Let’s celebrate St Frideswide’s Day, Oxford’s patron saint, by exploring her life and legacy and the city’s eerie hauntings
As the crisp October air settles over Oxford, the city’s ancient streets seem to whisper with the past.
On 19 October, the city honours St Frideswide’s Day, a celebration of its beloved patron saint.
But beneath the festivities and the rich ecclesiastical history lurks a darker, more mysterious side of Oxford, one filled with spectral apparitions and unsettling hauntings that make this scholarly city a haven not just for academics, but for restless spirits too.
The Legend of St Frideswide
Before we delve into the ghostly tales of Oxford, it’s worth pausing to appreciate St Frideswide herself, the revered figure around whom this day revolves.
Born in the 7th century, Frideswide founded a priory that would later become Christ Church Cathedral, the very heart of Oxford.
A pious and determined woman, she famously fled from a royal suitor – Algar of Leicester – who sought to force her into marriage.
Legend tells of her miraculous escape through the surrounding woodlands, with God’s intervention blinding her would-be captor.
Frideswide lived out her days in devotion, healing the sick and performing miracles, her influence continuing long after her death in 727 AD.
Today, her resting place within the cathedral is a site of quiet reverence.
Yet, even as the city honours her life of service and sanctity, the shadows of Oxford tell of other, less saintly souls who never found peace.
The Ghost of Oxford Castle
Few places in Oxford are as soaked in eerie history as Oxford Castle.
Established by the Normans in 1071, this grim fortress has seen centuries of bloodshed, betrayal, and imprisonment.
Its most famous haunting is that of Mary Blandy, a convicted poisoner executed in 1752.
Mary, a seemingly ordinary woman, was sentenced to death after it was discovered she had poisoned her father, allegedly under the influence of a manipulative lover.
Visitors to the castle have reported hearing her sorrowful cries echoing through the ancient stone corridors.
Some have even claimed to see her spectral figure, dressed in 18th-century garb, wandering the castle grounds with a noose still hanging around her neck. There’s an icy chill in the air when her presence is near—enough to make even the bravest of tourists rethink their decision to explore the castle’s dungeons after dark.
Merton College’s Headless Haunting
Oxford University is a treasure trove of ghost stories, but none is quite as chilling as the tale of Merton College’s headless spectre.
Merton, one of the university’s oldest colleges, was founded in 1264, and its medieval halls seem to harbour the spirits of the long-dead.
The headless ghost is believed to be that of a former principal, who met a grisly fate during the Civil War in the 17th century.
Legend has it that the principal sided with the Royalists, a fatal decision that led to his execution.
His decapitated body was buried in Merton’s chapel, but his severed head was hidden away by enemies.
Today, his restless spirit is said to stalk the college grounds, desperately searching for his missing head.
Late-night wanderers have spoken of eerie footsteps and cold drafts sweeping through the halls, as if the spectral figure is close at hand, still on his eternal quest.
The Haunted Libraries of Oxford
It’s no surprise that in a city built on knowledge and history, even the libraries would have their share of ghostly inhabitants.
The Bodleian Library, one of the most famous in the world, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Sir Thomas Bodley, the man who founded the library in 1602.
Bodley’s ghost is believed to be a watchful presence, ensuring the students treat the collection with respect.
Those who have disrespected the tomes – whether by speaking too loudly or mishandling a book – have reported strange occurrences, from books falling off shelves to chilling breezes that seem to come from nowhere.
Another library, Duke Humfrey’s Library, also carries a darker reputation.
Built in the 15th century, it’s said to be home to the spirits of former scholars, who died without completing their life’s work.
Some students working late into the night have experienced the sensation of being watched or heard the soft rustle of pages turning, even when they were completely alone.
Could it be the restless dead, still trying to finish their studies?
The Ghosts of Christ Church Cathedral
Given its ties to St Frideswide, it’s no surprise that Christ Church Cathedral itself is thought to be haunted.
One of the most unsettling tales associated with this grand structure is the story of a spectral monk who is seen kneeling at the shrine of St Frideswide.
Visitors have described a cold, inexplicable breeze passing through the air, followed by the appearance of a shadowy figure in a monk’s habit, silently praying. But when approached, the figure vanishes.
Could this be the spirit of a medieval monk, still seeking absolution centuries after his death?
Or perhaps it’s an echo of the holy aura surrounding St Frideswide, whose presence in this place is still felt, even if only by the devout – or the sensitive.
While Oxford is a city known for its intellectual pursuits and storied past, it’s also a place where the boundary between the living and the dead feels strangely thin.
Whether it’s the tragic ghost of Mary Blandy at Oxford Castle, the headless principal of Merton College, or the eerie hauntings of the Bodleian Library, this ancient city is full of spine-tingling tales that linger in the air, just waiting to be unearthed.
So, the next time you find yourself wandering its cobbled streets, remember – beneath the dreaming spires, the ghosts of Oxford might be closer than you think.
Have you seen a haunting in Oxford? Tell us in the comments section below!
