The Paranormal Database

Grey Lady

Location: Blaydon - Axwell Hall (aka Axwell House)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Gateshead Post reported in 1979 that the hall was home to a grey lady who haunted the upper floors, although no one had recently encountered her. The hall stands near the former site of another mansion, Whitehouse, where two occupants in 1661 were accused of witchcraft.

Thrown Objects

Location: Blaydon - Bus garage near Hood Square
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Built over the site of a former jail and police station, the garage would come alive in the early hours of the morning to strange sounds and thrown objects,

Wild Man

Location: Blaydon - Countryside in the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: August 1859
Further Comments: Reported at several villages in the area during this time, the 'wild man' was described as a person of 'immense strength and stature', with a huge beard. Local sportsmen, together with a posse, failed to capture the figure.

Suicide

Location: Blaydon - Selby's Grave (roadside grave, marker may no longer exist)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area around the grave's site was considered haunted, although the exact details are not known.

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, manager 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.

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 so returned 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Black Dog

Location: Gateshead - Stephens Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre 1972
Further Comments: A former resident of the hall reported seeing the phantom black dog which haunted the property.

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.

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.

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.

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 who sits on the chair is granted three wishes.

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.

Legs

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - 13 Grey Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Cleaning staff reported this building to be haunted by a ghost of which only the bottom half could be observed; one member of the team fled after encountering the entity.

All Saints Church, Newcastle.

Jack the Beadle

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - All Saints Church, Quayside
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Jack was a well-liked member of the community before being caught and tried for removing and selling lead from coffins. A local legend now places Jack's ghost in the churchyard.

Broad Chare, Newcastle.

Martha Wilson

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Area around Broad Chare
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The phantom woman haunting the area has been named as Martha Wilson, a suicide buried at a nearby crossroads. One man who encountered Martha said she wore a veil - she lifted it up as he approached, in time for him to realise she had no face.

Woman's Voice

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne - Blackie Boy public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A woman's voice was heard screaming 'Get out! Get Out!' from an empty cubicle in the men's toilets, causing a member of staff in the room to flee.