Haunted Lancaster Castle, Lancaster,

Lancaster Castle

Located on a hilltop, directly in the city center, Lancaster Castle stands on the site of three previous Roman forts. Used for countless different things over the years such as a prison this castle has seen alot of death. Especially during the 1800’s when it was used for executions. The drop pit where the bodies fell after being hung still stands today and it is one of the most haunted spots in this incredibly haunted building. Plagued with hands on spirits and constant activity Lancaster castle could just be the most haunted location in the city.

Lancaster Castle,
Lancaster,
Uk

Ghost Hunting at the Lancaster Castle

Ghost Hunting at Lancaster Castle.

With so much history on one site and with it being barley investigated it is no surprise the sheer amount of activity in this location. roman forts, castle keeps, a witches tower, a gate house, a prison and during the 18th century it was even used for countless hangings. Now with psychical activity being so common the guides are beginning to warn visitors that there is a good chance they will be punched or shoved … But perhaps even spookier than that is the fact this very castle was the place where the Pendle Witch Trails took place. However with it being so rarley investigated there is not much info.

The Cells.

The Cells are said to be one of the most active locations in the place. There are a couple of apparitions seen around this spot, and alot of the physical activity seems to manifesting itself here.

All of the usual activity is reported here, shadows ghostly touching, light manifestations however there is something darker here. People are getting sick a dizzy when entering the cells and some people have gotten really aggressive towards other members of there group.

There where some terrible people held in these cells it would only make sense if there energies where still here, not to mention the Pendle Witches themselves.

The Courtyard and The Drop Pit.

The courtyard was used as the castle and prisons execution yard. This very spot was where many had there last breath, and all that fear felt just because the lever was pulled and there neck was snapped, will always leave an imprint, some residual some not so dormant.

Yells and screams can be heard in the dead of night, coming from the courtyard even when no one is present in the castle. Shadows have been seen darting in and out of sight around this area aswell as icy cold touch.

The drop room seems to home to something else. Prevalent poltergeist activity is reported down here. It now serves as a kind of small museum area with alot of the original execution gear still down there. When objects used to kill are stored in one place it always has a consequence.

Objects are seen to move around by themselves, or a member of staff with come in and find one of the mounted items on the floor or placed in a different display case. There is a dark presence down in this room some have witnessed the large looming shadow lurking in the corners peering down at them. Needless to say those particular visitors didn’t stick around for very long.

The Castle

When walking around the castle, paranormal activity is common both day and night. So many people have been shoved in the corridors that is now considered a regular occurrence. The staff even expect it when guiding a group. When going on a tour yourself in the introduction speech they always mention the fact that there is a good chance you’ll be touched of shoved.

Ghost Hunting at Lancaster Castle.

The Cells.

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The Cells are said to be one of the most active locations in the place. There are a couple of apparitions seen around this spot, and alot of the physical activity seems to manifesting itself here.

There where some terrible people held in these cells it would only make sense if there energies where still here, not to mention the Pendle Witches themselves.

The Courtyard and The Drop Pit.

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The Castle

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Ghosts of Lancaster Castle

Ghosts of Chingle Hall.

. An Old Haggerd Lady

. Young Girl

. The Monk

. Middle Aged Women

The Old Lady, Young Girl and Women

This location is a strange one, there is alot going on but it is difficult to get anyone to come forward with there accounts. However there is one tale which could explain it all, By the cells an old crooked women, a young girl and middle aged women have been seen running around the blocks, from cell to cell.

However it gets stranger still because this women is seen running with the child, but then sometimes its the old women running with the child. It is easy to think that old women and young girls where imprisoned here at the same time. However what is going on here.

Is this two separate spirits trying to hide the girl for something ? We think not, our theory is that the time all 9 of the Pendle Witches they might have been up to something. It is very possible that they preformed some form of dark ritual on the place.

Where there is a history of occult, there is always something left behind. Is the spirit that of separate Pendle witches smuggling there younger member out of the prison ? Or is this perhaps a trick to lure people in and affect them even when they leave the castle. A curse would be a very good reason to not pay attention, only further investigation will tell us more.

The Monk.

The ghost of a monk has been seen, legend says that he was hanged at the prison. The monk is usually spotted on the ground floor of the Castle. The apparition of the monk is usually only seen after dark, its presence followed by an icy chill.

It is also thought that the monk is responsible for all the activity down in the drop room aswell as the shoving. Perhaps he is still angry for his unjustified death.

Ghosts of Chingle Hall.

. An Old Haggerd Lady

. Young Girl

. The Monk

. Middle Aged Women

The Old Lady, Young Girl and Women

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The Monk.

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It is also thought that the monk is responsible for all the activity down in the drop room aswell as the shoving. Perhaps he is still angry for his unjustified death.

Lancaster CastleLocation

The History of Lancaster Castle

The origin of the Duchy of Lancaster goes back nearly seven centuries to the reign of King Henry III

In 1265, Henry gave his son Edmund lands which had been forfeited by Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. after his failed rebellion. Later, lands taken from Robert Ferrers, Earl of Derby were added to this holding.

It was not until 1267 that the inheritance acquired the name of Lancaster, when Edmund was given the county, the honour and the castle of Lancaster, and became its first Earl .

Edmund`s son, Thomas, inherited from his father in 1297 and, by marriage, added extensive properties in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Thomas thus became one of the most powerful nobles in England. The inheritance was temporarily lost when Thomas was executed after a failed rellion against Edward II in 1322.

Edmund`s grandson, Henry, was subsequently granted back the lands lost and given the title of first Duke of Lancaster in 1351. He died without a male heir and in 1362 the title and inheritance passed to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt – Shakespeare`s `Time- Honoured Lancaster”.

John O` Gaunt added to his possessions, and Lancater became a County Palatine. This meant that the Duke had Royal powers within the county and could do practically everything that would otherwise be the king`s privilege. The law courts in Lancashire were in the Duke`s hands and he appointed the Sheriff, the Judges, and the Justices of the Peace, as well as all other senior officials.

John O` Gaunt was the third son of King Edward III and the younger brother of the Black Prince. After the death of Edward III in 1377, John fulfilled his promise to his elder brother to protect the young King Richard II until he attained his majority, and for some years was probably the most powerful, and most hated, man in England.

When John O` Gaunt died in 1399, Richard II , fearing the power of John`s heir, Henry Bolingbroke, seized the Duchy of Lancaster. Bolingbroke, who had been banished by Richard, returned to England and overthrew the King. Bolingbroke became King Henry IV and the castle was recovered and has remained the property of the monarch ever since. It was he who, in 1399, provided that the Duchy should remain as a distinct entity quite separate from other Crown lands, under its own management. This he effected by the famous Great Charter of the Duchy, still in force today.

Until 1800, condemned criminals at Lancaster were executed at a place called Gallows Hill, on the moors close to Williamson Park

As many as eight or nine condemned prisoners and their coffins would be carried in the bottom of a cart. The procession from the Castle would pass along Moor Lane and Moor Gate, stopping at the Golden Lion public house at the corner of Brewery Lane in order that the condemned prisoners could take their last drink, accompanied by their friends and relatives. Execution day also brought people from all over the North West of England out onto the streets of Lancaster to witness the hangings.

After 1800 the executions at Lancaster Castle took place at “Hanging Corner”, in a angle between the tower and the wall on the east side of the terrace steps. On the ground-floor of the tower is the “Drop Room” which contains relics of the many executions, and can be visited today.

Out of 200 executions at Lancaster Castle, only 43 were for murder; other crimes included burglary, passing forged notes, robbery and cattle-stealing. Of those 200 executions, 131 are reputed to have been carried out by one hangman – Old Ned

For over 50 years, the Prison Chaplain was Parson Rowley who is said to have attended 170 criminals to their execution.

On March 25th 1865 Stephen Burke was hanged for the murder of his wife, this was the last public execution at the Castle.