Buzz
Many people have pondered what occurs after death, leading to an array of questions about whether anything follows the end of bodily functions. Is there an afterlife? Will Elvis be there? Will my pets reunite with me?
Based on the list below, you can be sure that you might meet little Nemo, Doggo, or Kitty once again! Let’s hope they aren’t as terrifying as the black dog of Newgate Prison or as erratic as the chicken ghost of Pond Square. Whatever awaits in the afterlife, pray that you don’t encounter any of these wicked creatures…
10. The Ghost Bear of the Tower of London
The spirit of a bear is said to haunt the Martin Tower at the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels were once kept. In 1816, a guard on duty reportedly saw a massive bear and instinctively charged at it with his bayonet. At that time, the Tower housed a menagerie, which was later moved to the London Zoo and Regent’s Park in the 1830s. It’s possible the guard mistook one of the menagerie’s great bears that had escaped!
The bayonet pierced the bear and was driven so deeply into the door behind it that it took two men to pull it out. After the guard attacked, the ghostly figure disappeared. The guard fainted from the shock and passed away two days later.
9. The Phantom Horse of Bryn-Y-Maen, North Wales
A ghostly white horse is said to haunt the backroads of Bryn-y-maen in North Wales. It was witnessed on two separate occasions by different people. The first sighting occurred when a man, driving down these roads to avoid a police stop for his untaxed car, encountered the horse. It was dawn, and as he approached a dip in the road, a massive white horse appeared from over the hedge, nearly crashing into his car. “It filled the windscreen!” he exclaimed. The car spun out of control as he slammed the brakes, but the horse vanished.
On the second occasion, a young couple was driving down the same road and approaching the dip when the white horse reappeared. As they slammed the brakes, the horse disappeared once again. One theory, or possible clue, is that a large horse skull was found during road repairs, although this story has yet to be verified.
8. The Chicken Ghost of Pond Square, London
On a bitterly cold day in 1626, Sir Francis Bacon was traveling through Pond Square in his carriage with a companion. Bacon was passionately discussing his novel method of preserving food, where instead of salting meat, it might be possible to keep it cold enough to prevent decay. His friend, the king’s physician, disagreed with the idea, but Bacon proceeded to acquire a chicken from a nearby Highgate farm, pluck it, clean it, and pack it with snow, both inside and out. Unfortunately for Bacon, his experiment with the cold led to a bout of pneumonia, which ultimately claimed his life.
Soon after Bacon’s death, reports began circulating about a half-plucked chicken seen running around Pond Square. The chicken was said to vanish whenever anyone attempted to approach it, and sightings of it persisted over the years. During World War II, air raid wardens tried to capture it, but it disappeared through a wall. Around the same time, a passerby heard the sound of a coach and horses, but all that could be seen was a chicken running in circles. In the 1970s, a couple who were sharing a kiss in a nearby doorway reported seeing the ghostly chicken as well.
7. The Merrivale Pigs of Dartmoor
For the past two centuries, a phantom sow and her piglets have been haunting Merripit Hill, according to local legend. On misty nights, travelers on the road might encounter them making their way toward Cator Gate, starving and searching for food. According to the tale, the sow and her piglets knew that if they reached Cator Gate, they would find a dead horse to feast on. However, by the time they arrived, the horse had already been devoured by crows.
The pigs are said to communicate as well! The piglets cry out, “Skin an’ bones, skin an’ bones!” and the sow responds, “Let ‘un lie, let ‘un lie.” They then return to the moor, continuing their search for food, only reappearing when the night is thick with fog and darkness.
6. The White Rabbit of Thetford Warren Lodge, Norfolk
Thetford Warren Lodge was constructed on the Brecks, an ancient and untamed region in Norfolk where prehistoric farmers once raised sheep and rabbits. Built in the 1400s by the monks of the nearby Cluniac priory, the lodge served as the home of the warrener, the man responsible for maintaining and trapping rabbits in the Brecks for their meat and skins. The area is riddled with numerous rabbit burrows.
It is said that a massive white rabbit with glowing red eyes haunts the lodge, and its appearance is an omen of death to anyone who encounters it. Some believe it may be connected to the nearby ruins of the old leper hospital of St Margaret, which was looted for silver and destroyed by fire in 1304.
5. The Black Dog of Newgate Prison, London
Newgate Prison, once located next to the Old Bailey, was notorious for the supernatural black dog that was believed to bring misfortune. The first recorded sighting of this hound came in 1596, when an inmate recalled the eerie presence of the dog during a horrific famine in London, when prison inmates resorted to cannibalism to survive. A scholar accused of witchcraft was imprisoned during this time, and upon his arrival, he was immediately overpowered by the stronger prisoners and consumed by them.
Soon after, the prisoners began seeing a large, black dog prowling the dark corridors. One by one, each man who had partaken in the gruesome act of eating the scholar was hunted down and torn to pieces by the beast. As the number of remaining survivors dwindled to only a few, those who had committed the crime were driven mad with terror. They broke out of prison in an attempt to flee, but it’s said that no man truly escaped. The last of the murderers were found by the dog and met the same horrific fate as the others.
4. The Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
The Capitol Building in Washington, DC, has seen some of the most significant moments in history. However, some might argue that none are as strange as the story of the demon cat that is said to roam the halls at night. During the post-Civil War era, night watchmen began to notice a black cat that appeared to grow larger as it approached them. One man described it as becoming as large as a tiger. When it lunged at him, he raised his arms in defense, fearing an attack. But when he fell to the ground and felt no weight, he lowered his arms and discovered the cat had vanished.
Could these tales just be the drunken ramblings of night watchmen, perhaps reprobate friends of powerful men who had an easy job? It’s possible, but when concrete was poured to replace flooring after a gas explosion in 1898, six to eight perfect paw prints were found imprinted in the new concrete.
3. The Owl at Arundel Castle, Sussex
Arundel Castle opened its doors officially on Christmas Day in 1067. A residence to many royals and noblemen over the centuries, it has ties to famous historical figures such as Richard the Lionheart and King Henry II.
Along with its fair share of human spirits, one ghostly figure that occasionally makes an appearance is a white owl that is seen flying around the castle’s windows. Each time it has been spotted, someone connected to the castle or its inhabitants has met with a mysterious end. Looks like Hedwig never had this kind of attention!
2. The Ghost Dog of Airth Castle, Scotland
Airth Castle, which dates back centuries, is situated near an even older graveyard. And, as you can imagine, it’s a place filled to the brim with ghosts! One of the most well-known is a mischievous dog that will nip at your ankles if you’re not paying attention. Could this little dog, perhaps named Rex, have belonged to one of the children who tragically died in a fire with their nanny in the 1800s? Or was he simply the groundsman’s trusty companion?
1. The Black Cat of the Hellfire Club, Ireland
Nestled just outside Dublin in the Wicklow Mountains lies the Hellfire Club, a hunting lodge that sits atop an ancient burial mound. It is believed that Speaker Conolly, the builder of the lodge, used a standing stone from the nearby cairn as the lintel for the structure. Founded in 1735 by Richard Parsons, the club gained infamy for its association with Satanism and the practice of black magic, with some accounts claiming that cats (and possibly servants) were sacrificed to the Devil.
A chilling tale tells of a local visitor who ventured one night to view the infamous Hellfire Club. He was found dead the next morning, and his host feared the worst—murdered at the hands of the dark rituals that took place there. Together with the local priest, they went to the lodge to uncover the truth. Upon arrival, they discovered a grand banquet spread across the hall, with a massive black cat stalking the room. Its ears were twisted into shapes that resembled horns. The priest cast holy water upon the creature, which caused it to disintegrate into pieces. Stepping outside, the priest found the host of the dead man lying on the ground, his neck and face badly scratched by claws of unimaginable strength.
