6 Haunting Victorian Ghost Stories to Dive Into Immediately

Ghost stories from the Victorian and early 20th-century eras hold a unique charm: they effortlessly evoke desolate, aged settings where sinister events are concealed rather than confronted. From the very first sentence, you’re immersed in a world devoid of electricity to dispel the shadows and no emergency services to rely on if those shadows grow too menacing.

1. “The Phantom ’Rickshaw” // Rudyard Kipling

In Rudyard Kipling’s 1888 story “The Phantom ’Rickshaw,” Jack Pansay engages in a passionate affair with Mrs. Wessington, a married woman. His ardor soon fades, described as a “fire of straw burning out to a pitiful end,” and he attempts to sever ties with her. Despite his harsh rejection, she clings to the hope of a future together. When Jack decides to marry another woman, Mrs. Wessington’s despair leads to her death, a fate common to spurned Victorians. Jack is relieved by her passing—until her private rickshaw begins appearing around town, and he encounters her ghost. Mrs. Wessington’s love persists, whether Jack desires it or not.

According to Kipling biographer Andrew Lycett, the author infused much of his own experiences into the story. Pansay’s doctor-prescribed rest and fresh air mirror Kipling’s own health struggles during his time in Simla (now Shimla), India. Lycett notes that Pansay’s hallucinations reflect Kipling’s obsession with Florence Garrard, who ended their relationship while he was in India, driving him to immerse himself in his work—a trait shared with Pansay. This heartbreak inspired Kipling’s debut novel, The Light That Failed.

2. “The Open Door” // Margaret Oliphant

Scottish author Margaret Oliphant was an extraordinarily productive writer, debuting her first novel in 1849 and later crafting works ranging from travel narratives to historical fiction, literary critiques, and even ghost stories. In her tale “The Open Door,” published in the early 1880s, the narrator’s young son becomes distraught by an unbearable noise he hears nightly outside their grand Victorian estate. While others dismiss the boy as delusional, his father takes his claims seriously, eventually hearing the haunting cries himself—a sound so sorrowful it chills him to the core. Determined to save his son from a potential “brain-fever,” the father investigates the abandoned servant’s quarters, despite the reluctance of friends and staff to assist. Oliphant dedicated this story to the mother of her publisher, William Blackwood III, drawing inspiration from the Blackwood family home for the setting.

3. “The Cold Hand” // Felix Octavius Carr Darley

Published in 1846, “The Cold Hand” features a guest haunted by the spectral presence of a chilling hand during his stay. This story is part of a unique anthology, Ghost Stories: Collected with a Particular View to Counteract the Vulgar Belief in Ghosts and Apparitions, which aims to debunk supernatural beliefs. Compiled by Felix Octavius Carr Darley, the collection presents mysteries where the most thrilling explanation—ghosts—is ultimately revealed to have a rational, mundane cause. While lacking the finesse of Sherlock Holmes tales, these stories share a similar goal: eliminating the impossible to reveal the truth.

4. “The Old Nurse's Story” // Elizabeth Gaskell

Elizabeth Gaskell, famously known as “Mrs. Gaskell,” was a masterful storyteller, particularly in the realm of ghost tales. Charles Dickens, her mentor, frequently published her works in his journal Household Words. Her 1852 story “The Old Nurse’s Story” revolves around Rosamund, a kind-hearted orphan girl cared for by the Old Nurse, who sacrifices her youth to raise her. When Rosamund becomes the ward of elderly relatives, the nurse accompanies her to their imposing, isolated mansion. Just as life begins to settle, a ghostly child starts tapping on the windows, luring Rosamund into the icy hills behind the estate. The haunting appears to be the elderly relatives’ past misdeeds seeking retribution through the youngest family member.

5. “The Open Window” // Saki

Saki, the pseudonym of Scottish author Hector Hugo Munro, was renowned for his sharp wit and satirical style. His 1914 story “The Open Window” exemplifies his signature approach. It follows a man retreating to the countryside to recuperate from various minor ailments, especially his nervous condition. During his stay, he visits relatives’ friends, seeking companionship and an audience for his complaints. It’s during one such visit that he learns of a tragic event on the bogs, a widow’s haunting delusion, and the cunning nature of teenage girls.

6. “The Bowmen” // Arthur Machen

Welsh writer Arthur Machen, also known as Arthur Llewellyn Jones, penned “The Bowmen,” arguably the most valiant ghost story ever told. Set during World War I, the tale depicts English soldiers vastly outnumbered by German forces at a critical battlefield. Resigned to their fate, they face it with courage—except for one soldier who recalls a Latin phrase, Adsit Anglis Sanctus Georgius: “May St. George be a present help to the English.” Published in The Evening News in 1914, the story gained immense popularity. However, in a 1915 introduction, Machen wrote that he found it “an indifferent piece of work.” Readers can judge for themselves by exploring the story here.