Post by Joanna on May 19, 2014 20:30:38 GMT -5
Haringey and Enfield's Most Haunted Places
Paranormal experiences, eerie sightings and unexplained goings on. The intrigue of the unknown instills a fascinating curiosity to explore what we cannot explain.
A number of sites across Haringey and Enfield have resulted in a number of supernatural sightings and experiences that have dumbfounded experts and given weight to those who believe in the undead. Here, we explore some of north London's most haunted hotspots and dig up the legendary stories behind their fabled reputations ....
Forty Hall (Forty Hill, Enfield). Visitors to this historic building (above) have experienced paranormal incidents since it was opened to the public in 1951. People have reported feelings of being watched or followed by “something” as they make their way through the corridors of the 17th Century building. The majority of such experiences occur on the second-floor landing on the main staircase, as well as in what is commonly called “Raintom’s Bedroom.” Several years ago, when the room was sealed off to the public, the bedclothes were often found disturbed, as though someone had been sleeping there. A group of paranormal investigators visited the museum last year and reported feeling a presence on the “haunted” landing.
Bruce Castle (Lordship Lane, Tottenham). This Grade I listed 16th Century manor has a reputation as the home of “The Ghostly Lady of Bruce Castle.” Little is known about the early life of the woman, but it is speculated that she committed suicide and her spirit roams the grounds of what is Tottenham’s oldest park.
Highgate Cemetery (Swains Lane, Highgate). Numerous unexplained sightings have been reported at the burial place of the late socialist philosopher Karl Marx. David Farrant, a British occultist, claims he saw an eerie 7-foot-tall spirit outside the gates of the cemetery. The “being” came to be known as “The Highgate Vampire.” Members of the North London Paranormal Investigators confirmed Farrant’s claim, insisting they also encountered a tall dark figure that appeared in front of them during a visit to the cemetery.
Gloucester Drive (Finsbury Park). Residents claim the footsteps of an invisible and unknown pedestrian can be heard here late at night. The footsteps start outside Number 7 and continue across the front gardens, with cracking twigs breaking the deadly silence of the dark street. The reputation of Gloucester Road earned it the title of Britain’s 5th most haunted street.
Number 8 Ferrestone Road (Hornsey). This seemingly normal residential property in north London has become the loitering place of the “Hornsey Coal Ghost” following numerous sightings and supernatural encounters spanning the better part of a century. A violent poltergeist was said to be tormenting the house in the 1920s and a number of strange incidents were reported on the property in 1999, including sudden changes in temperature. A crypt was discovered submerged in the garden beneath foliage some time ago, providing a possible clue to the reasons for the spooky incidents.
The Rose and Crown (Clay Hill, Enfield). This popular and old-fashioned public house was once owned by the grandfather of infamous highwayman Dick Turnpin. Rumor has it that the serial robber would use the drinking hole as a hideout between violent crimes. For decades, visitors have reported seeing his ghost outside the pub, sometimes accompanied by his horse.
Myddleton House (Bull’s Cross, Enfield). This impressive historic estate (above) was formerly the home of Edward Augustus Bowles, a famous self-taught gardener, artist and expert botanist. A caretaker working at the 19th Century home claims she once saw a man in a suit walking toward an exhibition group while she was cleaning the ground floor, but as she followed to check him off the list, he vanished, leading to a widely-held belief that the estate is haunted.
Hadley Road (Enfield). Legend has it the ghost of a witch who lived in Hadley Road in the 1600s haunts this sometimes eerie country lane. She was reportedly executed in 1622 for witchcraft and some local residents are convinced that late on cold, misty nights, they’ve seen a witch-like figure walking along the road.
Source: Daniel Knight and Chris Hewett, The Enfield Independent, May 14, 2014.