figure remained unexplained, solidifying its place in ghost-hunting lore.

Read More: The Tulip Staircase Ghost: A Haunting at the Queen’s House in Greenwich

The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo

The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo: One of the famous ghost photo’s online. It’s difficult to say what’s really going on in the picture, as the background for the image is still a mystery.

The legend behind the picture is that it happened in Eastwood City in Manila in the Philippines sometime in 2003. Two girls out in the city at night asked a stranger to take a picture of them. The camera was with a smartphone, or as smart as a phone could be back then and being a Nokia 7250. At the time the picture was taken, none of the girls noticed anything strange or the hand that showed up in the picture, grabbing one of the girl’s arms.

Some have pointed to the trend of “adding ghost templates” into pictures on apps and websites. But despite the similarity with many pictures from these apps, did something like this in 2003 that would be an exact match? Even though things look similar, there has yet to be found this. Besides, what came first, the apps doing this or the fame of the ghost picture?

Read More: The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo 

The Watcher of Corroboree Rock in Australia

The Watcher of Corroboree Rock: What apparition is appearing at this picture? How much of the legend behind it is true?

In 1959, sometimes it says 1956, this famous ghost photo was taken by Reverend R.S. Blance at Corroboree Rock near Alice Springs, Australia. The Presbyterian priest was visiting the area for a spiritual retreat and claimed that nothing was present when he took the picture, emphasizing that he was completely alone in the rugged and remote landscape. When it was developed though, a strange apparition appeared and has sparked debate to this day.

People see different things in this photo and even this debate is still not finalized. Some see an aboriginal woman in traditional clothing stands among the bushes. Some see a woman wearing a night dress from a different time period. Moreover, some viewers have described the image as resembling an ancient priest.

One possibility is that this is a double exposure of a living person, which is an intriguing photographic technique that combines multiple images into a single frame, creating a unique artistic effect.

Read More: The Watcher of Corroboree Rock in Australia and the Mystery it holds 

This was just a small collection of famous photographs that claim to prove the existence of ghosts

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The Haunting Mystery of Boot Hill Cemetery Ghost

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In 1996 a picture was taken in Boot Hill Cemetery allegedly showing a ghost in the background. But what was the truth behind this wild west mystery?

Boot Hill Ghost is a captivating picture taken in 1996 by Ike Canton in Boot Hill Cemetery, a historically rich site located in Tombstone, Arizona, USA. This iconic cemetery is known for its storied past, which includes the final resting places of many infamous figures from the Wild West era.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from USA

In the photograph, Canton and his friend Kelly from Southern California are dressed up in classic cowboy gear, donning wide-brimmed cowboy hats and gripping authentic six-shooters, which lend an air of authenticity to their old-timey appearance. As the camera clicked, only Ike Canton’s friend was clearly visible in the frame, while the mysterious man wearing a hat lurking behind him was not. This shadowy figure has sparked numerous theories and debates among enthusiasts, who speculate about the possibility of capturing a ghostly presence in such a significant location steeped in legend and lore.

The Boothill Cemetery Ghost: After the photo was taken and developed, the two friends noticed a third person present they hadn’t seen the day they took the picture.

The film was developed in an ordinary Thrifty Drug Store and surprised them all. Canton later looked more closely at the photo and decided the figure was in fact holding a knife, with the point ending just above his collar. Even stranger, it seems like the figure is buried from the stomach down.

The Haunting of Boot Hill Cemetery

People notice strange lights and see apparitions there regularly at Boot Hill Cemetery, a place steeped in eerie legends and local folklore.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from haunted cemeteries

Boot Hill refers to several cemeteries, the first being in Dodge City, Kansas. The name originates from the idea that many buried there died with their boots on, suggesting a violent or unnatural death. It was opened around 1879 and closed in 1884 after burying around 300 people, as a new cemetery had opened.

Haunted Cemetery: Boothill Graveyard in 1940, before it was fully restored. Several ghost sightings have been reported.

Visitors often recount their spine-tingling experiences, claiming to have felt an inexplicable chill in the air, as if unseen spirits are present among the gravestones. Ghostly figures are said to wander the grounds, creating an atmosphere thick with the echoes of the past, drawing both the curious and the brave to seek out the phenomena that has intrigued generations. With each sunset, the cemetery transforms into a realm where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, leaving many to ponder the mysteries that linger within its haunted landscape.

The Haunted Saloon in Tombstone

But who was the photographer behind the photo in Boot Hill Cemetery, and what was his connection to the supernatural? The photographer was Ike Clanton, a remarkable figure who, intriguingly, is a descendant of the infamous Clantons of the OK Corral. With a deep-seated interest in historical re-creations of the wild west, he has dedicated much of his life to exploring the eerie mysteries that surround the historic town of Tombstone.

He also offers ghost tours and has a show about his paranormal investigations as well as owning Ike Clanton’s Haunted Hotel – Tombstone Ghosts and Legends Tour.

Tombstone: The town in Arizona have a very rocky history and several gun fights have happened, the most famous one being The gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It took place on October 26, 1881, between lawmen and a group of cattle rustlers and horse thieves known as the Cowboys. Lasting less than a minute, it has inspired many books and films. It occurred in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and has become a symbol of the American Old West. The fight stemmed from a long-standing feud involving five outlaws and four lawmen, including three brothers. The local marshal sparked the conflict by enforcing a city ordinance that banned weapons in town, leading to the disarmament of the Cowboys..//Source: James G. Howes/Wikimedia

Investigation into the Photograph

Although digital manipulation was possible in 1996, software’s like photoshop was still in the early days, and most would agree that the image looks untouched when talking about editing like that. So then, what happened that day in the cemetery?

People who have believed that it had to be a third person present in the cemetery meets a problem when we state that the person looks half buried in the ground. Although possible, it is not probable that someone would do for a prank. But could it be a mannequin or something of the sorts? And investigators like Blake Smith for the Skeptic thinks that the actual mannequin has been found, or at least something similar.

The Haunting of Boot Hill Cemetery Continues

The mystery of Boot Hill Cemetery continues as whispers of restless spirits echo through the winds on moonlit nights, drawing in curious visitors with their eerie tales. Perhaps we will never really know the truth behind the picture, and what mystery the Boot Hill Cemetery have. Or perhaps the simple answer is already there, and we already know the truth.

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The True Story of The Chinnery Backseat Driver Ghost

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The Chinnery Backseat Driver ghost is now a famous photo used to prove that ghosts exists. but does it? What was the story behind the photo at the time, and what do the experts say about it today?

The Chinnery Backseat Driver ghost, or the backseat ghost, is a picture that has become quite popular on lists of pictures proving the existence of ghosts. This intriguing image not only captures the attention of paranormal enthusiasts but also raises numerous questions about its authenticity and the narrative surrounding it. But what is the true story behind the now famous picture?

Read Also: The Christmas Haunting of Roos Hall of the Headless Horseman, The Mysterious Tale of Borley Rectory – Was it Really Haunted? and The Red Barn Murder and the Ghost in the Dreams for more ghost stories from Suffolk

Many believe it to be a chilling reminder of the past, while others are skeptical, suggesting that it could be a simple case of double exposure or a cleverly staged scene. This has sparked debates among both believers and skeptics, igniting curiosity about the origins of the photograph, the circumstances in which it was taken, and the identity of the spectral figure appearing in the backseat.

The Story Behind the Picture

March 22, 1959, 44 year old Mrs. Mable Chinnery from in Ipswich in Suffolk, England packed up their car and took off to visit Mable’s mother at the cemetery with her husband, Jim. When they arrived, Mr. Chinnery stayed in the Hillman Minx car as his wife went to the grave of her mother.

Mable had just gotten a new camera, some saying it was an Eastman-Kodak Brownie. She had brought it on her trip to take some pictures of her mother’s gravestone who had died a week prior. After taking several photos, Mrs. Chinnery saw that she had one picture left. So, she pointed the camera at her husband in the car and took the picture.

When they got the film developed though, she saw it was more than her gravestone Mrs. Chinnery had taken a picture off. Sitting in the backseat of the car was the clear image of a person. When Mrs. Chinnery showed the pictures to her friends they pointed out the figure in the backseat saying: “But there’s your mother in the back!”

According to Jim, she loved sitting in the back of the car. One of the final things she had told them before she died was: “you’ll never come to any harm ’cause I’ll still be with you.”

Investigating The Chinnery Backseat Driver

The photo has since gone through rigorous tests by professional photo analysts. This includes Skeptics who did a deep dive into this picture not too long ago. According to the experts that were examining the picture, the figure in the photo is not a reflection or a double exposure. Perhaps a bit of controversial take on a ghost photo. This comes from an article about the photo claiming because the door’s upright wouldn’t block off part of her face. And she can’t be a reflection in the window, either, according to them. So what can she be? And is a double exposure impossible?

According to many photographer, the camera she was using, could easily have taken a double exposure by mistake. These skeptics suggested that whatever was in the photo wasn’t a ghost, but rather the mind making familiar patterns out of light and shadow. Some also think the most likely scenario is that Mrs. Chinnery took a photo of her mother in an armchair shortly before the old woman died. 

What Mrs. Chinnery ended up believing about the picture is never mentioned, neither is the further haunting from her mother. This together with all the possible explanations for the image distortion makes it difficult to come up with a single simple answer of what happened the day they snapped The Chinnery Backseat Driver.

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The Tulip Staircase Ghost: A Haunting at the Queen’s House in Greenwich

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After some tourists took a picture when visiting the Queen’s House in Greenwich, they came back with a strange image now known as The Tulip Staircase Ghost. Even today, people still debate if the ghost in the image was real or not.

If there’s one thing the British serve exceptionally well besides tea, is haunted history. And the Queen’s House in Greenwich? Oh, it serves up ghostly chills with photographic evidence. This stunning piece of 17th-century architecture might be a vision of classical elegance, but beneath its beauty lies a paranormal playground. 

There were already ghostly legends circling around the old house before the picture was taken with children laughing in the hallways, a ghostly maid mopping up blood. At the heart of its spectral reputation is one particularly famous spirit: the Tulip Staircase Ghost.

Queen’s House in Greenwich: Royal Naval College North East Building Queen Anne’s Quarter. The mansion became popular for the paranormal community after a picture allegedly showing a ghost by the stairs. // Source: Tony Hisgett/Flickr

A House Fit for a Queen… and Her Ghosts

The Queen’s House was commissioned in 1616 by Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I as an apology from him after swearing at her in public. It is worth noting though, she did just shoot his dog, although it was an accident. Designed by the revolutionary architect Inigo Jones, it was England’s first consciously classical building—a stark contrast to the Gothic styles that came before. 

The home has been inhabited by many female royals over the centuries. However, Anne never got to enjoy her royal retreat, as she died in 1619 before its completion. The house was eventually finished in 1635 under Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I), but from the get-go, it seems this regal residence was destined to be haunted.

Ghosts Haunting the House: There is said to be more than one ghost haunting the place. A lot of the paranormal activity is said to be around the grand tulip stairs. // Source: Elliott Brown/Flickr

Over the centuries, the Queen’s House has been home to royalty, naval officers, and later, the National Maritime Museum. With so many lives passing through its halls, it’s no wonder that whispers of eerie encounters began to surface. Strange voices, phantom footsteps, and inexplicable shadows have all been reported within its grand walls. But none of these compares to the chilling mystery of the Tulip Staircase.

The Ghost Caught on Camera

Let’s rewind to 1966—when the famed image of The Tulip Staircase Ghost was taken at the stairs. A retired Canadian reverend, R.W. Hardy, and his wife were visiting the Queen’s House on a casual tourist outing. Around 5.00pm Rev Hardy was taking photographs of the interior of the building. He was using a Zeiss Ikon Contina camera with a Zavar Anastigmat lens and skylight haze filter and K2 daylight film. He took a seemingly innocent photograph of the house’s famous Tulip Staircase, an architectural marvel with its elegant spiral design and delicate wrought-iron railings.

At the time there was no one there, this was according to his wife as well, standing by his side. There was also a ‘no admittance’ sign, and no one was around them. 

Ghost on the Stairs: The picture was said to be sent to experts to check the validity of the image. Although it certainly could be a classic case of double exposure, the image of The Tulip Staircase Ghost still holds a lot of credibility with some.

When the film was developed, what should have been a simple snapshot became one of the most famous paranormal images in history. The photo clearly shows a shrouded, shadowy figure ascending the staircase, gripping the railing with an almost skeletal hand. Not one, but two hands, in fact, as if someone—or something—was climbing upward. 

Experts—including Kodak in their laboratory—examined the negative, ruling out tampering or double exposure. The eerie, translucent figure remained unexplained, solidifying its place in ghost-hunting lore.

Who—or What—Haunts the Queen’s House?

Theories about the Tulip Staircase Ghost abound, but the Queen’s House doesn’t just have one restless spirit. Some believe the spectral figure belongs to a 17th-century maid who was murdered on the staircase. Legend has it that she was pushed—or fell—to her death, and her tormented soul lingers to this day. Visitors and staff have reported hearing phantom footsteps on the staircase, feeling unseen hands brush against them, and even spotting a woman in old-fashioned clothing drifting through the halls, cleaning up the pool of blood before vanishing into thin air.

Read Also: The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, another ghost allegedly caught on cam in a mansion in England.

But she’s not alone. Other ghostly residents allegedly include the sound of disembodied children laughing, the echoes of mysterious chanting, and the sudden appearance of shadowy figures that dissolve when approached. One particularly unnerving report comes from a group of restoration workers in the 1960s, who claimed to hear loud, violent footsteps following them—only to turn around and find no one there.

The Haunting Continues Through a Séance

As news of the spectral photograph of The Tulip Staircase Ghost spread, seven members of paranormal investigation organisation The Ghost Club decided to spend the night of Saturday 24 June 1967 in the Queen’s House to investigate the claims. They had to wear soft-soled shoes, synchronise their watches and carry a working torch, notebook and pencil at all times. Everything was to be noted down, from odd noises and smells to any feeling of a presence.

Séance in the Queen Anne House: held at night by members of The Ghost Club at the Queen’s House on 24th June 1967 after they saw the photo of the The Tulip Staircase Ghost.

According to some sources, they found some startling discoveries, such as bells ringing and shadowy figures. However, the vigil and séance produced no conclusive evidence of the paranormal that night, or any other night after.

A Haunting That Stands the Test of Time

Today, the Queen’s House is a part of the Royal Museums of Greenwich and what is now known as the Old Royal Naval College. While it’s best known for its art collection and architectural significance, those with an eye for the supernatural know better. The Tulip Staircase Ghost remains one of the most compelling pieces of paranormal evidence ever captured, and the building itself continues to exude an air of mystery.

Skeptics might scoff, dismissing the ghostly figure as a trick of light or an overactive imagination. But those who’ve felt the chill of unseen eyes watching them, or heard the spectral echoes of the past, know that the Queen’s House is more than just a historical landmark—it’s a place where the past refuses to stay buried.

So, if you ever find yourself in Greenwich, take a stroll through the Queen’s House. Admire its beauty, soak in its history… and maybe, just maybe, glance over your shoulder. You never know who—or what—might be following you up the Tulip Staircase.

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The Tulip Staircase Ghost – Burials & Beyond 

Greenwich, Queen Anne, and the Ghost(s) of the Queen’s House – Historic Mysteries  

The Tulip Staircase, Queens House 

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The Watcher of Corroboree Rock in Australia and the Mystery it holds

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The ghost photo of Corroboree Rock has captivated the imagination, piquing curiosity about its origins and the stories behind it. The image, said to depict a ghostly apparition close to a rich cultural history of the site, is known for its significance in Aboriginal traditions. What is the truth behind The Watcher of Corroboree Rock?

In 1959, sometimes it says 1956, this famous ghost photo was taken by Reverend R.S. Blance at Corroboree Rock near Alice Springs, Australia. The Presbyterian priest was visiting the area for a spiritual retreat and claimed that nothing was present when he took the picture, emphasizing that he was completely alone in the rugged and remote landscape. When it was developed though, a strange apparition appeared and has sparked debate to this day.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Australia

The photo of The Watcher of Corroboree Rock soon sparked intrigue and debate among paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics alike, as many wondered what could have possibly caused the mysterious anomaly captured in the photograph. Investigations into the site revealed a rich cultural history, steeped in Aboriginal lore, which suggested that the rock might be a sacred place, adding another layer to the already captivating story surrounding the mysterious figure that appeared in Reverend Blance’s remarkable photo.

The Watcher of Corroboree Rock: What apparition is appearing at this picture? How much of the legend behind it is true?

What Apparition Appears in the Image?

People see different things in this photo and even this debate is still not finalized. Some see an aboriginal woman in traditional clothing stands among the bushes. Some see a woman wearing a night dress from a different time period. Moreover, some viewers have described the image as resembling an ancient priest.

More intriguingly, the figure appears to be holding something similar to how a person might hold a camera or binoculars, which has led to the charming nickname ‘The Watcher’. This idea opens up the speculation that this apparition could be a glimpse into the future, where someone is actually observing us.

Haunted Legends Behind The Watcher of Corroboree Rock

Do some areas of the landscape retain some form of energy that makes sightings of ghosts and paranormal activity more common than in other places? This intriguing question has fascinated both enthusiasts and skeptics alike for centuries. Many believe that certain locations, such as ancient battlefields, historic homes, or natural sites with unique magnetic properties, are imbued with residual energy from past events or entities.

Corroboree Rock is an unusual rock formation found approximately 50km east of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Formed more than 800 million years ago by ancient salt lakes that have long since evaporated, the outcrop is not only a geological marvel but also a registered sacred site, steeped in cultural history. The rock itself is a significant dolomite outcropping, which holds great importance to the Arrernte Aboriginal people, providing a tangible connection to their ancestors and heritage.

Corroboree Rock: The Image of The Watcher at Corroboree Rock was taken close to this rock formation at MacDonnell Ranges. It has long been a sacred place for the Arrente Aboriginal People or the area.

The local Aboriginal community, deeply intertwined with the land, is elusive and don’t really talk about why the area is so important to them. Although the cultural significance is a tightly held secret of the lands senior male traditional owners, it is known that the area was considered spiritually dangerous for Aboriginal women, children and uninitiated men. It is also considered taboo to climb the rock itself. This enigmatic silence adds to the mystique of Corroboree Rock, drawing visitors who are eager to learn more about its sacredness and the rich culture of the Arrernte people.

Missing Woman in the Area?

As well as having ties with the ancient aboriginal people, it is also a part of the Australian wilderness that so many people have disappeared. Many thousands of people go missing in Australia every years, and although almost all cases are solved, there are some that never return home.

This has led to the speculations that this is actually the spirit of one of the women that have gone missing in the area, pointing to that her body is somewhere to be found nearby.

What is the Truth about the Picture?

So what happened in this picture of The Watcher of Corroboree Rock? We know the place it was taken and by who. When looking for evidence that Reverend R.S. Blance actually existed, it turns out he was working in Adelaide. Although not much else is found about his motives and thoughts about the picture he took.

It wouldn’t be difficult to fake this photo with modern photo manipulation software but it would have been nearly impossible to do so in 1959. But do we know for certain that this is how the picture really looked when it was taken, and not only after it was uploaded to the internet?

One possibility is that this is a double exposure of a living person, which is an intriguing photographic technique that combines multiple images into a single frame, creating a unique artistic effect. In 1959, this image would have been captured on film, a medium that was not only popular but also required a certain level of skill and understanding from the photographer to achieve such results. The process of developing film introduced an additional layer of complexity, as the timing, chemicals used, and the environment could all influence the final image.

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https://www.paranormal.com.au/public/index.php/topic,11142.0/prev_next,next.html#new

The Watcher of Corroboree Rock  

This photo was taken at Corroboree Rock at Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia in 1959. What does not seem to be a… – @ghostsandhistory on Tumblr 

Corroboree Rock Ghost | Creativespirits.net 

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The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo

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A strange picture with almost no backstory has been circulating the internet for years by now. The mystery of who and where this is as well as what really happened when The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo was taken, is still not solved. 

A lot of the old analog photos taken of these alleged ghosts can easily be explained by the double exposure explanation. But as we have entered into the digital age and this no longer happens by itself, what then is showing up in the corners of our pictures?

Read More: The Mystery of the Cooper Family Falling Body Photo is Solved for more stories of the investigations on alleged ghost photos.

This was the debate going on about a strange photo that quickly became one of the more famous ghost pictures in the modern era. The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo has been circulating on most top creepy photos lists for decades, but what really happened when it was taken? However viral the image itself ended up becoming, the background of the image as well as the true story of it seems more elusive. 

The legend behind the picture is that it happened in Eastwood City in Manila in the Philippines sometime in 2003. Two girls out in the city at night asked a stranger to take a picture of them. The camera was with a smartphone, or as smart as a phone could be back then and being a Nokia 7250. 

The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo: One of the famous ghost photo’s online. It’s difficult to say what’s really going on in the picture, as the background for the image is still a mystery.

At the time the picture was taken, none of the girls noticed anything strange or the hand that showed up in the picture, grabbing one of the girl’s arms.

Now, the legend of The Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo has traveled far, and a lot behind the legend has been lost through time as well as translation. 

Investigation into the Photograph

The first posting of the photo was made in 2003 and the Nokia model it was said to have been taken with was also released in 2003, so there is little chance that the image existed online for much longer than that. That is if we are to believe that this phone was the actual phone that took the picture in the first place. 

Although we don’t often think about it, digital pictures often lose quality when it’s been copied and pasted as well as being edited and uploaded in different places. According to some, they claim that the phone could have taken a better photo than this, and it seems to have been tampered with after being digitized and spread online.  

There is also the trend of “adding ghost templates” into pictures in apps and websites. But despite the similarity with many pictures from these apps, did something like this in 2003 that would be an exact match? Even though things look similar, there has yet to be found this. Besides, what came first, the apps doing this or the fame of the ghost picture?

The Mystery Behind the Girls in Manila and the Ghost Photo

When searching for the image, the earliest publications of the image seem to have been taken down. Most posts about it are short lists without many sources and in English. There is strangely little info about this image in the Philippines, something you would have imagined as it is so often posted globally. This begs the question, is the image even from the Philippines and Manila?

Who are the girls in the photo, do they even know about how the picture have creeped out people trying to find the answer to the hazy shadow of the third person?

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References:

Earlier Postings of the picture found by: http://anomalyinfo.com/Source/manila-ghost-photo-sources . Seems to be the one behind most of the research of the photo.

“The Unexplained,” post in the JR Video Spel Film website, posted 12-31-2000, viewed 10-17-2016. Online at: http://www.jrvideo.se/?m=200012  – This post is odd because it claims to have posted a picture from a Nokia 7250 three years before that phone was released.

“The Latest Internet Photo Claimed to be a Ghost Photo,” page in the Castle of Spirits website, posted ca. 2003 [Google sourced], viewed 10-17-2016. Online at: http://www.castleofspirits.com/handphone.html 

“Ghost in the Photo,” post in the Ghost Files website, posted ca. 2004 [Google sourced], viewed 10-17-2016. Online at: http://ghostfiles.toxicsnot.com/full-bodied-apparition/ghost-in-the-photo/ 

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The Mystery of the Cooper Family Falling Body Photo is Solved

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The picture of the Cooper Family with a falling body has gone many rounds within paranormal communities. Many alleged ghost photos will remain a mystery, but perhaps this mystery behind the photo is now solved?

Although the final piece of evidence in this ongoing case with the photograph topping most haunted photographs lists was dropped in 2020, there are still stories about the creepy ghost story behind the picture, and those articles detailing the exposed hoax about it, rarely mentions the final part of it. 

So let’s get into it, who were the Cooper family, what happened in the picture, and who is behind this enduring legend that has been passed around the internet for a long time now? Let’s get into the story behind the picture and the many twists and turns it took along the way. 

The Story of the Cooper Family and the Falling Body

Although the details vary a lot on the different retelling, there is mostly one way to start the Cooper Family Falling Body. Sometime in the 1950s the Cooper family of Texas bought an old house and moved into it. On their first night there, the father took a photo of Mom and Grandma posing with the two kids at the dining room table. Everyone was happy and smiling. They were living the American dream.

But when the photo was developed, they saw, to their horror, that what looked like a body falling or hanging from the ceiling had materialized behind them. It hadn’t been there when the father took the photo. 

The Ghost in the Photo: The photo in question was this and caused a lot of debate over the years. Now, it seems the whole story is out.

So where did this thing come from? Was it an apparition of a deceased former tenant of the house? No one knew. Many theories has since been put forth, like that the house was built on top of a location were many black Americans were lynched and it was a ghost from that for example.

According to some variations of the legend, the little boys had nightmares for years because of this picture. Some versions ended with the family deciding to move out of the house because they couldn’t deal with the spooky haunting that was going on in the house. 

The Truth Behind the Picture

So what really happened? Double exposures were not an uncommon thing in analog photographs before the digital age, but not all pictures garnered so much attention as this one. According to many “experts”, they deemed the picture legit. At least according to the posts without any sources. But the truth ended up being not like how the internet treated it. 

The picture seems to have been passed around on lists like most mysterious photos, or scary ghost pictures since at least 2009 when it was posted on a fan site for the horror writer Thomas Ligotti. As for the story behind the picture, talking about showing the Cooper family from Texas appears to have been invented in 2013.

And what happened to the Cooper family? The fact is, that they weren’t even named Cooper, but Copper and someway along the way of copying and pasting, it was changed. One of the boys in the picture recognized himself when it went viral and he didn’t seem very amused by the picture. 

He said: When my older brother sent me this link I was floored. We are the two boys in the picture. Well we were back in 1959. I have many picture like this one, but not this one. My mother had a habit of throwing away pictures that she didn’t like. Eventually the ones she kept were passed along to me. What annoys me is that somebody got hold of a family photograph. The story is almost entirely fiction. Our last name is Copper, not Cooper. Does anybody know who did this?

In 2015, photographers and others on Metabunk took a deep dive into the picture in the forum Robert Copper sent it to. Is it even a man in the picture? Some have pointed out that when turned around, it looks more like a woman striking a ballet pose, even going as far as identifying the person hanging from the ceiling as It’s the ballet dancer Margot Fonteyn superimposed, upside down over the photograph among other women.

Thinking that this would be the end of it, people put the case to rest for a time. But it wasn’t solved yet.

The Perpetrator Comes Forward

There is a book written about it called “urban legend: the true story of the Cooper family photo.” By Richard Ramsdell. People started to question this publication so close to the Metabunk debate. In 2020 however, in the same thread where Robert Copper came forth as one of the boys in the picture, he now reappeared as Richard Ramsdell, the author of the book as well as and the one behind the photo as well as in the photo. 

He wrote: I want to thank all of you for the many hours of entertainment. I am the younger boy in the photo and I am Richard Ramsdell.

I stumbled across this thread in May of 2015 and was shocked to see an early artwork of mine getting so much attention and speculation. (I was floored by the sheer number of websites that perpetuated the Cooper family story.)

I created this image in 1981, in the darkroom. I once had a website where it and others were displayed. Somebody must have snatched the image and created the Cooper family story. The original “hoax” story is not mine. But it is hilarious!

I am one of the 2 creators of the Bristel Goodman online ARG. We were just trying to make a webseries and stumbled into the ARG world. It was an accidental ARG. After that it seemed obvious to create Robert C. just to mess with you. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. The whole thing was just so crazy. (And yes, I was able to entertain friends for many nights at the pub.)

Very quickly I thought of writing the book. I had just made 2 Apple iBooks, so I had some skills there. (The Amazon books have been converted from the iBooks. I agree, they look like crap in comparison.)

Of course the book is total fiction (mostly), the truth just isn’t as challenging for me. Clearly I’m not a skilled author, but I hoped that the imagery combined with a fun story would help me make a couple of bucks. Thanks to those of you who bought it. It makes me smile to know that a couple of you enjoyed it (dierdre, Ray Von G).

So who is Richard Ramsdell? In addition to being the little boy in the picture, he now claims that he was behind the editing of the ghost in the photo. According to his IMDB he is: Richard G. Ramsdell, an editor, colorist and producer, known for Bristel Goodman (2014), and Speed of Love (2010). Born and raised in upstate NY he has graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Salzburg College and the University of Florida. He is a visual artist of over 30 years, with a number of fellowships, grants and international exhibitions to his name. 

Worth noting that some of the photographs of him have a very artistic use of double exposure. Is the story behind this strange photo finally solved then, or are there still more layers to peel off? A hoax within the hoax as it were.

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References:

Debunked: Cooper/Copper family ghost photo | Metabunk 

The Cooper House Ghost Photograph | Ghosts and Hauntings | Stronghold Nation 

https://www.ligotti.net/photoplog/index.php?s=603c6358a4c4550f05b422dc56cc32f0&n=2112

The Cooper Family Falling Body Photo 

Debunked: Cooper/Copper family ghost photo | Page 4 | Metabunk 

Richard G. Ramsdell – Biography – IMDb

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The Haunting of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: Chicago’s Most Infamous Graveyard

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Blue lights twinkling between the graves, ghostly figures and even phantom houses appearing and disappearing are only some of the ghost stories from Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery. What really happened to this abandoned cemetery? 

Hidden deep within the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve, about twenty-four miles southwest of Chicago, lies Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery—a place that has gained infamy as one of the most haunted locations in the Midwest. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from USA

Time and nature have overtaken this once-respectable burial ground. A murky quarry is next to it and trash is thrown on the ground. Next to the gravestone of a couple of infants are small toys littered next to it. Something else lurks in its overgrown paths and broken headstones. For decades, visitors have reported eerie encounters, strange lights, ghostly apparitions, and even brushes with the spirits of the long-departed.

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery: A group of monuments on southeast quadrant. The cemetery is now abandoned and only ghost stories live on in this place. // Source

A Cemetery with a Dark Past

Established in the early 1830s or 40s, Bachelor’s Grove is the oldest cemetery in Cook County, Illinois. The first burial was that of Eliza Scott in November 1844. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery housed the Scottish, English and Irish immigrants that came in the 1820s. The name comes from both the Batchelder family who used to live there as well as a group of unmarried men calling themselves the Bachelors. 

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery was once a peaceful final resting place for early settlers, but as the years passed, it became the target of vandalism, decay, and something far more sinister. 

By the Prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s, the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery had reportedly become a dumping ground for Chicago’s notorious organized crime syndicates. Rumors persist that the mob used the nearby lagoon as a watery grave for those who had crossed them, their bodies weighted down and left to disappear beneath the murky depths.

Aside from the rumors of being a dumping ground for the mafia, it was said to be a peaceful place until the 1950s when the Midlothian Turnpike was rerouted and left the grove far away from everything. Teenagers started using Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery as a lover’s lane, a place to drink and party and ghost stories and fantastical legends took hold. 

Today, most of the eighty graves are unmarked due to rampant vandalism, the headstones either stolen or toppled over, and the grounds left in disrepair. Some of the coffins were even dug up and robbed. But while many of the gravestones are gone, the spirits remain.

Encounters with the Supernatural

Since the 1960s, countless visitors, ghost hunters, and paranormal investigators have reported chilling experiences at Bachelor’s Grove. Some claim to hear whispers carried on the wind, see floating orbs of light in blue or red, or experience an overwhelming sense of dread. 

On the entrance there is a large black and tan dog sitting or running down a path. People realize it’s a ghost first when the Others have reported near-collisions with phantom vehicles that appear out of nowhere on the nearby roads, only to vanish without a trace.

The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove

Among the spirits said to roam the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, none are as well-known as the “Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove.” This spectral woman, dressed in a flowing white gown, is often seen wandering the grounds, cradling an infant in her arms. Many believe she is the spirit of a grieving mother, doomed to wander the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in search of her lost child. The legend claims that she is seeking something, or perhaps someone, although no one knows what. 

Her story got known when a group of investigators explored the cemetery in 1979 and apparently took a photograph of her in a hooded robe with her baby cradled in her arms. Later it seems the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove attire changed from story to story, wore only a white dress and had no baby. 

The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove: This picture of what appears to be a ghost sitting on a grave in Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery became quite famous after it was taken in 1991 by Judy Felz, and so did the legend of the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove.

In 1991, a famous photograph taken by Judy Felz from the Ghost Research Society captured what appears to be a semi-transparent woman in period clothing sitting on a broken headstone. The infrared image remains one of the most popular pieces of paranormal evidence associated with the cemetery.

But who was the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove?

There have been many speculations about who the woman in the graveyard could have been. For a long time they believed she could have been Luella Rogers because of the stone placement as she was the one buried next to the headstone just marked: “Infant Daughter” in number 15. But over the years the “Infant Daughter” stone has been moved and is actually on top of another woman. 

Infant Daughter: A lot of the details of the haunting of Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery is connected to this tombstone. Source

The “Infant Daughter” headstones actually belong to the daughter of Bertand Fulton and Kathryn Vogt. Could this be the origin of the ghost? Or could it be someone else?

Could Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove possibly be Amelia Patrick Humphrey? Amelia was the first wife of Senator John Humphrey of Orland Park, a prominent politician from the mid 1800’s. Their third child Libby May died when she was only 11 months and 6 days and buried in the Patrick family lot (#44) in Bachelors Grove. Could this be the mother then, who is eternally visiting her young daughter’s grave?

The Phantom House Appearing in the Mist

One of the stranger legends from Bachelor’s Grove is the story about the disappearing house. It is said to be a white one-story Victorian house. On the porch there is a swing and a picket fence encircles it. When people claim to see it, they describe it more transparently. In the windows there is a flickering yellow light, as if a candle is lit. 

Many people have come back from the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, talking about a house they were unable to find again. Many have sketched the same type of house from the legend, claiming they had never heard about the stories from this place. 

A mist is often closing in on the house as well, and one story even claims that a line of people were waiting by the front door. When people try to approach it, they say that it shrinks and when you get close enough, it simply vanishes. 

What or where the legend comes from is uncertain, but the story goes that if you actually are able to reach it, you will never be able to return. 

But did a house even exist in this area? Some claim that there was nothing of the sorts built on this land, but maps from so long ago are not the most reliable. According to different maps there used to be around four homes and other structures close to the cemetery. There are pictures however that have resurfaced with buildings from the early 1900s looking like they used to be there, one of them is even said to really look like the descriptions of the story. 

The Phantom House: The photograph, which was provided by ancestors of the Schmidt family who used to own the property surrounding the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery found a picture from 1914. Source

The Murdering Caretaker Following You

The most commonly told version of the Caretaker the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery caretaker and his family living in a house in the woods. The house is said to be located a short distance west of what is now the roped-off entrance to the main path leading to the cemetery off of 143rd Street, across from the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve parking lot. This path is also known as a portion of the Midlothian Turnpike that was unofficially closed to vehicle traffic in the 1960s, with the official closure occurring in 1977.

All is normal with him and his family until one day out of nowhere he becomes enraged and kills his entire family. It is said that he was overcome with “evil spirits” that told him to kill his family. After he realized what he had done, he took his own life. At some point down the timeline of the story the townspeople burn down the caretaker’s house to erase all memory of this tragic story.

Now, people encounter him walking around the cemetery grounds, often with an oil lamp in his hand, telling people to leave the place. If they don’t listen to him, he is following them on the trail, the light shining behind them before he suddenly vanishes. 

The killing is said to have happened in the 70s, but there is no proof for this. In fact, the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery never had a caretaker at all. Still, there are plenty of people claiming to have encountered him over the years.

The Hook Man Legend Comes to Bachelor’s Grove

Another well-known story in the area is about a stranded couple, a local version of the Hook Man legend. It tells of a young couple who park by Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery. When they decide to leave, the boyfriend finds the car won’t start due to being out of gas or a stalled engine. He tells the girl to stay in the car while he goes to get help. While waiting, she hears a scratching noise on the roof that continues for a while. Curious but frightened, she remains in the car. Eventually, she sees blue lights and a siren behind her. An officer approaches, opens her door, and urgently instructs her not to turn around. Overcome with curiosity, she looks back and sees her boyfriend hanging from a tree above the car, his throat slit, his fingers barely touching the roof, scratching it. This horrific sight drives the girl into madness.

Read More: The Hook-Man

Now, this is a common story, but it gained new interest when a policeman shared it as real during an interview. In Halloween 2012, a group of paranormal researchers met a retired Bridgeview police officer who claimed to have seen official police reports of the incident. He mentioned baby-sized footprints on the roof of the car and stated that the murdered boy’s girlfriend was in a mental institution in Tinley Park. He spoke strongly about the report’s existence and the truth of the story, but later he recanted and stopped further communication, making it difficult to distinguish between tale and fact.

Disappearing Cars of the Cemetery

It’s not only houses and people that disappear into the night at Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, but cars as well. A legend that really took off in the 1970’s was the stories told about the disappearing cars. According to these stories, drivers would pass the desolated roads by the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery. According to them, they kept seeing a car pulled over on the side of the Midlothian Turnpike close to the cemetery. Although what type of car it was, changes from each retelling, although most often described as an older looking car, perhaps from the 40’s or even older. But when they went to double check in their rearview mirror, there was no car there anymore. 

Some stories even said that night drivers ended up colliding with these phantom cars. A couple was at the corner of Central Avenue and Midlothian Turnpike. Checking in both directions, they saw it was all clear and made the turn. Out of nowhere, a “speeding brown sedan” as it’s often described as came hurling in the direction of the cemetery. The car crashed into the couple and they could feel the impact, hear the glass shattering and the metal crunching. 

When they exited the car, the brown car simply faded away, and when they looked at their own car, it didn’t even have a scratch. 

Although a popular story to tell about the place at the time, it seems like the legend of the phantom cars is not the most told anymore. 

The Farmer and Horse in the Pond

Right next to the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery there is a little pond that is also said to be haunted. The story is that in 1870 there was a farmer plowing in a nearby field. His horse became startled and set off. The farmer, tangled in the reins, was dragged with the horse who jumped into the pond. Both drowned as the weight of the metal plow was so heavy it dragged the both to the bottom. 

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery Pond

It is said that the farmer and the horse can be seen on the surface of the pond as well as appearing on 143rd Street right behind the cemetery.

But did this really happen though? According to historians it couldn’t have been in 1870 at least, as the pond didn’t even exist until after 1900. Was it another pond further away from the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery? Another year? Did it happen at all?

The Lingering Spirits of Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery

From shadowy figures darting between the trees to ghostly apparitions of monks, mobsters, and misty forms hovering above graves, the spirits of Bachelor’s Grove refuse to be forgotten. Paranormal investigators continue to explore the site, capturing electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) and anomalous readings, adding to the growing legend of this haunted graveyard.

For those brave enough to visit, Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery offers more than just a glimpse into Chicago’s past— But you must visit Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery at day. From sunset to sunrise the cemetery is closed off and patrolled. To keep teenagers and those up to mischief out? Or to keep something in?

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References:

https://ghostcitytours.com/chicago/haunted-chicago/bachelors-grove-cemetery/?srsltid=AfmBOorXbVu_5zyztGjWIJEUc4BdZtMxntgIwigGn-MjKkLgXhax1DWL

Bachelors Grove Cemetery & Settlement Research Center – Paranormal History

Most Haunted Places in The World – The Path To Bachelors Grove : Other

Bachelors Grove Cemetery | Chicago’s Graveyard with Ghosts

Madonna of Bachelors Grove 

Disappearing House 

Caretaker 

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The November Ghost in Château de Bonaguil

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Explore the breathtaking Château de Bonaguil in south-western France. Take a journey through history as you uncover this majestic 12th century fortified castle where a Woman in White is said to haunt the castle every November. 

Marvel at the majestic 12th-century fortress of Château de Bonaguil in Saint-Front-sur-Lémance in south-western France! Located near the Lot and Dordogne rivers, this spectacular castle is filled with tales and secrets of centuries past. 

The name comes from bonne aiguille (good needle), referring to the pointy rock it is built upon. From its impressive architecture to the stunning views of its surrounding landscape, Château de Bonaguil offers an unforgettable adventure into history and culture.

Read about more Haunted Châteaus in France.

A Brief History of the Château de Bonaguil

Château de Bonaguil was first built in the 12th century by knight Arnaud de la Tour of Fumel, who later became Lord of Bonaguil. During the Hundred Years War, the Lords of Bonaguil sided with the English and was a location that saw a lot of battle as the castle was taken and retaken by the fighting sides. 

The castle underwent renovations and reconstructions throughout its rich history – most notably, in the late 15th century by the House of Bérenger de Roquefeuil family, it was modified to become an impressive fortress with formidable defenses and it is one of the last fortified castles in France from the Middle Ages. 

Over the last century, the castle’s many towers and bastions have been restored and reinforced, giving visitors a chance to experience the castle’s fascinating heritage firsthand.

Paranormal Investigation of the Haunted Castle

The castle is old, has a bloody history as well as being riddled in centuries of ghost stories and legends. Haunted rumors were so many that a paranormal team once went to do a thorough investigation. People have reported about a burning sensation as well as pressures on their shoulders and temperature drops. 

They have also reported strange sounds around the castle grounds as well as there are photographs people mean captured the ghost on camera. Who can it be that is haunting the old castle?

Dame Blanche of Bonaguil

Château de Bonaguil is said to have its own unsettling paranormal story, in the form of the White Lady or the Dame Blanche in french. It is claimed that a ghostly figure appears both around the grounds of the castle, as well as wandering along its courts and galleries. 

The story of Dame Blanche is plentiful in French folklore and as a sight in old castles especially. In French mythology or folklore, Dames Blanches were female spirits or supernatural beings, comparable to the Weiße Frauen of both Dutch and German mythology.

November Hauntings

Legend has it that there’s a mysterious white lady haunting the Château de Bonaguil known as the Dame Blanch or Dame de Bonaguil. She is thought to be the ghost of Marguerite de Fumel who spent much time in the Château de Bonaguil to fix it up and keep it. 

Dame Blanche de Château de Bonaguil: Local scholar Max Pons has entrusted a photo of his wedding to the Chateau de Bonaguil and claims that a ghost appeared (outlined in red) at the time the photo was developed. © Photo credit: source

For unknown reasons she is said to return in the middle of the night during November month to haunt the castle. Can it be that the castle she spent so much time on were looted and robbed during the French Revolution?   

The Legend of Marguerite de Fumel

It is said that Dame Blanche once was a noble lady and daughter of Béranger de Roquefeuil, a cruel and vicious man that took great pleasure in executing people during the peasant rebellion. 

Marguerite de Fumel was sick of her tyrant father and wished to run away with her lover. But her father set her up for marriage with a wealthy and old count. The legend goes that she fled tearfully from the castle never to be seen alive again, only as the ghost haunting the grounds. 

We do know however that Marguerite de Fumel died in Paris after years of marriage in 1699. But the ghost story about the White Lady haunting the castle in November continues to persist. 

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References

Featured Image: Josep Renalias

Château de Bonaguil – Wikipedia 

Lot-et-Garonne. En novembre, la Dame blanche revient hanter le château de Bonaguil

Lot-et-Garonne : France 2 consacre un sujet sur les mystères du château de Bonaguil

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Georgiana Houghton and her Spirit Drawings in Watercolor

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From beyond the veil, some mediums claimed that ghosts and spirits guided them to paint and draw. One of them was Georgiana Houghton and her spirit drawings.

Now mainly referred to Spiritualist art, spirit art, mediumistic art or psychic painting, this was and to a certain extent, still is a form of painting or drawing highly influenced by spiritualism. Spiritualism was a movement where connecting with the spirit world was both a performative and at times lucrative business. And the mediums that held these seances had different ways of reaching out to the spirits. One of the ways was by the pen. 

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Although perhaps not the psychic or spiritual part of the art is put much weight in today, the movement had a huge impact on modern art as part of the abstract art department. There are perhaps more famous men behind this genre of abstract art known today, like Piet Mondrian, Vasily Kandinsku, Kasimir Malevish and František Kupka. 

Often overlooked goes the women that may have been the pioneers within this type of paintings and drawings, decades before the textbook pioneers. One of them is Georgiana Houghton (1814–1884)

The Artist and the Medium

The Spiritualist painter: Georgiana Houghton was both a medium and a trained artist.

She was a British artist and medium born on Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but moved and lived in London. She was remembered more like an eccentric amateur artist that was more known for her medium role than of an artist. And she gave more credit to the spirits that guided her paintings than to herself as their creator. 

This is also where she produced her first abstract work, or as they called it then, spirit drawings. Many of the pieces remind more of 196 or 1970 psychedelic art then Victorian from the 1860s and 70s. In 1859 she started having these private seances where she allegedly were guided to paint by different spirits and celestial beings. 

Precipitated Paintings

Often, these particular paintings would come during a seance where the medium claimed that it was in fact spirits that guided the artist to produce the paintings. 

When spiritism was at its peak of popularity, it was very common for the mediums to sketch a portrait of the spirit they were in contact with during their seances. Another form of this was by automatic drawing where mediums and other practitioners controlled the body of the artist. 

Georgiana Houghton started her spirit art career first by drawing and then with watercolors. She was one of those relying on an automatic process where she told she was directed by spirits. First she drew flowers and fruits, and was somewhat of a floral artist. This was the one way of painting that was looked at as more of a respectable practice for Victorian artists. But then her style turned to something else entirely. 

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The floral pictures evolved to project the spiritual experience more than objects of the natural world. She had complex pictures with several layers, colors and details. She described the abstract shapes she found in her and colors as sacred symbolism

Not only was spiritualism on the edge of what was perceived as ordinary, at this time, the abstract way of painting was still not a concept, so the reception of the paintings was received more as a curious rarity than art. 

In the beginning, Houghton claimed that it was her dead family members like her sister Zilla that guided her, but as her work evolved, so did her artist spirit guides. And she would later claim that it was the likes of Renaissance artists Titian and Correggio that led her brush. 

The Frauds and the Performers

Spirit photographs: She was not only a painter that drew her seances. Here she is posing for a photograph, also used a lot within the spiritism movement.

She started gaining quite the notoriety for her paintings and even held an exhibition at the New British Gallery in Bond Street in London in 1871. Although it perplexed the visitors and was an eye opener for many of those watching the exhibition, it was not a commercial success at all. It almost bankrupted Houghton.

Despite this, she spent every day for around three months talking about her paintings to visitors and discussing the meaning behind her sacred symbols and what they could have meant. 

In 1882 she published the book: ‘Chronicles of the Photographs of Spiritual Beings and Phenomena Invisible to the Material Eye’. This book featured spirit photographs from many well known spirit photographers that were active in the 1870s like  Agnes Guppy-Volckman, Stainton Moses and spiritualists Alfred Russel Wallace and William Howitt.

There were also pictures from Frederick Hudson, well known for being the first spirit photographer in Britain, but also a well known fraudulent one that was exposed already in the 1870s. The book itself was heavily criticized for featuring dubious pictures where the pictures themselves were unconvincing and could be replicated with double exposure and . 

Her Legacy as the Artist and not the Eccentric

Now, the collection is missing many of her works. Because it is not the museums, galleries or art historians that kept her legacy intact. Most of her works were kept by the Victorian Spiritualists Union in Melbourne. Like so many other women’s achievements they are kept hidden in their diaries, botanical albums and embroideries that not often are looked at as real art. And the irony that she attributes her work to the likes of ghost men speaks echoes with a bitter aftertaste today. 

Although more known for her medium role than that of an artist, her work speaks for itself. Especially when we look at the way the art movement moved in the modern world, and her art were so ahead of its time. In 2016, the The Courtauld Gallery held an exhibition of her paintings where they acknowledged, not only the curious and peculiar origin story behind the paintings, but her craftsmanship and artistry as well. Because no matter how we feel about the spiritualism part, we cannot ignore how in modern art, the pieces we watch in a gallery, can help us see past the realism of the world and our thinking and reach a place in our sub consciousness we otherwise couldn’t see.

Some of Georgiana Houghton Spirit Drawings:

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 Image courtesy of Victorian Spiritualists’ Union Melbourne Australia

Georgiana Houghton 

Spiritualist artist Georgiana Houghton gets UK exhibition | Painting | The Guardian