Spooky stories: 14 reputedly haunted places in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth
These ghostly goings-on in the area have been chronicled by an online paranormal database.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2023, 17:20 BST
Updated 18th Apr 2023, 17:20 BST
Faceless monks, vanishing nuns and even black dogs - these are all among the ghost stories that have been recorded in the Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth area.
Whether or not you believe in them is another matter! Either way, they offer fascinating tales, some based around our local history.
These tales all come from the website, Paranormal Database (www.paranormaldatabase.com), described as “a serious ongoing project to document locations with folkloric, paranormal and cryptozoological connections with more than 13,400 entries” – including this collection in the Leamington Warwick and Kenilworth area.
These tales all come from the website, Paranormal Database (www.paranormaldatabase.com), described as “a serious ongoing project to document locations with folkloric, paranormal and cryptozoological connections with more than 13,400 entries” – including this collection in the Leamington Warwick and Kenilworth area.
13. Blacklow Hill and area around Gaveston's Cross, near Leek Wootton
Piers Gaveston was murdered on this site in 1312. A local legend claimed strange sounds filled the air after dark, and that at midnight, bells would be heard moments before a ghostly man riding a horse manifested. Photo: Submitted photo
14. Warwick Castle
As you can imagine, there are many ghost stories at Warwick Castle.
One story features a black dog. After being caught stealing from her customers, an old servant at the castle was fired. In revenge, she bewitched the place - a large black dog appeared and created havoc. The creature was defeated by quotes from the bible read aloud by a local holy man.
And there is another animal-based story. Appearing at least once at the castle prior to a death in the family, the phantom 'Dun Cow of Warwick' appears a few weeks before a death in the family. Way back in history, a member of the Warwick family killed the giant cow when it was a living creature that terrorised people across the land.
Away from animals, Sir Fulke Greville - murdered by a trusted servant - is reputed to still spend time in his study, appearing in a misty form. In 1973, a cleaner reported hearing loud scratching sounds coming from a painting of Greville, while in 2009 a site manager working on a 'dungeon' feature encountered a tall slim man wearing tunic and trousers. Photo: Mike Baker