By Alex Boersma, Literature columnist 25/26
We have all watched at least one movie featuring teenagers and children huddled together by torch light telling ghost stories to scare each other. Some of us may even have recreated this with our own friends and tried to out scare each other. Despite not having so much of the childlike imagination we once had, ghost stories remain fascinating and perfect to share this time of year. But how did this tradition begin and what ghost stories does Bristol hold?
The most prominent origins of ghost stories are from religion. Many religions speak of tales of the afterlife which the idea of ghosts help to justify. A prominent example of this is Jesus appearing as a ghost after death to the disciples. During the Medieval times in Britain, ghost stories often focused on spirits seeking guidance and prayers to move into the afterlife and away from purgatory. The Renaissance period delved even deeper into ghost stories with the most famous being the ghost in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Following the Protestant Reformation which challenged many Catholic beliefs about the afterlife and thus ghosts, the Witch trials began and combined fears of ghosts with other forms of the supernatural. Many believed that witches were capable of summoning spirits. The Victorian times brought about more ideas of ghostly spirits with the upheaval and turbulent times of the Industrial Revolution drawing many to ideas of spiritualism in which the dead could communicate with the living
The correlation between ghost stories and halloween began from the Ancient Celts who’s Pagan festival of Samhain took place on the 31st October, Halloween, until the 1st November in which they believed the dead were able to roam the living world.
Bristol ghost stories
Screams at the Christmas Steps
In the 1660s the steps had a gallows at the top where people were hung and left as a public spectacle for days on end. Many people have reported hearing screams and cries of a man. Sightings of a young Victorian girl and a lady dressed in all black have also been reported on the Christmas steps.
Murder at the Odeon cinema-Union Street
I remember being told this story during fresher's week when I first arrived in Bristol and safe to say I have steered clear of the cinema ever since. During a screening of The Light That Failed based on Rudyard Kipling's novel, the cinema's manager was murdered in his office and the killer never found. Those who visit screen 3 located next to his office have reported seeing the manager's ghost on the third row and in the corridor leading to the screen's entrance.
The lavender scented theatre-Bristol Old Vic Theatre
The long serving actress and theatre manager, Sarah McCreadie, is said to haunt the theatre since her death over 200 years ago. Her ghost has been described as wearing a high collared long black dress and having her hair tied up in a bun. Many sightings of her have been reported to be accompanied by a lavender smell. A security guard once even followed her down the stairs by the box office and out of the building!
Poltergeist at Old Market-The Lamb Inn
In 1761, the landlord of The Lamb Inn had eight children however only two of his daughters seemed to be affected by the poltergeist. The girls claimed they were being bitten and pricked by sharp objects at night. The poltergeist was also known to throw furniture and make knocking noises around the Inn, the landlord also saw the furniture being thrown though didn't experience the other things his daughters reported. The landlord ultimately believed the strange happenings to be the result of a witch called on by a business rival.
Pierre's poltergeist pub-King street
The Llandoger Trow pub on King Street dates back to 1664 and is said to be home to 15 ghosts. A small boy called Pierre, said to have a metal leg is the most famous of these ghosts as his footsteps on the top floor have been heard by various staff members over the years. Along with Pierre's footsteps, there have been reports of cries from the top floor and a poltergeist who is said to rip pictures from the walls and throw around cutlery.
The old coaching inn turned haunted restaurant-The Rummer Hotel
Though now a cocktail bar, the Rummer Hotel used to be one of the country's oldest coaching inns, making it a listed building. It was visited by Elizabeth I and Oliver Cromwell once upon a time and has since been rumoured to house many spirits, alongside alcoholic spirits! A 2007 tour group reportedly saw the torso of a man in front of the fireplace while they were trying to enjoy their meal.
Featured Image:Unsplash
Do you know of any other ghost stories in Bristol?
