California Maritime Museum

Image by crazykinux, 2007-10-26 15:11:31

As a fan of ghost stories and the supernatural I thought I would write about some of the more well known ghost stories from the city of Exeter, England. The city of Exteter is well known for its shipping and its spooks.

The Black Shadow

Location: Exeter – Alleyway that runs from the top of South Street to the Cathedral Green
As this witness walked down the alleyway they became aware of a dark shadow looming over them and felt a presence over their right shoulder. The man turned and saw a black mass which seemed to dissipate upwards into the night.

Queen Henrietta Maria

Location: Exeter – Barnfield House
This Queen stayed here to give birth before escaping to France, though she also appears to continue to remain here today.

The Haunted Three Headed Entity

Location: Exeter – Cathedral Green
Seen moving silently across the Green, this strange apparition is reported to possess three heads.

The Fishy Men

Location:Exeter – Coastline
Fishermen on the shore caught a four foot tall humanoid, with duck-like feet and a tail protruding from its back. It tried to escape, but was killed when the fishermen beat it with sticks. Another fish-man was caught a few months later in the same area, though this one was described with more seal-like qualities.

Haunting Plague Victims

Location: Exeter – Devon Air Radio Studios, St David’s Hill
Built on an old plague pit, the ghosts of the inhabitants are blamed for the sounds of closing doors (in places the doors are already closed) and other unexplained events.

The Vanishing Woman

Location: Exeter – Ernest Jones, next to the Guildhall
A female ghost is said to vanish as quickly as she appears, and is blamed for knocking over displays and setting off the fire alarm.

The Ghostly Nun and Monk

Location: Exeter – Exeter Cathedral
Seen only around this time, the nun quickly disappears once spotted. A monk has also been reported in the area surrounding the cathedral, while a small group of witnesses heard music coming from within the building although it was dark and empty at the time.

Ghost of The Last Executed Prisoner in Exeter Prison

Location: Exeter – Exeter prison
Two prisoners reported seeing a middle-aged man walking along the upper gallery, vanishing as he reached a cell door. After staff carried out a little research, they discovered the man was the last person to be executed in the prison.

Ghostly Workman

Location: Exeter – Exeter University
A phantom man dressed in painter’s overalls has been seen walking down the corridors of Exeter University.

The Cycling Ghost

Location: Exeter – Exeter’s Underground Passages
The guides of the underground passages, normally open to the public, tell of a phantom cyclist who passes through the area. There is also rumoured to be hidden treasure somewhere in the tunnels.

The Haunting Sound of Silk

Location: Exeter – Globe Hotel
An American guest at the hotel reported waking several times during the night to the sound of swirling, as if someone was waving armfuls of silk scarves through the air. The woman in the room next door also reported hearing the sounds.

The Sweet Smelling Rose Lady

Location: Exeter – Guildhall Shopping Centre basement
A shadowy form of a woman has been reported as haunting this area, the smell of roses accompanying her presence.

The Ghostly Victorian Nurse

Location: Exeter – Hospital
A ghostly nurse occasionally appears by the bed of anyone close to death and rearranges any nearby flowers so that they form a cross.

The Wet Murdered Maid

Location: Exeter – Lord Haldon Hotel
This tragic figure fell pregnant after having an affair with a local landowner – he killed the maid to cover the relationship up, and now she returns to the top of the building, dripping wet.

The Supernatural Giant Bat

Location: Exeter – Magdalen Road
A witness walking down the road late at night stated he watched a giant bat, with a wingspan of 1.2 metres, swoop around the churchyard along this road.

Heavy Breathing Poltergeist

Location: Exeter – Marks & Spencer store
Said to be built on an old Roman burial ground, phantom heavy breathing has been reported from staff, as have light poltergeist-like behaviour.

The Crying Waiting Mother

Location: Exeter – Martin’s Lane, general area
A weeping woman waits along this lane at night – her daughter ran away to follow Sir Francis Drake on his last voyage, and never returned.

The Ghostly Little Girl with her toy Rag Doll

Location: Exeter – Prospect Inn
This young child only appears once a year in the upper part of the building. She is said to smile sweetly at any witnesses, before quickly fading away.

The Ghostly Viking Ship

Location: Exeter – River Exe
A local legend has it that a ghostly Viking long ship complete with an angry fighter passes up the river.

The Spectral Coughing Fit

Location: Exeter – Royal Clarence Hotel
Built on the site of Walter Raleigh’s fathers’ house, some attribute the coughing sounds to Walter himself.

The Ghostly Return of Sir Francis Drake

Location: Exeter – Ship Inn, Martin’s Lane
The inn claims to have once banned Drake from coming in, as his behaviour once drunk was intolerable – maybe this is the reason he returns here.

The Ghostly Red Light

Location: Exeter – St Layes, ruins of church
A red light would appear to anyone who was due a tragedy in their lives – it was commonly seen during the blitz of World War Two by those who would be killed by bombs or the resulting fires.

The Ghostly Woman’s Heels

Location: Exeter – St Thomas railway station
Sitting on the platform with her dog, this women heard the sound of heels walk past her twice, although no one could be seen. The dog circled and barked before rolling over and acted as if being stroked.

The Wandering Monk

Location: Exeter – The Cowick Barton Inn, Cowick Lane
This holy man has been seen walking around outside the pub, as well as inside two local houses and in a nearby field.

The Ghostly Tall Glowing Figure

Location: Exeter – Unnamed building near the Cathedral
Two men trying to steal lead from a roof screamed in horror as they realised a gaunt ghostly figure stood by their sides, pointing accusingly at them. Their cries alarmed the neighbourhood, but they escaped never to be seen again.

Judge Jeffreys Ghost

Location: Exeter – White Hart Inn
A popular haunting figure down in the southwest, the Judge’s shade has been reported in this public house. A woman in a long black cape, said to resemble the lady from the ‘Scottish Widows’ advert, has been seen in the courtyard.

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call Britain ‘The Island of Hero’s’ which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright © 2010 – 2011 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

We’ve teamed up with Handcrafted Nautical Decor to bring you great deals on eve ships pictures.

More Eve Ships Pictures Articles