The Paranormal Database

Former Vicar

Location: Boldon Colliery - Hedworth Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa March 1896
Further Comments: Churchgoers reported being able to see a figure standing at the windows of this building. The ghost was said to resemble a former vicar and had regularly returned for over a month.

Dart Throwing

Location: East Boldon - Black Bull public house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: October 2018
Further Comments: In an interview with local press, manger Kelly Hedley said chairs had moved unaided, darts were known to be thrown by an unseen hand, and glasses would slide and smash. Ghostly children and a sad Cavalier are reputed to haunt the site.

Angel of the North, copyright Tim Robinson 2012

German Officer

Location: Gateshead - Angel of the North
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One author has claimed that this modern piece of art is haunted by the ghost of a Nazi recruiting officer from the Second World War, though the reason why is not properly explained.

Plate Smashing

Location: Gateshead - Bronte Street, unknown house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 03 November 1963 - January 1964
Further Comments: Poltergeist disruption in a council house here was said to be so bad that the tenant finally fled after bottles were smashed and their crockery broken. An exorcism was performed on the site in December after which the activity ceased, until the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day when Christmas Decorations were shattered and chairs moved across the floor.

Charlie Gordon

Location: Gateshead - Albion Inn, Bill Quay
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Charlie enjoyed the hospitality of this public house that he returned to it two years after dying. Seen dressed in a grey suit by the new landlady, she had no idea who he was until she described him to a couple of (living) regulars.

Sitting Man

Location: Gateshead - Golden Lion public house, Winlaton
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 12 December 2004
Further Comments: A photograph taken in this pub purports to show a strange man sitting in the background, slightly out of proportion to the rest of the environment. As the floor in the pub had just been raised, it has been suggested that this is the reason why the image looks slightly strange.

Black Shape

Location: Gateshead - Three Tuns public house, Sheriffs Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 2017
Further Comments: A member of staff was left in tears after being approached by a black shape. An article in the local paper claimed that there had been a hundred incidents over the years which resulted in people encountering something or leaving the site out of fear.

Dead Alien

Location: Gateshead - Hedley Street and St Cuthbert's Church
Type: UFO
Date / Time: Spring 1940
Further Comments: Five-year-old Robert Hall, together with other children, encountered several strange figures shortly after observing an egg-shaped flying object. One of the figures resembled a short bigfoot, while another had a skeletal body and bat wings. After taking a sample of Robert's blood, the figures left. The following day, a short 'grey'-like alien appeared to Robert. The boy's screams brought his uncle to the scene, who killed the alien with a shovel. A local story says the alien's body is buried in a nearby churchyard (or concealed within a secret room).

Actor

Location: Gateshead - Little Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The theatre is reportedly home to disembodied voices and footsteps that can be heard after the building is closed for the night. One story says the theatre is haunted by an actor who died on stage.

Bump

Location: Gateshead - Dead Man's Arch (former site of Bensham Station)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 01 January (reoccurring), midnight
Further Comments: A local piece of folklore says a train driver took his life under the arch. If one walks along the footpath at midnight on New Year's Day, you can feel the bump of a body against your own.

Middle Aged Man

Location: Gateshead - Beeswing public house (no longer open), Felling
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2008
Further Comments: A middle-aged man in a waistcoat and spats would stand at the bar with an old-fashioned glass containing ale. Newcomers to the bar were said to have engaged the man in conversation, although no one else could see him. It was speculated that the man may have been connected to one of the Felling pit disasters.

Former Wagons

Location: Gateshead - Site of old Heworth Colliery, Leam Lane Estate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s onwards
Further Comments: While little of the colliery remains, dog walkers and children have heard machinery and the shunt of old train wagons. Ghostly figures have also been reported.

Woman in Black

Location: Houghton-Le-Spring - Robbie Burns public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: One of three ghosts reportedly haunting this building, the woman in black would be observed disappearing into a wall. A male shadow has been seen darting across the bar area, and finally, a young fair haired boy has also been spotted.

Cats' Eyes

Location: Houghton-Le-Spring - Seven Sisters Round Barrow
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 17 December 2019, 21:00h
Further Comments: While walking along the track passing close to Seven Sisters, a witness spotted cat's eyes reflecting in their torch beam. The witness turned off the light, and when they turned it back on about a minute later, the torchlight reflected multiple pairs of eyes. The witness said the eyes were between knee and waist height and moved very fast.

Venerable Bede's Chair

Location: Jarrow - St Paul's Church
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Newlywed brides who sit in this famous chair soon fall pregnant, according to local legend. Another version of the legend says that anyone to sit on the chair is granted three wishes.

Isabella Chaytor

Location: Jarrow - Jarrow Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The building is reputedly home to the ghostly Isabella Chaytor, daughter of Sir William Chaytor, the nineteenth century Whig MP for Sunderland.

Overpopulated

Location: Marsden - Marsden Grotto public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A team of investigators claimed that this was the most haunted public house in England, with seven ghosts being 'detected' by their electro-magnetic apparatus. One of the shades is reportedly the ghost of a smuggler who tried to inform the authorities of his gang's actions - they found out and locked him away, allowing him to starve to death. A secret tunnel is said to run to another nearby haunted pub, the Jolly Sailor.

Henry Hardwick

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - The Cooperage public house, alleyways near the building
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Trying to escape pressgangers, Hardwick was murdered, and has been seen near to where he died. A man dressed in Edwardian garb has also been seen in the area.

Heavy Footsteps

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Willington Mill
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1835-1847
Further Comments: Just a small part of the phenomena, the footsteps were heard first. Over a period of weeks, these developed into bangs, whistling, the sounds of machinery, and finally a voice that spoke. Phantom animals were seen around the building. The family finally moved out, though the spirit stayed a little longer (but was much quieter).

Joseph the Monk

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Former La Dolce Vita nightclub (now closed)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: A lover of dance when he lived, Joseph's shade would appear to have been kick-started when a nightclub opened near his grave. The tall monk dressed in his robes was seen dancing in the club several times by both staff and customers.

Bob Crowther

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Tyne Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: The ghost that has been felt as it pushes past people is thought to be an actor killed when a stage prop travelling at high velocity landed on him. He also reportedly has a favourite seat, in which he is occasionally seen.

Crying Child

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Stevenson Street, North Shields
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-nineteenth century
Further Comments: A house along this road was haunted by the cries of a child, and the heart wrenching sobs of a woman - an infant's body was later discovered concealed within the building.

Prior Olaf

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Tynemouth Priory
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This Viking raider who eventually found God has been seen on the site where so much raping and looting took place. Other phantom monks have been observed on site, several appearing to pray at a stone in the graveyard.

Mummy

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Hancock Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 2004
Further Comments: It was reported in 2004 that this Egyptian mummy's ghost is still active, and now walks around the museum at night.

Longhaired Man

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Unnamed public house along Westgate Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1974
Further Comments: This ghostly figure wearing a red coat walked through a barman closing the bar.