Ghosts that haunt London.

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The Bank of England was built on the site of the churchyard of St Christopher-le-Stocks, so, its perhaps not surprising that the bank can lay claim to a few "ghosts" of its own. During the years between 1812 to 1837, a daily visitor to the Bank was a highly painted lady called Sarah Whitehead. Dressed entirely in black, which contrasted so strangely with her heavily rouged cheeks, she stood near the entrance to the Bank of England every day, to wait for her brother, Philip, who was a former Bank Clerk. It seems that poor Sarah could not accept that her brother was no longer employed there or the dishonourable way in which he had met his death, for he had received the death sentence and was executed for forging an acceptance to a bill. The tragedy had unbalanced her mind and her regular visits led the clerks at the bank to christen her the "Bank Nun". Since her death, some say that Sarah still presents as an "old lady in black" who seems to appear from the shadows in Threadneedle Street and is still searching and inquiring about her unfortunate brother.

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Red Lion Square.

Cromwell, Ireton & Bradshaw

When Charles II returned to England at the Restoration of the monarchy, he was ready to forgive all those who had supported the Parliamentarian cause, with the exception of those who had been directly involved with his father's execution. Three of the men directly responsible for Charles I's death on the scaffold, were already dead and had been buried among the kings and queens of England, in Westminster Abbey. Early in 1661, the three were exhumed and tried for regiside. After been found guilty of the charge, the bodies of Cromwell and Ireton were taken to the Red Lion Inn, which once stood in the then, newly developed Red Lion Square. It was from here that they commenced their journey to Tyburn, where, together with Bradshaw, their rotting corpses were hanged by the neck until evening. Later their severed heads were displayed on spikes at Westminster Hall to serve as a reminder of the consequences that lay ahead for those that may consider a plot to overthrow a king. It is claimed that the ghosts of Cromwell, Ireton & Bradshaw have been seen in the square; walking side by side and deep in conversation, they cross the square and then slowly fade from sight.

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Oliver Cromwell

Apsley House,(the Wellington museum)
Although a national hero, after the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington was less popular as a Tory Prime Minister and in fact violent rioters gathered around his house to show their displeasure at his opposition to the 1832 Reform Bill. Appearing only once, the ghost of Cromwell was seen by the Duke of Wellington; the spectre warned the Iron Duke to let the Bill through parliament. Strangely enough, the Iron Duke complied and the Bill was passed by Parliament in June 1832.
 

Highwayman

Hampstead Heath

Reputed to be none other than Dick Turpin,a ghostly figure rides the heath after dusk on his jet black horse. This famous Highwayman is credited with staying in many old pubs in the London area but he confined most of his activities to north London and Essex. Few highwaymen survived past their early twenty's and most met their end on the infamous Tyburn Gallows; they were later returned to the scene of their crime where they were hung from a gibbet so that their rotting bodies could act as a deterrent to others.

The Spaniard's Inn, Hampstead

Reputed to be haunted by two famous characters from history, the 16th century Spaniards Inn is said to be visited by the ghosts of Dick Turpin, the highwayman, who stabled his horse, Black Bess, at the inn, and Jack Sheppard, the petty criminal who became famous as an arch-prison escapee; so famous in fact, that over 200,000 Londons turned out to watch him hang at Tyburn (he was afterwards buried in the churchyard of St-Martin-in-the-Fields, in Trafalgar Square). Many Taverns and Inns provided Jack with an escape route when the authorities were hot on his trail, so, it is difficult to know why he wants to make his presence felt here. The cloaked figure of Dick Turpin is said to appear inside the pub but it is not only human ghosts who feel the need to return to the Spaniards Inn because it is said that the sound of muffled hooves can be heard galloping across the car park in the dead of night.

Nell Gwynne

Location: - Gargoyle Club, 69 Dean Street

The orange seller and Drury Lane actress, Nell Gwynne, once lived in a house on this spot. Her ghost is said to have been seen in the present day Gargoyle Club in the form of a grey shadowdy figure, accompanied by an overpowering smell of gardenias. Perhaps she is looking for Charles II - Nell was his favourite mistress and when the King died, his last thoughts were of her.

Lady in Red

St James's Park, Birdcage Walk & Cockpit Steps, SW1.
The headless entity of a woman has often been seen drifting from Cockpit Steps in the direction of St. James's Park. One theory is that the lady, who always appears dressed in red, was the wife of an officer who murdered her and tried to dispose of her mutilated remains in the park but was caught in the act. Two soldiers encountered the entity in 1802, which left them too disturbed and ill to return to duty; the whole episode was reported by the Times newspaper. In 1972 a motorist hit a lamp post on the road as he tried to avoid a ghostly figure dressed in red. The story of the haunting was given some credibility in court because the motorist was cleared of the charge of dangerous driving.
 

 John Baldwin Buckstone

Theatre Royal, Haymarket SW1.

This former actor-manager is a welcome ghost because he brings good luck. Whenever Buckstone appears it heralds success for the show and a long run. He seems to prefer to make his presence felt in the dressing rooms but he has been spotted on stage dressed in clothing from the 1800's. He was seen on stage by the Stage Manager in the1960's, although, he remained invisible to the audience.

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