Haunted Shrewsbury

With over five hundred haunted sites, Shropshire is the most haunted county in the country.  Shrewsbury, the county town dates back to 901AD when it was a Saxon settlement, and with so much history there is also a great number of ghost stories associated with the town, so much so that it is considered to be one of the most haunted places in England.

Some examples of haunted sites in Shrewsbury are listed below.  You can see the locations of these and more haunted sites in the Borough by using our online mapping system.

The Dun Cow

Located opposite Shrewsbury Abbey, this fourteenth century inn is one of the most haunted places in Shropshire.  Amongst the ghosts reported are a monk, who is often seen down in the cellar, and a tall man dressed in cavalier clothing.  The latter is believed to be a Dutch cavalry officer who, after murdering Sir Richard, a steward of Prince Rupert who stayed at the Dun Cow, was court martialled and hanged in the stables of the inn.

The Prince Rupert Hotel

The Prince Rupert Hotel is another building that is home to more than one ghost. A jilted bride haunts bedroom number 6 where she hanged herself, whilst a man whose bride-to-be ran off with his best man, frequently makes his presence known in bedroom number 7 where he killed himself.

Shrewsbury Castle

A murderer named "Bloudie Jack", who was the keeper of the castle, lured and killed a number of young women, storing their bodies within the castle.  The sister of his last victim saw Jack dragging the body of her sister through the courtyard and fled the castle, returning with help to arrest him.  Bloudie Jack was hanged, drawn and quartered, and his head was displayed on a spike in Wyle Cop.  His ghost has been seen in the castle grounds on more than one occasion.

Bloudie Jack was recorded in the Ingoldsby Legends.

The Railway Station

A shadowy figure is often seen at the Railway Station and is believed to be a Mr William Heath, a coal merchant who was killed in 1887 when, under the weight of snow that had settled, the roof of a carriage shelter collapsed on top of him, killing him and injuring his horse.

Parade Shopping Arcade

Formerly the Royal Salop Infirmary, a number of ghosts have been seen during its time as a hospital, and more recently as a shopping centre.  A 'Lady in White' has appeared before a number of people, including former RSI staff.  Another frequent apparition, and perhaps ex-staff member, is a matron who is seen to wander with authority around the wards and theatres.

St Alkmund's Church

A steeplejack who helped build the 15th century church spire is said to haunt St. Alkmund's Church.  The man is said to have fallen to his death whilst climbing the tower for a bet, and his ghost has since been seen climbing the church spire.

St Julian's Churchyard

A guest at the Lion Hotel was found dead in his room and consequently buried at St. Julian's Church after a short service. In the evening and days following his burial, strange noises and screams were reported as coming from the churchyard.  Upon opening the grave, scratch marks were found on the underside of the lid, and it quickly became apparent that the unfortunate fellow had been buried alive.

Rowley's House

Two spirits in particular are said to haunt the 17th Century mansion. A lady, fully clothed in fine period custume has been seen to rest on a particular 16th Century four-poster bed situated on an upper floor.  She has also been seen at the original location of the bed, and is reputed to have died in the bed during childbirth.  A similarly dressed, but seemingly unrelated ghost is that of a gentleman who has also been seen wandering the premises.

Ghost Tours

Ghost tours are run by Shrewsbury Tourist Information Centre in October and November.  An experienced Tour Guide will escort you around some of the haunted sites of Shrewsbury, including some of the locations detailed above, and explain the stories behind them.  Tickets are £3.50 for adults, £2.00 for children under 16.  Tours can also be booked for groups of up to 20 people at a cost of £40 per group at times to suit.

Please call 01743 281200 for further details, although the tours always prove popular so book early to avoid disappointment.

Further Reading

• The Ghosts That Haunt Shrewsbury by Howell Rees (1995)

Further Links

• Map of Haunted Sites of Shrewsbury using Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council Mapping
• Shrewsbury Guide: Shrewsbury Ghosts
• The Best Ghost Photos Ever Taken