Latest
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The Tales of the Wise Men of Gotham
The legend surrounding the village of Gotham began in the early thirteenth century when villagers acted the fool to avoid a King. But soon tall tales of the foolish men of Gotham proliferated. Find our more about this quirky folklore tradition..
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Memento Mori: Victorian Post-Mortem Photography
FROM OUR ARCHIVES: ~A note to the faint-hearted: this post contains photographs of dead people ~
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Taking the Plunge: February 29, a Leap into the Unknown
Leap years, every four years, add a unique twist to love stories. On February 29, women can break tradition and propose to their ideal man. Explore the origins of this custom and its connection to red petticoats, while discovering why leap years pose challenges for Scottish farmers, peas, and beans.
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Lady Janet Anstruther (Jenny Fall): Siren of Land and Sea
For centuries the sea was a place of terror not leisure. This all began to change in the eighteenth century. One early adopter of this trend was beautiful Lady Janet Anstruther. Reputedly descended from Gipsy royalty, she became infamous for her love of skinny dipping.
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The Fireplaces that Saved a Nation
Tattershall Castle, with its rose red walls, turrets and crenelations, looks eternal. However, in the early twentieth century it was in disrepair and its fate uncertain. Find out how the fireplaces of Tattershall Castle helped save it for the nation and ensure protection for all of Britain’s historic monuments.
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The Hobby Horse, A Midwinter Tradition Revived
Midwinter may seem like a strange time to look at the British folk tradition of the hobby horse, which is often associated with May Day celebrations. However, there is another, possibly older, tradition that takes place at Midwinter and across the twelve days of Christmas.
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The Mystery of a World War I Ghost Ship: The S.V. Zebrina
On the 17 October 1917, a schooner, the S.V. Zebrina was found aground off of the French coast. On boarding they were surprised to find the table set, a fire burning, but no sign of her crew. What happened to the Zebrina’s crew remains to this day an unsolved mystery.
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WGW: Whitby Goth Weekend October 2023
Whitby is a quaint seaside town in North Yorkshire. It’s main claim to fame used to be Dracula. In the 1990’s it became home to the Whitby Goth Weekend, a celebration of Goth music. More recently, WGW has become famous for the amazing costumes on parade. Here are some highlights from the weekend.
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Haunted Isles: 13 Ghost Stories from the British Isles
It’s that time of year again, the leaves are falling from the trees, the nights are drawing in, and coffee shops are pungent with pumpkin spice. Halloween is here! What better time to take a swift tour around these haunted islands. Join us as we select 13 of our favourite spooky tales from Scotland, England,…
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Sin-eaters: Selfless Saviours or the Walking Damned
Sin-eaters are described as people hired to assume the sins of a dead person by eating food placed near the corpse. Why did society feel the need for such a service and why would a person choose to accept a role which was viewed with such revulsion?
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The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
In 1814, London experienced one of the most bizarre disasters in British history. An unfortunate chain of events at the Horseshoe Brewery led to the death of 8 women and children as they were caught up in London’s Great Beer Flood. But, what really happened? And, did Londoners really get drunk, as beer flowed on…
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The Rat in the Skull: The Mystery of William Longespée’s Tomb
In the late eighteenth century Salisbury Cathedral underwent an extensive renovation. As part of this process the tomb of a famous medieval knight, William Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, and son of King Henry II, was broken open. What the builders found inside was both horrific and mysterious, and would lead to centuries of speculation…
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Seaton Delaval Hall: The White Lady and Jack
Seaton Delaval Hall lies near the Northumbrian Coast, not far from the former mining villages of Seaton Sluice and New Hartley. The house is spectacular, with a central block flanked by two enveloping wings that reach out and embrace the visitor. It was home to the Delaval family, an extraordinary family that earned the name…
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Ann Nailor: The Screaming Spectre of Farringdon Station
The ‘Screaming Spectre’ haunts London’s Farringdon Station, renowned for its terrifying scream frightening both passengers and staff waiting for the last train. Though the chilling cry terrifies those who hear it, the underlying truth behind the ‘haunting’ reveals a far more disturbing reality that you could ever imagine.
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The Thieves’ Accomplice: The Hand of Glory
Whitby Museum holds a macabre artefact used in folk-magic, a withered human hand. So, what is the truth behind the mummified hand, held in Whitby, why does the Hand of Glory occupy such a precarious position between fact and fiction and why did the myth around the dried and pickled hands of hanged criminals take…
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Halloween News from the Haunted Palace Blog
Out Now: The Haunted Mirror – Volume 2 Here at the Haunted Palace Blog we’ve been busily preparing for our favourite time of year, Halloween! The second volume of our Haunted Palace Blog Collection, The Haunted Mirror -Volume 2 is out and is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon, we’ve also dropped the price…
