Chichester is a beautiful West Sussex city with a colourful history dating back to the Romans. It also has its share of spooky legends. Here are five places you could come face to face with a ghost!
Chichester Cathedral
The Royal Chantry, Cathedral Cloisters, Chichester PO19 1PX
Chichester Cathedral, with its origins dating back to 1075, is not just a marvel of architectural beauty but also a hotspot for ghost enthusiasts.
According to local lore, the cathedral is haunted by the spirit of a young nun who was entombed within its walls during the 16th-century Reformation.
Visitors often report eerie sounds and a mysterious chill as they explore the ancient cloisters, where the nun’s presence seems most palpable.
This blend of rich history and chilling tales makes the cathedral a fascinating visit for those intrigued by the spiritual and the spectral.
The Dolphin and Anchor Pub
West St, Chichester PO19 1QD
Nestled in the heart of Chichester, The Dolphin and Anchor Pub offers more than just a traditional English pint.
It’s known among locals and visitors for its playful spectral residents. This includes the ghost of a young girl who enjoys moving objects around and a former landlord who still likes to make his presence known through tipping glasses and shifting furniture.
These spooky antics provide a unique backdrop to this charming pub, inviting those with a taste for the supernatural to enjoy a drink in truly spirited company.
The Deanery
10, The Deanery, Chichester PO19 1HA, United Kingdom
Once a deanery, now a luxurious hotel, this site combines comfort with an eerie touch of the past.
The Deanery is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a maid, abandoned by her lover and lost to heartbreak. Her sorrowful spirit is felt throughout the corridors and rooms, where she searches endlessly for her lost love.
Guests at the hotel often report a melancholic air, adding a layer of intrigue to every stay. Whether you’re there for relaxation or ghost-hunting, The Deanery promises an unforgettable experience.
The Novium Museum
Tower St, Chichester PO19 1QH
Overlooking the remnants of ancient Roman baths, The Novium Museum is a site of spectral encounters.
The ghost of a Roman soldier, who fell in battle, is said to haunt the museum’s Roman gallery. His spirit adds a profound depth to the exhibits, as visitors report feeling his presence, sometimes seeing glimpses of him reliving his days of glory.
For those fascinated by both history and the paranormal, The Novium offers an eerie yet enlightening journey through time.
The Chichester Inn
38 West Street, Chichester PO19 1RP
At the Chichester Inn, the past and the present blur into one.
Also known for the ghost of a Roman centurion, this inn offers visitors a potentially spooky stay. The ancient ghost, seen from the waist up due to changes in the ground level over centuries, is a frequent topic among patrons.
Alongside cold spots and mysterious noises, the inn’s haunting history plays a vivid part in the visitor experience.
Whether you’re woken by rattling latches at 4:23 am or just enjoying a drink, the Chichester Inn promises a brush with history in the most literal sense.
Read more about West Sussex hauntings and horrors.
Have you seen a ghost in Chichester? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
I lived in Chichester in the nineties. I used to walk round the centre of Chichester when I couldn’t sleep. One night at around midnight, I was walking up West Street past the cathedral. I heard some music and went to the glass front entrance doors. There was organ music coming from the pitch black interior. I pressed my face against the glass to try to see inside. When I did, the organ music stopped. I learned afterwards that an organist from years ago played in the middle of the night. A cathedral guide told me she had heard it as well. There is a plaque in the cathedral showing all the organists from early times. I often look at this and wonder which of the names is the ghostly organist.
Absolutely love this post.
The Dolphin and Anchor origins in 1600’s.
The present pub of this name dates back to 1997 and is situated in the western part of what were once the principal coaching inns of Chichester – one called the Anchor, the other the Dolphin. In 1922 the two inns had separate licenses and it was noted by the licensing authorities that there was no door or other means to separate one hotel from the other. It was therefore agreed that in future only one licence would be issued and that the premises from thereon would be called the Dolphin and Anchor Hotel. The Anchor Hotel’s ‘Whig and Tory’ bar has been converted into the present-day Dolphin and Anchor bar and was opened following the closure of the hotel in 1997. Several large retail outlets now operate from the former hotel buildings. The Dolphin and Anchor Hotel was Grade II listed in 1950.
Source: The Chichester Society
nb I worked as a chambermaid at the hotel c1994, some of the rooms felt creepy.