History shows Tutbury Castle has stood since 1071 at least, which is round about the time the Normans began building many castles across the country. With almost 1000 years of history, you bet this place is haunted.
This was our (GITUK's) very first investigation back in 2004.
Tutbury Castle became the headquarters of Henry de Ferrers and was the centre of the wapentake of Appletree, which included Duffield Frith.
With his wife Bertha, he endowed Tutbury Priory with two manors in about 1080.
It would seem that Tutbury at that time was a dependency of the Norman abbey of St Pierre sur Dives.
The castle was destroyed by Prince Edward in 1264 after the rebellion of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby. In 1269, after a further rebellion, the lands were given to Edmund Crouchback and have remained part of the Duchy of Lancaster.
People who have stayed in the castle include Eleanor of Aquitaine and Mary, Queen of Scots, who was a prisoner there.
Apart from the 12th-century, the ruins date from the 14th and 15th centuries when the castle was rebuilt.
In 1999 Lesley Smith became the Curator of the castle, which she leases from the Duchy of Lancaster.
We do recommend you visit, even if you don't get an investigation here, do speak with Lesley, she is a lovely person and will quite happily spend time with you and tell you all about Tutbury Castle.
Tutbury Castle Ghosts
Tutbury is believed to be haunted by Mary Queen of Scots, an apparition in a full suit of armour (the castle's infamous ghost) known as The Keeper, a white lady, a little boy, and small girl. The King's bedroom is a foreboding place and was closed for a while as many visitors felt faint and a sense of overwhelming fear, but is now re-opened to visitors once again.
The Man in Armour
The ‘KEEPER’ wearing a full suit of armour, and behaving in a manner that might best be described as authoritative, this ghostly figure has been seen stepping out in John of Gaunt's Gateway and bellowing "Get thee hence!"
"Although last sighted in daylight about four years ago, by a visitor who complained that an idiot of an enactor had told him to "get over the fence", recent increases in paranormal activity might suggest that another visit could be imminent.
"When it was pointed out that no enactors were on site that day, and that similar ghostly apparitions had been reported by other unsuspecting visitors, the response was "I'm sorry but I don't believe in ghosts". What better evidence can you get?"
Mary Queen of Scots
The most famous of all the ghosts most certainly is Mary. She despised Tutbury as it was often the prison she suffered worst of all. In 2004 she was seen by 40 men, standing at the top of the South Tower peering down at them. She was dressed in a full white Elizabethan gown.
When they saw her the men laughed as they thought a member of staff had put on the dress as a joke.
However, it was pointed out that nobody on staff has a white gown, so it would have been impossible for the figure they had seen to be a member of staff.
The men were profoundly disturbed by this experience, and what makes this a very important report is the fact there were so many that saw her.
In 1984, a serving marine witnessed her, walking at an unusually fast pace across the grass.
There have been a number sightings of Mary recently, particularly during a 10.15 p.m. – 11.00 p.m. window.
There’s also been a figure dressed in black, seen looking through the window of the Great Hall, often by people leaving the castle in their cars.
One summer she was seen by several senior members of staff, who are quick to brush off anything paranormal about the castle.
Not only that, that very summer, archaeologists who were taking part in an extensive 5-year dig at the castle witnessed her as well.
The White Lady
A white human-shaped mist is often seen around the North Tower, on the grassy bank. Pictures of her are taken regularly.
Ellie (Little Girl)
It’s believed Ellie is a child of 7 years, however, has the appearance of a 5-year-old. She has often been felt and experienced in the King’s Bedroom. People have reported her pulling fingers, holding hands, removing rings, and causing an electric pulse in the arm.
The Little Boy
A little boy wearing a white shirt has been seen sitting on the stairs of the Great Hall. His lifelike appearance has led visitors to believe he’s actually a real boy.
Other reports
Film & TV crews often report batteries suddenly draining in their cameras and equipment. Blue lights have been witnessed sparking and moving around some of the rooms. People have often seen lights circling around people, particularly, Leslie Smith (the Curator), when she is playing Mary Queen of Scots in the Great Hall. Orbs have also been pictured by thousands.
This is our favourite location to investigate and has never let us down on every visit we make.
See our investigation here.
Room 214 is the most active room in our professional opinion.
The hotel partially opened on the 28th May 1898, Going back to the beginning, researching the building was almost impossible due to the misplacement of many archive records. However, it is up to you to decide whether the folklore stories told about the hotel over the years are true or not…..
The story tells of a hotel manager who enticed a servant girl into the cellar. Spurning his advances and threatening to tell his wife, the girl was murdered by the hotel manager. He strangled and stabbed her then hid her body in a barrel.
When ‘Most Haunted’s’ resident psychic Derek Accora came to the hotel, he reported the name of a male spirit George Williams/Williamson who was having an affair with a female by the name of Elizabeth Hitchen. George Williams allegedly murdered Elizabeth by strangling and stabbing her. Accora then revealed that Williams disposed of Elizabeth’s body by means of a chute within the hotel, which would have been used, at the time, for the delivery of bottles and barrels. Williams was then reported to have buried the body near the front of the hotel.
According to Derek Accora, Elizabeth Hitchen’s body remains there.
The second spirit that Accora picked up on was that of George Lawley, whom he described as a writer who knew of Elizabeth’s murder and wrote about it in a ledger that he is reported to have hidden. To this day, the ledger has not been found. It appears that a character of this name was a local historian who, at the time worked as a writer for the brewery!
Derek Accora also picked up on the spirits of two children. Catherine aged 6/7 who died under the wheels of a carriage and Richard aged 3/4 who passed away after a blood-related illness.
The other, as yet unnamed spirit who Accora picked up on is rumoured to be sitting, waiting for someone in the infamous ROOM 214.
No one has yet to prove the existence of these spirits, as was mentioned earlier, there are many records missing.
GITUK have had great success with gathering evidence of the spirits haunting this hotel, just got to our investigation of the station hotel.
You can book the rooms yourself, or take part in the many ghost hunts the hotel puts on, but we recommend you book and stay the night for yourselves
Judge for yourself, come and spend the night at the Station Hotel, You will not be disappointed!
4) Ohio University, Athens, America
Lena noted a few days into the deployment that the British trenches hadn't been dug very deep. Knowing they needed to dig deeper and wider trenches, the squad got to work. As Lena was digging into the rock, he hit metal. He reached into the hole and recovered what looked like an engineering stake. As he brushed it off, he noticed there was Russian lettering on it. As the Russians had been in Afghanistan in the 1980s, it didn't surprise him to find some leftover Russian gear scattered around the military outcrops.
As Wilson dug into the rock, part of the outcrop collapsed under his shovel. Corporal Smith began helping him investigate the small hole, in which they found small pottery shards.
15) Station Hotel, Dudley, England
The castle was built during the early 12th century on land that was presented to Ralph de Pomeroy by the King of England, William the Conqueror, as a reward for his loyalty and support during the Norman invasion of England.
The castle was ravaged during the Civil War (Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads Vs the Cavaliers who fought for Royalty) and was further damaged by fire in the early 18th century, after which no one has wanted to live there due to its dark history. It is now reported to be one of the most haunted buildings in the United Kingdom.
One of the ghosts is known as the White Lady. She haunts the dungeons and rises from St. Margaret's Tower to the castle ramparts. Those who report seeing this figure associate it with feelings of depression, fear and malevolence. She has been identified as the ghost of Lady Margaret Pomeroy who was imprisoned in the dungeons by her sister, Lady Eleanor.
Eleanor was insanely jealous of her younger and prettier sister and is said to have incarcerated her because of a love rivalry after Lord Pomeroy left to go on a crusade and left Eleanor in charge. Margaret was imprisoned in the castle dungeons for nearly two decades before Eleanor allowed her a slow and painful death through starvation.
A blue light has been seen on a particular day every year in St Margaret's Tower, usually during the evening. The blue light has been witnessed by many people in the past including Peter Underwood and his colleagues during an overnight investigation some years ago.
A second ghost is the Blue Lady, she has been reported there as far back as the 18th century. Dressed in a long blue cape and hood it has been claimed that she tries to lure men to their death by seeking help in unsafe areas of the castle.
Said to be the spirit of the daughter of an early Norman lord, who after an incestuous relationship with her father, she gave birth to a child.
Shortly after it's birth, her father strangled the baby in one of the upper rooms of the tower. In another version of the story, it is said that she hated the child so much that she strangled it herself. It is said that because she smothered her child, her troubled spirit can find no rest, and she is often seen wringing her hands in anguish. At various times, the cries of the murdered infant can be heard throughout the castle.
Sir Walter Farquhar was a witness to the Blue Lady in the late 18th century. He was a prominent doctor of the time and was in the castle attending to the wife of a steward who had fallen ill. He saw "a stunning young woman, who was wringing her hands in obvious distress," and he watched the figure move up a stairway and into a room upstairs.
With no prior knowledge of the legends of the Blue Lady, he asked the steward who the figure was. Showing signs of considerable distress, the steward explained that the appearance of the figure was an omen of death. He thought that this meant that his wife would die. The doctor dismissed the idea and confirmed that the woman was recovering well. But in fact the steward was rightly concerned, his wife suddenly died later that day.
Modern investigations in Berry Pomeroy Castle has resulted in many reports of apparitions, shadows, photographic failure, paranormal sounds and more. It has been documented that some visitors to the castle who have taken a small memento, such as a small stone etc., have quickly returned it as they feel that part of the foreboding and lingering feel of evil has followed them home.
The Dominican Hill Retreat House, also commonly known as the Diplomat Hotel, is an abandoned structure and a reportedly haunted place atop Dominican Hill, Baguio, Philippines.
Address: Dominican Hill, Diplomat Road, Baguio, 2600 Benguet, Philippines
Opened: 1915
Owner: Diplomat Hotels, Inc.(1973-1987); City Government of Baguio (since 2005)
Phone: +63 926 788 9234
On Feb 20, 1942, Japanese firing squads killed 66 Chinese male civilians at the water's edge.
They were bound by ropes in rows of eight to 12 and instructed to walk towards the sea, according to the National Heritage Board's website.
Japanese soldiers mowed them down with machine guns as they reached the shallow waters. Many died on-site, but some managed to swim away or hide underwater as the ropes binding them loosened.
A memorial plaque has been placed at the site in remembrance of the Chinese massacred in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation.
12) High Gate Cemetery, North London, England
Being ex-military myself, this one I had to include, British Marines were stationed here before handing over control on rotation to the US Marines.
Sergeant Green's U.S. Marine squad rolled into Afghanistan in the summer of 2009, they were heading to an outpost known as Observation Point Rock, aka "OP Rock." One of the squad members, Zolik, noted that the observation post wasn't much more than just a giant rock out in the open ... and thought it had a strange vibe ...
As they rolled up to OP Rock, they noticed that the members of the British squad they were relieving were more than ready to go, as they all looked rough for wear. They were also met by a dog known as Ugly Betty, whom the British commander claimed was an excellent sentry. Corporal Lena, the squad's second in command, took it upon himself to be Betty's caretaker.
As the British soldiers were rolling out, their commander made a point to note to the Marines that if they dug anything up, they should put it back where they found it. The Marines dismissed it as the Brits messing with the new guys.
Later that night, as Lena was staring out over the desert expanse on the lookout for Taliban soldiers, he heard strange sounds coming over the observation post's radio. He checked in with the main base to make sure they hadn't transmitted anything, and they hadn't. He grabbed a fresh battery for the radio and hoped that solved the problem.
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position on the Castle Rock.
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG
Owner: Scottish Government
Phone: 0131 225 9846
Function: Castle, Museum, Fortification
It was during the reigns of King Malcolm III and his sons that Edinburgh Castle became one of the most significant royal centres in Scotland.
The infamous Bishops Room
Forest
Location
Here --->
Changi Beach is a beach located at the northern tip of Changi in the eastern region of Singapore.
The 28-hectare beach is one of the oldest coastal parks in Singapore, retaining the "kampung" or village atmosphere of the 1960s and '70s.
Address: Nicoll Dr, Singapore 498991
Phone: +65 1800 471 7300
Management: National Parks Board
The Ancient Ram Inn is a Grade II* listed building and a former pub located in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. It is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the country.
The former owner John Humphries sadly died recently on 12th December 2017. His daughter Caroline carries on his Legacy.
Owner: Caroline Humphries
Address: 8 Potters Pond, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7HF
Phone: +44 ( 0)1453 548 449
Mob: +44 (0)7887 780 993
Wilson Hall (above) is the most famous haunted place on the campus.
It is the building that most people point to when speaking about haunted Athens, Ohio. The building is apparently located in the middle of an immense pentagram consisting of five cemeteries situated in the region. The graveyards are scattered around the area and, when looked at on a map, they form a pentagram. A pentagram is the ancient occult symbol of power and magic. According to the pagan tradition, a pentagram might create safe areas free from any paranormal activity. The centre is extremely important and it’s no wonder that Wilson Hall resides in the middle of this cemetery pentagram.
The Island as seen from the canal
The Bhangarh Fort is located on the border of the Sariska Reserve in the Aravali range of hills in Alwar district of Rajasthan.
The fort is situated at the foot of the hills on sloping terrain..
There are very few places in the world quite as haunted as Scotland’s Edinburgh Vaults. Also known as the South Bridge Vaults, the series of nineteen chamber arches were home to local taverns, cobblers, and shops, but they also had a dark side.
The vaults also became known as dens full of thieves, murderers, and other nasty figures, making it one of the most dangerous places in the city, and considering the frightening reports that continue to come from the Edinburgh Vaults to this very day, the ghosts of the criminals are still very much at home.
Construction on the vaults was officially finished by 1788, and for 30 years the space was used by both the local tradesmen and the criminal element to conduct business, and business was booming.
The street level of the Edinburgh Vaults was dedicated to the storefronts, where visitors could browse the markets for goods and visit the taverns for a drink.
One level below was space dedicated to workshops, and just below those was a level with 120 rooms dedicated as living space.
It wasn’t long before the Edinburgh Vaults became the area’s red light district, housing illicit pubs and brothels where the lack of police presence could be taken full advantage of.
Rampant thievery, rape, and murder became part of the day-to-day life for the unfortunate souls relegated to the vaults.
The Edinburgh Vaults even drew the attention of infamous serial killers Burke and Hare, who made a name for themselves selling the corpses of their victims to local medical schools.
According to numerous accounts, the pair often stowed their bodies away inside the second level of the Edinburgh Vaults, far away from prying eyes.
It’s unknown exactly when the vaults were officially closed, though they were rediscovered and excavated in the 1980s and 90s.
Today the vaults are used for tours and, as I’m sure you’ve expected, paranormal investigations.
Having been witness to so much death, murder, and hardship it’s no big surprise that the spirits of those who lived out their difficult lives in the vault are still very much a part of it.
Many visitors to the vaults report experiencing a range of paranormal activity from disembodied voices to full-blown apparitions.
One of the most famous spirits said to still haunt the levels is a young boy named Jack, who has on many occasions snatched hold of guests hands as they explore the wine vault.
The wine vault, however, isn’t the only area that is teeming with activity, one of the most coveted vaults has been nicknamed the “occult chamber” due to the fact that it was used for many years by local occult practitioners.
The room, its said, was used as a sacred space for a number of terrible rituals.
There are even rumours of the same area being used by a local satanic sect, who, according to the legends, sacrificed a woman on a mysterious square brick in the centre of the room after torturing her for days.
The most famous ghost said to stalk visitors brave enough to enter the Edinburgh Vaults is Mr Boots, a shabby, tall man who prefers to keep to the back section of the vault.
He’s been known to toss stones at passers-by to get their attention, and many people have heard the sound of his heavy footsteps following behind them as they explore the darkened corridors.
If you’re brave enough to visit, there are plenty of tours and ghost hunts that lead guests safely into the historically haunted hotspot, but do it yourself in your own team to experience the darkness and sadness for yourselves… you know, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Historical paranormal locations, like the Edinburgh Vaults, that embrace their haunted legacies are some of the coolest places to visit, because not only are you getting the opportunity to step back in time, you might even get to interact with the spirits who were there when it all happened.
East Cemetery: The East Cemetery is where Karl Marx is buried. Visitors may roam freely on this side, but there is an entrance charge.
Monday to Friday: 10am to 4pm last admission 3.30pm
Weekends and public holidays: 11 am to 4 pm the last admission 3.30pm
We may close for short periods to facilitate funerals. In addition, for your safety, strong winds or icy weather may occasionally require us to close the cemetery to visitors.
Admission: £4 adults, children under 18 and Members free. School groups £1 per child.
West Cemetery:Admission to the West Cemetery is by guided tour only.
There are very few graveyards around the world that could compete with the level of paranormal activity happening behind the Gothic walls of London’s Highgate Cemetery. The 177-year-old resting place has been at the centre of some of the world’s most spine-tingling legends, but some of them are even stranger than tales of ghosts. Some of them involve real vampires.
By WWII, the 20-acre cemetery had fallen into a period of neglect. Ruin and decay had started taking its toll on the once-beautiful mausoleums, headstones, and crypts, leaving them in a state of disrepair. In fact, by the early 1960s, the entire cemetery had become completely abandoned, and stories of the strange goings-on happening behind Highgate’s vine-covered walls began to spread.
Tales of a strange group of men in dark robes were whispered by locals. Eye-witnesses claimed that these mysterious men would frequent the isolated burial ground in order to conduct their dark rituals in secret.
But robed visitors weren’t the only thing people started experiencing in the strange cemetery. Those brave enough to explore the alleyways at night reported run-ins with otherworldly ghouls. In fact, the local newspapers were bombarded with first-hand accounts of red-eyed demons, terrifying ghosts, and most famously, blood-thirsty vampires.
Though Highgate Cemetery had long been a paranormal hotspot, it wasn’t until the mid-60s that the much-publicized stories surrounding the Highgate Vampire created a panic within the local community. Often described as a very tall, dark figure who glides as if his feet never touch the ground, the vampire’s face was reported as a terrifying, twisted nightmare straight out of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Many visitors became obsessed with the legends, even going so far as to spend the night alone inside the cemetery. During that time eyewitnesses spotted the vampire for themselves, describing the undead creature as having a hypnotic stare and a bone-chilling effect on anyone who had the misfortune of crossing paths with the monster.
Many people have seen the “Mad Old Woman”, the spirit of an old lady often spotted running wildly among the graves as if she is searching for the children she’s said to have murdered. There’s also the “Shrouded Figure”, a morose phantom commonly seen quietly staring up into the sky. If you approach her too quickly she will vanish, only to reappear a few yards away in the same eerie position.
The “Devil Ghoul” is one of the rarer sights in Highgate Cemetery, but those who’ve run into the ghost describe it as having a set of piercing red eyes, and a habit of disappearing completely when in direct light.
Add to these encounters the countless reports of spectral faces that manifest out of nowhere, the mad wailing of a banshee, and a number of individuals who claim they’ve been personally assaulted by the dark forces in the graveyard, and it’s easy to see why Highgate Cemetery has earned its haunting reputation.
Europe is home to many of the world’s most fantastic haunted locations, but Highgate Cemetery is one of the most legendary. Where else are you going to find spooky tales of ghosts, devils, ghouls, and vampires, all in one place? Thanks to the ongoing renovations, we’ll be able to enjoy this beautiful old cemetery, and her wonderful legends, for many years to come.
If you visit, just keep an eye out for vampires.
Boat is the mode of travel to the Island of the Dolls
14) Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire, England
7) Mexico- Isla de las Muñecas
13) Changi Beach,Singapore
On another night, as Lena was sleeping, he was awakened by a blood-curdling scream. Thinking one of his team had been grabbed by the Taliban or worse, Lena grabbed his gun and began taking stock of the situation. As Lena was checking over the observation post, he bumped into Wilson, who had also heard the scream. Mott assumed a person had been caught in the razor wire that surrounded the post, but he saw nothing as he scanned the area ... until something moved just outside the perimeter. Wilson and Lena joined Mott, guns at the ready. Lena grabbed the thermal imagers but could only track Ugly Betty in the distance. They eventually chalked it up to late-night fatigue and decided to check it out in the daylight.
The next morning, Lena and Corporal Parker couldn't find tracks for anything. It's like nothing at all had been there.
On another evening's watch, Zolik was getting beaten down by the heat when he suddenly felt a cold chill sweep across him. Out of nowhere, he could feel what he described as a breath on his face as something whispered in his ear in Russian. He chalked it up to being tired ... right up until he heard footsteps above him on the observation post. Thinking it was Smith, Zolik tried to catch him playing a prank, but there was nobody there.
As Zolik scanned the area around the post with thermal imaging, he caught sight of what looked like another soldier with balled fists. Zolik prepared himself to shoot but couldn't until he was absolutely sure it wasn't one of his own men. He lost sight of the figure for a moment, and when he looked back through the imaging scope, the figure was gone.
Zolik was armed to fight the Taliban and occasionally the heat, but how was he supposed to fight spirits? Zolik requested a transfer out of the unit and it was granted.
Britain's most haunted B&B where terrified guests have jumped out of windows to escape the ghosts!
- The Ancient Ram Inn is riddled with 20 ghosts
- Built in 1145 on pagan burial ground, believed to be scene of child sacrifice and devil worship
- Guests have been pushed down onto a bed by incubus (a male sex demon)
- Built on the intersection of two ley lines - known for their spiritual energy
- A woman lodged in the rooms in the 1500s before she was labelled a witch and burned at the stake
Regardless, Don Julian Santana devoted his life to honouring this lost soul in a unique, fascinating, and—for some—unnerving way: he collected and hung up dolls by the hundreds. Eventually, Don Julian transformed the entire island into a kind of bizarre, (for some) horrifying, doll-infested wonderland.
Don Julian Santana began collecting lost dolls from the canals and the trash near his island home. He is also said to have traded produce he grew to locals for more dolls. Santana did not clean up the dolls or attempt to fix them, but rather put them up with missing eyes and limbs, covered in dirt, and generally, in whatever ramshackle state he found them in. Even when dolls arrived in good shape, the wind and weather turned them into cracked and distorted versions of themselves.
Don Julian also kept his cabin filled with the dolls, which he dressed in headdresses, sunglasses, and other accoutrement. Despite the fact that most people found the isle frightening, Don Julian saw the dolls as beautiful protectors, and he welcomed visitors, whom he would show around, charging a small fee for taking photos.
In 2001 Don Julian Santana was found drowned in the same area in which he believed the little girl had died.
An investigation was conducted by the GAC team, series10 episode 4 “Island of the dolls.”
5) Edinburgh Vaults, Edinburgh, Scotland
1) Dominican Hill, Baguio City, Philippines
Entry to this place was free and the sign hanging at the gate says that it opens from 6 am until 6 pm in the afternoon.
Unfortunately, the stairs to the second floor are gated and locked, so must be off-limits to the public.
Local residents say that Dominican Hill is now a haunted place.
The building is falling apart and is in a very dilapidated state. The railings and the guard house are about to collapse. The grounds have not been maintained that tall grass and weeds are all over the place.
Some people who live nearby claim that at times they could hear the banging of doors, windows, the clattering of dishes, and voices of people screaming in the middle of the night. There are also instances when the place is so quiet that not a single sound is heard the whole night. Perhaps this eerie phenomena could be attributed to the ghosts of its former owner and the different terminal patients who came to the place for hopes of being healed and have since already died. Some also say that Dominican Hill is haunted by the ghost of the people who were killed there during the war.
Outside of the Ancient Ram Inn
Changi houses the Old Changi Hospital in Halton Road, which has been named on the Web as one of Singapore's most spooky spots.
Built in 1935, the hospital was used as a prison camp during World War II.
The Japanese secret police, or Kempeitai, were rumoured to have used it as a torture chamber.
Left vacant since 1997, the one- time military hospital has long had a reputation for being haunted.
A few days after Zolik had shipped out, Lena was on the watch and heard Ugly Betty barking. Lena grabbed his night vision goggles and tried to see what she was after ... and soon stopped cold at what looked like a Taliban scout in the distance. Lena knew that his eyes might have been playing tricks on him with that much distance, so he grabbed his thermal imaging and tried again to find the person, who seemed to have disappeared.
Lena switched back to the night vision goggles, and immediately the figure looked as though it had travelled 100 meters closer in seconds ... yet there was still no sign of anybody heat signatures on the thermal imaging. Lena went back and forth between the two optics, trying to find the figure.
Soon, Lena felt Sergeant Green's distinctive shoulder tap and took a deep breath ... but when he turned around, there was nobody there.
How could there have been nothing there if Ugly Betty was still barking at it? Lena realized that Zolik had been right.
Mott was on watch with Smith on another evening when he heard footsteps. When Mott turned, expecting to see Sergeant Green, nothing was there. He dismissed it as loose gravel ... until Ugly Betty began growling. Mott scanned with the thermal optics, though the only heat signatures were the dog and the other Marines. He asked Smith if he'd seen anything, but Smith said he hadn't. Mott tried to shake it off but he soon heard the crunch again and felt something breathe on him. He, too, began to admit that Zolik had been right about the place.
Wilson was on the machine gun post another night when a cold chill hit him and he heard a strange whispering. The whispers grew louder and more distinctly Russian.
Eventually, everyone in the squad experienced similar scenarios.
Knowing there was no rational explanation for what they were experiencing, they had to look to the supernatural.
Finally, on the squad's last night on OP Rock, Diggs noted that the radio was once again on the fritz. Two brand new batteries had gone dead in a matter of minutes. Lena put in the final battery but that, too, was dead in a matter of minutes. With no radio, they couldn't call for help.
As Wilson was on watch that night, he was bracing himself for the Russian whispering to commence once more. Out of nowhere, the sound of machine-gun fire assaulted his ears. Lena made his way to Wilson in the machine gun nest and discovered that the gun had not fired.
Then, out of nowhere, they heard an RPG flying toward them, but nothing hit.
They all thought they were being overrun by the Taliban, but nobody could find any sign of enemy soldiers.
Lena later discovered that when the Russians had rolled into the area in the 1980s, they had killed all of the Mujahadeen who'd been using OP Rock as a hideout.
When the Taliban had retaken the area, they had ritually executed all of the Russian soldiers. When the Marines had retaken the area, they had buried a number of Taliban soldiers in the ground. That small outpost was really a giant tomb.
As the squad headed out of OP Rock, it felt like Christmas.
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17) Vlad the Impaler, Romania
We have written an in-depth chapter on Vlad the Impaler, that spans 3 countries across Europe and western Asia.
You can follow this link Vlad the Impaler, Prince of Wallachia all details of locations have been included so you can arrange your own hunt for Count Dracula.
We hope you have enjoyed reading our picks of haunted locations, and we hope this inspires you to want to go and investigate your own haunted locations, Happy Hunting.
7) Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Often thought to be a railway tunnel, it was actually constructed only as a drainage tunnel so that water can be removed from the farmlands.
This water would go underneath the Grand Trunk Railway and down to the valley below.
Farmers used this tunnel to transport goods and animals safely underneath the busy railroad above.
The tunnel, constructed in the early 1800s, is 16 feet (4.9 m) in height and 125 feet (38 m) long.
A local legend recounts that the tunnel is haunted by the ghost of a young girl, who after escaping a nearby burning farm building with her clothing ablaze, died within its walls.
Several variants of the legend exist locally:-
one version has the girl set on fire by her enraged father after he loses custody of his children after a nasty divorce.
Another tells of a young girl being raped inside the tunnel and her body burned to prevent any evidence from being found.
All versions of these legends end with the girls screams filling up the tunnel as she was burning to death.
Whatever the version, it’s said that striking a match inside the tunnel will conjure the gruesome screams of the spectral girl.
Imagine lighting a matchstick in the middle of the tunnel and a chilly wind blows it out and you then hear the scream of a little girl.
Would you stay there for or run for your life?
Take your wellies, it's wet.
The tunnel was used as a set during the filming of David Cronenberg's 1983 film adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel The Dead Zone
3) Bhangarh Fort, India
The Ohio University in Athens, Ohio is perhaps the most haunted campus in the world.
The place was established in 1804, a year after the statehood. It was the first institution of superior studies located west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The number of allegedly haunted places on the site is quite impressive and they are added to the numerous legends regarding Athens county.
Ohio University was one of the places presented in a FOX episode of the series Scariest Places on Earth.
16) Op Rock, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Local people say Bhangarh fort is not for the easily frightened (faint-hearted) people. It is rated as the most haunted place in the whole of India.
There is a belief about Bhangarh that the place is haunted and nobody can set out to go there after sunset.
No one is allowed to go inside the Bhangarh fort premises once the sun sets and tight restrictions have been imposed at Bhangarh Fort.
Visitors have to leave the fort before 6 pm, and the fort's main entrance is locked and the Government has placed a notice board at the main gate which reads that :
" Visiting the fort before sunrise and after sunset is strictly prohibited and if rules are violated legal action would be taken"
People often hear screaming, crying voice of women, bangles sound in the rooms and they have earlier reported many weird and scarcely credible incidents like some one's talking and a special smell is felt. Such kind of weird incidents is reported in the fort after dusk. There are also stories of people seeing ghostly shadows, strange lights, unusual sound of music and dance coming from the fort.
It is also said that whoever enters the fort after sunset and attempts to stay there for a night, will not return from the fort next morning.
I’m sure with the right amount of money a guard could be paid to overlook you entering after 6 pm and let you out in the morning?
(That’s if you're still there to be let out)?
Ohio University is a large, primarily residential public research university in Athens, Ohio, United States.
Founded: 1804
Address: Athens, OH 45701, USA
Phone: +1 740-593-1000
6) Japan - Aokigahara: The Suicide Forest
This straightforward Victorian redbrick hotel is a 13-minute walk from Dudley Zoological Gardens and Dudley Castle, also 10 minutes on foot from the Black Country Living Museum.
The traditional rooms are simply furnished and offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking equipment.
Free Wi-Fi, Free parking, Laundry service, Pet-friendly, Room service, Child friendly
Address: Castle Hill, Dudley DY1 4RA
Phone: 01384 253418
LOGAN Paul's (You-tube Blogger and all round Dick) controversial YouTube video has brought Japan's so-called 'suicide forest' into the public eye.
For years, Japanese authorities have been trying to draw less attention to the grim reputation of Aokigahara forest.
The forest has a historical reputation as a home to yūrei: ghosts of the dead in Japanese mythology. In recent years, Aokigahara has become internationally known as one of the world's most prevalent suicide sites.
Signs at the head of some trails urge suicidal visitors to think of their families and contact a suicide prevention association.
In Japanese folklore, spirits known as yurei are said to haunt the forest. They usually take the form of pale women in white gowns with long, black hair. They concentrate on Aokigahara because tradition says that those who take their own lives can't join the spirits of their ancestors.
Yurei is still considered, even in modern times - as evidenced by the ritual of the forest worker sleeping with the corpse of a suicide, so their spirit doesn't become angry.
In ancient times, families would abandon people (usually women) to die in Aokigahara during periods of famine or drought, when there wasn't enough food. Those abandoned in the forest would slowly starve to death, and their souls are said to haunt the trees, gliding around in the deep canopy. It's not known how common this practice, known as ubasute, actually was.
If you do manage to investigate here:
1) Don't get lost in the Forest, its denseness makes it next to impossible to navigate, and all you will achieve will be to add to the spirit population.
2) Check your footage prior to posting a video on youtube, Don't do a Logan Paul. Nobody wants that kind of reputation.
Built: 1631
Owner: Lord Silas (prior): Government of India
Condition: Vacant, A Tourist spot
Opening Times - 6 am-6.30pm or sunset, whichever is earlier. Best time to visit is in winter, October to February.
Entry Fees - For Foreigner- Rs. 200/-, For Indian- Rs.25/- Video Camera fees Rs.200/-
Tutbury Castle is a largely ruined medieval castle at Tutbury, Staffordshire, England, in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster.
It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Address: Castle St, Burton upon Trent, Tutbury DE13 9JF
Hours: Friday 11am–5pm Saturday 11am–5pm Sunday 11am–5pm
Monday 11am–5pm Tuesday 11am–5pm Wednesday 11am–5pm
Thursday 11am–5pm
Curator: Lesley Smith
Phone: 01283 812129
Located in the Xochimilco borough 17 miles south of the centre of Mexico City.
Best way to get there is to leave from Embarcadero Cuemanco.
It's a 4 hour round trip and cost $1,4000 MEX or roughly $75 US dollars.
2) the ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England
Changi Beach served as a killing ground for the Japanese during the Sook Ching massacre of The Second World War. Thousands of Chinese were tortured and killed during this Operation as they were suspected of being anti-Japanese.
The site of Changi Beach Park is believed to be one of the first massacre sites during Operation Sook Ching, a military operation against those in the Chinese community who were anti- Japanese during the Japanese Occupation.
Monte Cristo Homestead is a historic Australian property located in the town of Junee, New South Wales.
Address: 1 Homestead Ln, Junee NSW 2663, Australia
Opened: 1885
Phone: +61 2 6924 1637
Phone: Monday to Friday
General enquiries 020 8340 1834
Burials, memorials, grave ownership 020 8347 2471
Filming or photography requests 020 8347 2472
Group visits 020 8347 2475
Burials: Karl Marx, George Michael, George Eliot, Douglas Adams, MORE
....AND FINALLY....
Over fifty years ago, Don Julian Santana left his wife and child and moved onto an island on Teshuilo Lake in the Xochimilco canals.
According to some, a young girl actually drowned in the lake, while most others, including his relatives, say Don Julian Santana merely imagined the drowned girl.
The manor’s long and dark history includes a stable boy who was killed from his injuries after having his mattress set on fire when he called in sick for work; a mentally handicapped boy being chained to the cottage for 30 years; or the ever lingering spirit of Mrs Crawley, whose husband built the home in 1880s.
“We don’t have a week go by without someone having a reaction to the house by either fainting, asthma attacks, hearing things or seeing full body apparitions,” Lawrence Ryan, whose family own the house and run the ghost tours, said.
“It’s nothing ever bad and they tend to leave us alone but they are not keen on visitors being there all the time.
“Everything from your dress, mannerisms or the way you talk can influence Mrs Crawley. She will either like you or not like you and she is the real maiden of the house.”
One of the most teeth chattering stories involves Harold Steel, who was the son of a maid who fell pregnant to the owner Christopher William Crawley.
He developed a mental illness after a carriage accident in Junee and as a result of his uncontrollable aggressive behaviour, he was chained to the back of the cottage for more than 30 years.
“After all those years he got dread-locked hair and used to howl in the night,” Mr Ryan said.
“Locals in Junee thought there was a monster chained up in the house and kids would go and search for it. Harold would growl and hiss at them like an animal.
“People still hear those sounds at night.”
Mr Ryan said the ghost tours involve a bed and breakfast in the servant’s quarters, as well as a two-and-a-half-hour candlelit walk through the Monte Cristo Homestead.
“You either get the best sleep of your life or no sleep at all,” he said.
“Some people don’t make it through the night and drive into town and stay there. They wake up seeing children or spirits of the servants.”
A B&B that’s well worth a stay.
8) Berry Pomeroy Castle, Totnes, england
15 Haunted places in the world
to go and Investigate
We read an article recently on the most haunted locations from around the world, and wondered what would be on our list, so we decided to make a list of what we deem to be the most haunted places we would want to visit, and share these with you here.
We have included all contact information so you can call and arrange an investigation.
The locations we mention here are not placed on any kind of order
NB: All information and contact details correct at the time of writing in March 2018
The Screaming Tunnel is a small limestone tunnel, running underneath what once was the Grand Trunk Railway lines.
Located in the northwest corner of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
The actual location of the attraction is just off Warner Road.
Address: Warner Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Hours: Open 24 hours
Province: Ontario
The pentagram myth has not been demonstrated in the case of Wilson Hall.
Experts say that any five points can be united on a map in the form of a pentagram.
This suggests that all the interpretations of the pentagram mystery at Wilson Hall are merely speculations.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, a Tudor mansion within the walls of an earlier castle, is near the village of Berry Pomeroy, in South Devon, England.
It was built in the late 15th century by the Pomeroy family which had held the land since the 11th century.
Address: Berry Pomeroy, Totnes TQ9 6LJ
Hours: Sat & Sun 10am to 4PM
Phone: 01803 866618
Controlled by: English Heritage
The Edinburgh Vaults or South Bridge Vaults are a series of chambers formed in the nineteen arches of the South Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was completed in 1788.
Address: South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1LL
Phone: 0131 510 1555
10) Monte Cristo, New South Wales, Australia
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London, England. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West Cemetery and the East Cemetery at Highgate Cemetery.
Address: Swain's Ln, Highgate, London N6 6PJ
Hours: Friday 10am–4pm Saturday 11am–4pm Sunday 11am–4pm
Monday 10am–4pm Tuesday 10am–4pm Wednesday 10am–4pm
Thursday 10am–4pm
Number of Graves: 53,000+
The Stone Angels, inspired the Doctor Who enemies in the Episode "Blink"
11) Screaming Tunnel, Niagara Falls, Ontario
The Inn's first recorded use was housing, for masons who worked on the construction of the nearby St Marys Church.
The Property then fell into the hands of the Church and housed the local Bishop hence the famous 'Bishops Room' where at least nine different entities have been seen.
The Original property is believed to have been up to three times the size of the building that stands today.
In the Bar area of the Ram Inn, there are the remains of a tunnel system, it is believed to link the Inn with St Marys Church and Lacock Abbey. The tunnels may have been used by Highwayman to escape the local judiciary. Wotton's last two highwaymen are known to have frequented the Inn. The property became an Inn during the late 19th century, before John Humphries the then owner bought it in 1968, the inn is now a private residence.
John's bedroom was a converted loft is located directly above the kitchen, this room until recently was the focus of poltergeist activity, John would be kept awake by tapping and banging on the window. Possessions would disappear and later be found in other rooms of the Inn.
The paranormal activity came to a stop when a cross was placed on the wall.
Next to the kitchen is a former stable, the owner John used this as a main living area. In this living area, John has seen dancing lights by the door. A teenager who attended a paranormal tour at the property was thrown to the floor in this room in front of several witnesses. A large drape that was used to separate the room during the winter months was torn apart. John believed the malevolent spirit which haunts this room is an Incubus, he describes it as a 7 ft tall dark shadow. An Incubus is a spirit or demon that preys on women, its presence caused by witchcraft or black magic rituals.
In the former barroom ghosts have been seen, cold spots felt, clawing sounds, like that of a large dog, have been heard where the door used to be. John has witnessed the apparition of an old Innkeeper on many occasions and his daughters have frequently encountered the spirit of a lady by the name of Elizabeth, who is believed to have been murdered in the inn and buried beneath the bar.
John has furnished The Ram Inn with genuine antiques and period furniture in a style befitting its age and history. He once bought a painting of Rev. John Wesley to hang on the staircase, but as soon as he got it through the front door he describes it as all hell breaking loose, with a large increase in paranormal activity. His daughter's dogs refused to go up the stairs once the picture had been hung. Door's that had been secured and locked slammed shut at night and there were knocks on all the windows of the Inn. John found puddles of water in several of the Inn s rooms and some visitors complained of strange smells.
During 1997 John allowed a paranormal group from Swindon to excavate near the stairwell in search of a rumoured cellar. The attempt was unsuccessful, but the next evening John heard a babies screams and cries coming from the area of the excavation.
The Bishops room is considered to be the main focus of the haunting, with several different ghosts being sighted in this room.
The ghost of a cavalier often appears in the corner of the room, before walking through the wall.
The ghost of a young lady has been seen hanging from the ceiling.
The ghost of a shepherd and his dog have been reported by visitors.
Two monks and two nuns have been sensed by mediums in the room.
In the double bed, an Incubus (Male Demon) and a succubus (Female Demon)have appeared depending on the gender of the sleeper.
A succubus is a female demon that carries out sexual attacks on males feeding on a persons life force, like the Incubus their presence is thought to come from witchcraft or black magic rituals.
When the chimney in the room was opened up black magic and satanic artefacts were found.
Two men who spent the night in the room were so disturbed that they had to go to a vicar to be exorcised.
The former Bishop of Gloucester the Rt Rev John Yates, is reported to have tried and failed to exorcise it and was quoted in the Western Daily Press as saying it was "the most evil place I have ever had the misfortune to visit".
In the Kitchen, three independent diviners/dowsers have reported a well being previously located in the centre of the room.
All three also felt the presence of two bodies and a malevolent force in the well.
This room is known to especially effect woman, with visitors often reporting cold spot and the feeling of dizziness.
In the Witches room, the spirit of a woman and a black cat have been seen and felt in this room.
Paranormal investigators have caught a large number of orbs in this room on camera and video.
In the Beaufort room, a large black cat is often seen and mysterious glowing white mist has been captured on camera, bright dancing lights have also been seen and caught on camera.
In the Weavers Attic, the ghost of a highwayman resides his spirit is often sensed by mediums rather than being seen, the presence of a previous landlady has also been felt in this room.
There is anecdotal evidence of devil worship having taken place at the premises and the ritual sacrifice of children.
In the Men's Kitchen area a grave was excavated and the remains of a woman and child were found.
Along with there bodies, knives were found, the Bristol Museum who studied the bodies and artefacts believed that they had been killed in ritual sacrifice.
A man and his son who visited the Ram ran from this room screaming after they had calmed down they reported seeing the ghostly apparition of a woman rise up out of the floor.
If you want to stay and investigate, phone Caroline on the numbers above.
Forest location at Mount Fuji
Aokigahara (青木ヶ原), also known as the Sea of Trees (樹海 Jukai), is a forest on the northwestern flank of Japan's Mount Fuji thriving on 30 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of hardened lava laid down by the last major eruption of Mount Fuji in 864 CE.
The western edge of Aokigahara, where there are several caves that fill with ice in winter, is a popular destination for tourists and school trips.
Country: Japan
Prefecture: Yamanashi Prefecture
Coordinates: 35°28′12″N 138°37′11″E
PRIVATE PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS
GHOST INVESTIGATION TEAM
Smith kept investigating and eventually pulled out a long bone that Lena recognized as a human femur. Wilson and Lena encouraged Smith to put it back into the grave, and he did.
Lena was troubled, as no matter where they dug in the outcrop, they would inevitably come up with bones.
Edinburgh is thought to be one of the most haunted cities in the world.
It should come as no surprise, that one of the city’s oldest buildings, Edinburgh Castle, has plenty of spooky stories to tell.
There have been hundreds of reports (from both staff members and visitors) of paranormal activity in Edinburgh Castle over the years.
First used as a settlement around 850 AD, then becoming a royal residence in the 12th century, and a military barracks in the 17th century, the castle has seen its fair share of death, battles, torture and executions over the years.
To this day, people report witnessing apparitions, feeling unwelcome presences, seeing shadowy figures, being touched by non-human forces, and experiencing sudden temperature changes in and around the structure.
The ghostly bagpiper boy
One of Edinburgh Castle’s most famous ghost stories concerns a young bagpiper who disappeared without a trace.
Several hundred years ago, some secret tunnels were found beneath Edinburgh Castle, leading towards Holyrood House at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
As the opening to the tunnel was so small, a young boy was sent down with his bagpipes to investigate.
He played the pipes loudly as he walked through the tunnel, so people above ground could work out where the tunnel went.
The pipes stopped abruptly when they reached the Tron Kirk and, although search parties were sent to find the boy, he was never seen again. With the piper presumed dead, the tunnel was blocked up – but many people still report hearing the faint, ghostly sound of underground bagpipes to this day.
Others have allegedly heard the sound of drums around Edinburgh Castle, with a few visitors even claiming they caught a glimpse of a headless drummer boy.
Legend has it that whenever the drummer boy’s ghost is spotted, the castle is about to come under attack – he was first seen in 1650, shortly before Oliver Cromwell attacked Edinburgh Castle.
Witch trials at Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle was a key location when witchcraft hysteria swept across Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Around 300 alleged witches were imprisoned and tortured in the Tolbooth and at Edinburgh Castle, before being executed on Castlehill.
One of the most famous ‘witches’ was Lady Janet Douglas of Glamis, who was accused of witchcraft and conspiring to kill King James V.
Her servants had been tortured into confessing her guilt, and in 1537 she was burnt alive at the stake – with her young son forced to watch.
Visitors to the castle have reported seeing the ghostly figure of Lady Janet roaming the halls and weeping.
There have also been stories of a hollow knocking sound heard at night, attributed to ghostly workmen building the platform on which she was burnt.
People have even claimed to see shadowy figures and ghostly orbs in the dungeon where people like Lady Janet’s servants (as well as prisoners of war and enemy spies) were tortured and left to die.
In 2001, as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, Dr Richard Wiseman conducted an experiment with 240 volunteers over a 10 day period. The volunteers were visitors from around the world, carefully chosen so they had no prior knowledge of Edinburgh Castle’s alleged hauntings.
Scientific ghostbusting equipment (such as thermal imagers, geomagnetic sensors and temperature probes) was used to record the conditions in each room, and participants were also asked to record their experiences. By the end of the experiment, almost half of the participants reported phenomena they couldn’t explain, and the highest number of paranormal experiences were recorded in the vaults, which had a haunted reputation. Volunteers reported sudden drops in temperature, seeing shadowy figures, a feeling of being watched, a burning sensation on the skin, an unseen presence touching the face, and a feeling of someone tugging at their clothes
Wiseman, a sceptic, argued that many of the experiences could be attributed to common psychological reactions to being left in an unfamiliar, unnerving environment. He did, however, admit that it was very intriguing that most people reported paranormal experiences in the rooms which had reputations for being haunted, despite none of the volunteers having any prior knowledge of this.
Although the results of the study were inconclusive, they seem to suggest that Edinburgh Castle’s ghostly stories could be more than just fiction.
That’s why you should go and investigate Edinburgh for yourselves.
Wilson Hall is said to be the home of a ghost that died in a mysterious way in the 1970s.
He died in room 428 and years after that students residing in that room have said to hear strange sounds and hear footsteps as well as witnessing several objects moving by themselves on their own.
Since these occurrences, the room has been closed off and was not given to any new students again.
This is perhaps the only university room in the world that is sealed and closed.
The school officials have proclaimed the room uninhabitable.
The story says that the female student died in a violent way in that room after practising occult.
It is said that the girl made use of the room’s energy to practice a method where the human spirit travels on its own after separating from the body.
This technique is known as astral projection.
The student was also rumoured to have repeatedly attempted to contact the dead and that she often dabbled in sorcery practices.
Another legend tells that Wilson Hall was built on the grounds of an Indian cemetery and the spirits are of this origin.
Spiritualist experts claim that the geography of the area, with the layout of peaks, mountains and valleys makes the spot very conducive to psychic energy.
At the beginning of the 1980s, a newspaper researched the property in a routine examination for the institute.
They discovered that Wilson Hall is built on the same location as the original site of an early cemetery of the Athens Mental Institute.