The Paranormal Database

An old woodcut image of a hand of glory.

Hand of Glory

Location: Bowes Moor - Old Spital Inn (currently a farmhouse?)
Type: Other
Date / Time: 1790s
Further Comments: One of the few places the Hand of Glory has been used. This item is made from the hand of a murderer, with candles placed between each finger. Once these are lit, every person asleep in an area remains unconscious until the flames are extinguished by milk. A band of robbers tried to use the hand while burgling this inn, though a maid was still awake when the candles were lit; she doused them with milk, enabling the landlord to wake and scare the robbers off with his shotgun.

White Haired Head

Location: Burnopfield - Railway track running through the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1932
Further Comments: A floating face was reported by several men along the line. The entity had a twisted face and white hair, and prior to its materialisation, metallic clanging would be heard. The ghost was eventually named as a platelayer who had died after being hit by a coal wagon in 1879.

Tall Man

Location: Byers Green - (Former) Marquis of Granby public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twenty-first century?
Further Comments: This former pub is said to be haunted by a tall man. A plumber is also said to have fled the site after watching a stool move across the room unaided.

Anne Walker

Location: Chester le Street - Exact location not recorded
Type: Post-Mortem Manifestation
Date / Time: 1632
Further Comments: The ghost of Anne Walker appeared to a miller, telling him the location where her body could be found. The miller ignored the ghost, but after she appeared several more times, he informed the authorities. Her body was discovered in a coal pit, as the ghost had described. One of her family and a family friend were later arrested and executed for her murder.

Lumley Castle, from Country Seats by Francis Orpen Morris.

Lady Lumley

Location: Chester Le Street - Lumley Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2005. 2017
Further Comments: The 'Lily of Lumley', as the lady is also known, was killed by several monks after refusing to agree with their religious beliefs. When Sir Ralph discovered what had happened to his wife, he had the monks executed. The monks are sometimes seen walking in file around the area of the castle, while Lady Lumley walks within the castle's corridors and grounds. An Australian cricket player reported seeing the monks in 2005, while in 2017 a witness claimed to have photographed two ghostly faces in the windows.

Woman

Location: Chester Le Street - River Wear
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown, likely to be early twentieth century
Further Comments: A ghostly woman was said to haunt this stretch of waterway.

Madam Lambton

Location: Chester le Street - South Biddick Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This shade has been reported drifting around the hall.

Nun

Location: Coatham Mundeville - Hall Garth Golf and Country Club Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Room 2 is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a nun bricked up alive within the walls after her affair with a monk was discovered.

Voices

Location: Cockfield - Cockfield Workingmen's Club
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2009 / 2010
Further Comments: Two ghost hunts were said to have detected tapping on mirrors and voices, although a similar overnight paranormal stakeout planned for charity in 2013 was declined due to 'health and safety'.

Red eyed Figure

Location: Cold Hesledon - Lane leading away from the Pemberton Arms
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 10 October 2009
Further Comments: The CFZ website reported that a couple walking along a dark lane encountered a seven foot tall, black, man-shaped figure with glowing red eyes. The couple watched it for around fifteen seconds before it screamed and dropped from view.

Misty Shape

Location: Consett - Delta North (former YMCA)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A site popular with paranormal events companies, there are claims of doors being slammed unaided, cold spots and misty shapes.

Woman on the Bed

Location: Consett - Private house, Delves Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1981
Further Comments: A family featured in the local press after being terrified by their haunted house. One of the children burst into tears after encountering a phantom woman sitting on their bed, while other family members experienced poltergeist-like activity. The former occupants of the property also experienced something strange, although the details were not forthcoming.

Mill Worker

Location: Consett - Spring Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghost of a mill worker who mysteriously vanished is seen along this lane.

Postman

Location: Consett - Wooded area, Consett Lane / Pemberton Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1950s onwards
Further Comments: A phantom postman in 1950s clothing was said to wander this area.

Hunted

Location: Coxhoe - Village Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2020s
Further Comments: The hall has gained a reputation as being haunted and has been home to various ghost hunting events. The haunting entity here is thought to be connected to one of the cottages which stood here before the hall was built.

Ex-smoker

Location: Crook - Unknown private house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1998
Further Comments: A child first reported seeing this ghost, telling her mother that 'a man's come out of the wall and he says he does the shopping in the sky'. Others detected his presence due to the cigarette smoke of which he reeks.

Wife with Child

Location: Crossgate - Crossgate Peth
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This woman, holding a small child, is believed to be searching for her husband killed in the battle of Neville's Cross in the 1300s. She reportedly seeks a lift to the battlefield.

White cat (public domain).

Changing Entity

Location: Darlington - Glassensikes (stream or river) and Harewood Hill area
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The large black dog once said to haunt this area could also take the form of a flaming headless man, a headless woman, a white cat, or a rabbit.

Lost Souls

Location: Darlington - Hell's Kettles, along the River Tees
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Kettles still present
Further Comments: Deep pools of water located along the river, the Hell's Kettles are said to contain the souls of sinners. Some report that these people (and animals in some cases) can be seen floating in the pools when the waters are clear.

Lady Jerratt

Location: Darlington - Manor House constructed by Bishop Pudsey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Seventeenth century
Further Comments: Murdered in the building, the ghost of Lady Jerratt appeared to only have one arm, as the other had been severed during the attack. A bloody thumbprint and fingerprint were said to have remained on the wall, impossible to scrub away or paint over.

Hound Attack

Location: Darlington - Old Darlington and Stockton rail station
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 5 December 1890
Further Comments: A night watchman reported being attacked by a man and his dog as they came out of the coal house - the watchman defended himself and tried to punch his attacker, only for his fist to pass through the figure and hit the wall behind. The pair of entities then went back into the coal house and vanished.

Old Pinkney

Location: Darlington - Old manor house (no longer standing?), Blackwell
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century
Further Comments: The manor was haunted by an entity which wore a red cap and went under the nickname Old Pinkney. A well under the house was known as Pinkney's Well and was never used after dusk. The surrounding area was also said to be haunted by a headless man.

Mynarski

Location: Darlington - Teesside International Airport
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: Mynarski was awarded the VC for trying to save a rear gunner when the bomber they were in caught fire. His ghost dressed in flying kit has been seen around the airport's hotel.

Pekinese and Pepi

Location: Darlington - The Civic (once the Hippodrome)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mid-to-late-twentieth century
Further Comments: The little Pekinese dog was buried within the walls of the theatre, its ghostly presence indicated by lightly padding feet moving across the floors, and soft panting. Pepi, the dog's owner and former manager, is also said to haunt the building, as are several other entities; a stage manager, a female dancer, and a hanging man.

Lady Gerrard

Location: Darlington - Area around town hall and South Park
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980?
Further Comments: Lady Gerrard had her hand hacked off by two soldiers who took a liking to her ring. She died soon after from blood loss. Her ghost is said to help those in need, though it lacks an arm. Gerrard may have been encountered by a young lad who found himself lost in the park, manifesting as a grey lady who pointed in the direction of the child's family.