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Showing posts from August, 2024

Borley Rectory: The Haunted History of England’s Most Mysterious Manor

  Nestled in the quiet village of Borley in Essex, England, stood Borley Rectory, a Gothic-style manor that became infamous as "the most haunted house in England."  From its construction in 1862 to its tragic ruin in 1939, Borley Rectory was a site of eerie occurrences, strange apparitions, and spine-chilling stories that have intrigued ghost hunters for over a century.  What really happened within its walls? We may never know as so much is now legend. A Rectory With a Dark Past The story of Borley Rectory begins in 1862 when it was built to house the rector of the parish of Borley and his family.  The building, commissioned by Reverend Henry Dawson Ellis Bull, replaced an earlier rectory on the site. It was a large, red-brick structure with 23 rooms, including a chapel, a stable, and extensive grounds.  The rectory was built near Borley Church, which dated back to the 12th century, on land that had been used by the church for centuries. From the outset, Borley Rectory was st

How Many Ghosts actually Haunt the Old Queen's Head?

As Sheffield’s oldest pub it is perhaps no surprise that The Old Queen’s Head, in Pond Hill has a reputation as one of the city’s most haunted locations . . . but just how many spooky inhabitants it has will surprise you! The oldest domestic building in the city, dating from 1475, it is a former hunting lodge for the Earl of Shrewsbury. It was then , locals knew, as ‘The hawle at the Poandes’ and first became an inn in the 1600s. This area of the town was a hive of industry and the area was called Sheaf Island. Names that have gone are Mates Square, Dyers Bridge, Sheaf Row and Vaughan’s Wheel. Joseph Rogers & Sons produced first-class cutlery and pen and pocket knives here, Widow Oaks made scissors on River Street and at No 3 River Street in 1849 cowkeeper Saville Pacey carried out his trade. By 1856 he must have died as his wife Ann Pacey had taken over the work and by 1862 the business had changed hands to Charles Smith. In 1862, George Hoult is listed as a horse slaughterer at N

A Peculiar Fascination for Haunted Places - Quarantine Station Manly, Sydney

Perched on the rocky cliffs of North Head, overlooking Sydney Harbour, lies one of Australia's most historic and eerie sites: the Quarantine Station at Manly. This sprawling complex, now part of the Sydney Harbour National Park, has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. It served as a quarantine station for over 150 years, sheltering those who arrived in Sydney with contagious diseases. The Quarantine Station, or "Q Station" as it's now known, is not only a monument to medical history but also a hotspot for ghostly encounters. The Origins of the Quarantine Station The Quarantine Station was established in 1832, during a time when ships arriving in Sydney brought not only new settlers and goods but also deadly diseases. Smallpox, typhus, cholera, and the plague were among the illnesses that posed significant threats to the burgeoning colony. To protect the population, the New South Wales government designated North Head as the site for a quara