Beneath Scarborough’s cheerful seaside charm lurks a spooky undercurrent. LIAH THORLEY reveals five of its most haunted places
Scarborough Castle
The most infamous ghost of Scarborough Castle is Piers Gaveston, hated by the nobles for his political and personal influence on the King.
In 1312, Edward II sent him to Scarborough for safety, but the castle was besieged, and Piers was captured. He is reputed to lurk by the battlements, where he attempts to lure unsuspecting visitors onto the ramparts. Many have reported being pushed in the back as though someone was trying to shove them off.
Other spooky sightings include a Roman Soldier standing by the remains of the Roman signalling station. A weeping woman in white throws something over the castle wall before throwing herself after it, and there is the terrifying spirit of the grey lady who roams the gunkeeper’s cottage.
St Marys Church, Scarborough
As well as being the resting place of Yorkshire novelist Anne Bronte, St Mary’s has many ghostly legends. Anne herself is said to wander the churchyard. Another deceased resident is Jenny Nicholson, reputed to have been a witch. She walks the grounds and cackles when folks approach her grave.
Visitors have reported peering in through the windows when the church is locked up, only to see a ghostly congregation sitting on the benches as though waiting for a sermon to start.
And then there is the legend of St Mark’s Eve (24 April). Should you go there at midnight, you will see a line of spirits waiting to enter the church, though they are not yet spirits of the dead.
They are said to be the spectres of those who will die within the next 12 months. According to the legend, in 1876, one woman saw herself in the line. The shock caused her to collapse and die right there.
Quay Street, Scarborough
One of the oldest streets in Scarborough, Quay Street is home to the medieval Three Mariners Inn, once a notorious smuggling den filled with secret passageways and cavities for hiding contraband.
A greedy old pirate has been seen on the staircase, glaring at those who pass him by. The headless spirit of Elvira, a ship’s figurehead that once stood outside the inn, knocks on the doors of local sailors and fishermen to warn them of impending storms at sea.
An arguing couple has been heard reverberating down the street from the corner of Dog and Duck Lane. Legend has it that a violent argument broke out when a woman tried to leave her husband, resulting in her murder. Sometimes, both are seen reenacting the fight; other times, the man is lost and alone.
The most famous ghost of Quay Street is the galloping horse and carriage. This ethereal equine hurtles up the narrow cobbled pathway, vanishing into a house that wasn’t there when it was alive.
Merchants Row, Scarborough
In the early 19th century, a housemaid named Mary lived on Merchants Row with the family she worked for. One day, she went into the cellar and discovered the family’s secret: a tunnel to the harbour, filled with contraband.
In retaliation for ‘snitching’ on them, the family tied her up and left her in the tunnel before destroying it, burying the poor girl alive. Her forlorn spectre is reputed to mope about the house, and her calls for help still echo in the cellar.
Bar Street, Scarborough
This quaint Victorian shopping street once marked the entrance to the town, where the Newborough Bar gatehouse and prison stood. Bar Street has many reported ghostly sightings and activities, including full-body apparitions in 19th-century dress.
Inside many buildings, items move around, footsteps echo in empty rooms and staircases, and doors open and close on their own volition. Of the more identifiable spirits, there is the tragic spectre of a hanged man at number 24. And Charlotte, a shy child who peeks around corners before daring to enter a room.
Have you seen something spooky lurking in Scarborough? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
LIAH THORLEY is an historian, novelist, tour guide, and half of the YouTube channel Deadly Night Tales. She’s lived in four countries, and now resides in the seaside town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Her books include time travel romance “Hidden Doorways”, family drama “Homeward”, and a vampire trilogy “The Dark Evolution Chronicles” published under the pen name Cassandra Di Rossi. Her Dark Tales of Scarborough tours include murder, crime and the paranormal. Visit here website, https://www.liahsthorley.com, and Black Widow Tours for more information.
