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London is a city rich with history and, naturally, has its fair share of supernatural tales. Here are a few notable ones:
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of the most haunted places in the city. It has been a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison, leading to numerous stories of ghostly encounters.
- Anne Boleyn: Perhaps the most famous ghost is that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. Executed on the Tower Green in 1536, her spirit is said to walk the corridors where she was imprisoned, and she has been seen near the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried.
- The Princes in the Tower: The young Princes Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, disappeared within the Tower in 1483. Sightings of their ghostly forms have been reported, sometimes seen holding hands in their nightshirts.
The Haunted Tube Stations
Several London Underground stations are reputed to be haunted.
- Covent Garden Station: Staff have reported seeing the ghost of William Terriss, a Victorian actor who was murdered near the station in 1897. He is said to appear wearing a frock coat and gloves.
- Bank Station: The ghost of Sarah Whitehead, known as the Black Nun, is said to haunt Bank Station. Her brother was executed for forgery in 1811, and she spent the rest of her life searching for him, eventually becoming a spectral figure searching the platforms.
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
This theater is known as one of the most haunted in the world. The most famous ghost is the Man in Grey, often seen wearing a tricorn hat, a cloak, and riding boots. He is believed to be the spirit of a man whose skeletal remains were found in the walls of the theater during renovations.
The Ten Bells Pub
Located near Spitalfields, this pub is infamous for its connection to Jack the Ripper. Several of his victims were known to have frequented the pub. Patrons and staff have reported seeing apparitions and experiencing unexplained phenomena.
The Langham Hotel
The Langham Hotel is reputed to be haunted by several ghosts, including a German prince who allegedly threw himself out of a window before World War I and a doctor who murdered his wife and then took his own life. Room 333 is particularly noted for its paranormal activity.
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is known for its Gothic atmosphere and is the resting place of many notable figures, including Karl Marx. It also has a reputation for being haunted. The most famous ghost is the Highgate Vampire, a tall figure with red eyes and a long black coat, reported in the 1970s.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is known for its spectral inhabitants.
- Catherine Howard: The fifth wife of Henry VIII, Catherine Howard, was arrested at Hampton Court and charged with adultery. She was dragged away screaming through the Haunted Gallery, and her ghost is said to repeat this desperate act.
- Skeletor: In 2003, security footage captured a mysterious figure opening a fire door. The apparition, nicknamed “Skeletor,” was dressed in period clothing and has yet to be explained.
The Ghosts of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, is also home to numerous ghost stories.
- John Bradshaw: The ghost of John Bradshaw, who presided over the trial of Charles I, is said to roam the area around the abbey. His specter is seen carrying his severed head.
- The Unknown Warrior: The tomb of the Unknown Warrior is reportedly haunted by a ghostly soldier who has been seen standing guard over the grave.
The Ghostly Monks of Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge has been the site of various paranormal activities, including sightings of ghostly monks who are believed to have walked this area when it was part of the Westminster Abbey grounds.
The Ghosts of St. James’s Palace
St. James’s Palace is another location with a rich history of hauntings.
- Arabella Stuart: The spirit of Lady Arabella Stuart, a cousin of King James I, is said to haunt the palace. She was imprisoned and died here after an unsuccessful attempt to elope.
The Bleeding Heart Yard
The Bleeding Heart Yard, a cobbled courtyard in the Farringdon area, is named after a grisly legend. Lady Elizabeth Hatton, mistress of the courtyard, was found murdered here in the 1620s. Her body was discovered with her heart still pumping blood, leading to tales of her ghost haunting the area.
The Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey, has a history of ghostly sightings.
- Ghostly Jurors: There have been reports of spectral jurors appearing in the courtrooms, thought to be the spirits of those who took part in past trials.
The Ghost of 50 Berkeley Square
50 Berkeley Square is known as the most haunted house in London. The attic is said to be haunted by a young woman who was abused by her uncle and eventually threw herself out the window. Those who have spent the night in the attic have reported extreme terror and even death.
The Enfield Poltergeist
One of the most famous poltergeist cases in the world, the Enfield Poltergeist, took place in a council house in Enfield, North London, in the late 1970s. The Hodgson family reported loud knocking, furniture moving on its own, and even levitations. The case was widely covered by the media and remains a topic of debate among paranormal investigators.
The Clink Prison
Located in Southwark, the Clink Prison Museum is said to be haunted by the spirits of former prisoners who were tortured and executed. Visitors report hearing chains rattling, ghostly cries, and seeing shadowy figures.
The Viaduct Tavern
This Victorian pub near St. Paul’s Cathedral is reputed to be haunted by several spirits. It stands on the site of a former prison, and the ghosts of prisoners are said to haunt the cellars. Staff and patrons have reported poltergeist activity, such as objects moving on their own and sudden cold spots.
The Spaniards Inn
Located on the edge of Hampstead Heath, the Spaniards Inn dates back to 1585 and is said to be haunted by the ghost of Dick Turpin, a notorious highwayman. Visitors have reported seeing his ghostly figure and hearing phantom hoofbeats.
Green Park
Green Park is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of a woman dressed in black, known as “The Black Nun.” She is said to wander the park, mourning her lover who was executed.
The Hand of Glory
This eerie legend involves the Hand of Glory, a severed hand of a hanged man, which was believed to have magical properties. It is said to haunt various locations in London, bringing misfortune to those who encounter it.
These stories only scratch the surface of London’s ghostly legends, making it a fascinating destination for those interested in the paranormal.
Are you interested in the paranormal? Be careful, if you want to see it, you may find it…
Vocabulário Inglês-Português
- Supernatural – Sobrenatural
- Ghostly – Fantasmagórico
- Apparition – Aparição
- Haunted – Assombrado
- Spirit – Espírito
- Specter/Spectre – Espectro
- Severed – Decepado
- Poltergeist – Poltergeist (espírito barulhento)
- Prison – Prisão
- Monk – Monge
- Phantom – Fantasma
- Fright – Medo/Assustar
- Cobbled – Calçado (com pedras)
- Courtyard – Pátio
- Levitation – Levitação
- Highwayman – Salteador de Estrada
- Hanged – Enforcado
- Skeletal – Esquelético
- Cries – Gritos
- Hoofbeats – Trotes (som das patas de cavalo)
- Cellar – Porão/Adega
- Rattling – Chocalhando/Rangendo
- Fortress – Fortaleza
- Royal Palace – Palácio Real
- Victorian – Vitoriano (referente à época da Rainha Vitória)
- Trial – Julgamento
- Executed – Executado
- Tomb – Tumba
- Guard – Guarda
- Inn – Estalagem/Pousada
- Council House – Casa do Conselho (habitação popular)
- Prisoner – Prisioneiro
- Chains – Correntes
- Shadowy – Sombrio
- Mourning – Luto
- Tragic – Trágico
- Cellars – Porões/Adegas
- Hoofbeats – Trotes
- Misfortune – Infortúnio