People and Places featured on this page include: (1) Tower of London, (the Wakefield Tower, the Salt Tower, Lady Jane Grey, the Bloody Tower, Anne Boleyn). (2) The Bank of England Ghost. (3) Red Lion Square - Cromwell, Ireton & Bradshaw. (4) Oliver Cromwell. (5) Hampstead Heath - Highwayman. (6) Spaniard's Inn, Hampstead. (7) Nell Gwynne. (8) Lady in Red - St. James's Park, (9) Theatre Royal, Haymarket. (10) The Queen's House, Greenwich.
It is said that the Tower of London is the most haunted place in England, which is not surprising considering in its long history, it has been the scene of torture, executions and long imprisonments. Some of the people who are said to still haunt its sinister towers include:
The Wakefield Tower
Henry VI was imprisoned in the Wakefield Tower and his reign came to an abrupt end around midnight in 1471 when he was murdered in the Tower as he knealt in prayer. It has been suggested but never proved, that his murderer was none other than the future Richard III. As the fingers of the clock approach midnight on the anniversary of the King's death, his ghost is said to pace the Wakefield Tower and then slowly fade into the stonework, as the last chimes of midnight are heard.
The Salt Tower
The Salt Tower was one of the Tower of London's grimmest places and its dark dungeons were used in the 16th century to imprison Jesuit priests who would not bend to the will of Henry VIII. The graffiti etched into the bare walls by the unfortunate captives is still evident today and of particular note are the etchings of Walpole, a Jesuit priest, who in spite of the horrific torture he suffered daily, would not betray his Catholic friends and contacts. Visitors have reported hearing low whispered sounds and a glowing light that gets brighter and brighter before feeling an icy cold sensation on the back of the neck.
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey was executed February 12, 1542. This unfortunate sixteen-year-old young woman, who was the victim of an ambitious family, was Queen for nine days before the supporters of Mary Tudor overthrew her and she was imprisoned in the Tower along with her young husband, Lord Guildford Dudley. They were both executed on the same day but first the young Jane had to watch from her window as her sobbing husband passed beneath her on the way to his execution. It is claimed that on the anniversary of her execution, her ghost, who presents as a white, shimmering figure, appears along the battlements and around the place of her execution.
The Bloody Tower
The Bloody Tower has become renowned as the place where two little boys were imprisoned and then assumed murdered in 1483 by their uncle. The two boys were the little princes, Richard and Edward and the villainous uncle was Richard, Duke of Gloucester. When the Duke became Richard III, the young boys disappeared and it was assumed they had been killed on the Kings orders and buried somewhere in the grim fortress. In 1674, two small skeletons were discovered beneath a staircase in the White Tower and they were presumed to be the remains of the two children. King Charles II ordered that they be afforded a royal burial in Westminster Abbey where they have lain ever since. It is said that sightings of the two boys have been seen in the the Bloody Tower where they appear in white nightgowns and appear to clutch one another in terror. Witnesses have wanted to comfort the children but when approached, the small figures are said to fade slowly into the stonework.
Anne Boleyn 
The present day home of the Governor of the Tower of London is a black and white timbered Tudor building, built in 1530 and known as the Queen's House. It was in this house that Queen Anne Boleyn, (second wife of Henry VIII and mother to Elizabeth I) lived in the final days before she was beheaded on May 19, 1536 on Tower Green after accusations of adultery and incest. It is said that her headless figure, dressed in white, still returns to this spot and on one occasion even caused a sentry to raise his bayonet and charge but when the weapen went straight through the figure, the poor man fainted in terror.
Others that are said to haunt the Tower of London are; Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, executed in 1541- this seventy two year old lady ran from her executioner and was hacked to pieces when he chased her. Her screams are said to be heard on the anniversary of her tragic death.
Another wife of Henry VIII, Catherine Howard was executed in 1542. Charged with adultery after a love letter was discovered written to a young Thomas Culpeper, Catherine is said to haunt the Tower, as well as other Royal Palaces.
The Bank of England Ghost (The Bank Nun - Sarah Whitehead)
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.
Red Lion Square, Drake Street, WC1.
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.
Oliver Cromwell
Apsley House,(the Wellington museum) W1.
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 WC2
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.
The Queen's House, Greenwich SE10 
When two Canadian visitors, the Reverend and Mrs. Hardy returned home and developed the photographs they had taken on their London visit, they found among them a photograph of the famous Tulip Staircase, in the Queen's House, Greenwich. Clearly visible was the ghostly image of two shrouded figures ascending the stairs. As nobody had been present when the photograph was taken, the couple had the film checked by Kodak. It was found that there was no evidence of any tampering with the film and camera, nor any double exposure.
See:
Tower of london
Bank of England
London Parks - St.James's Park
Queen's House - Greenwich
